Alstom Develops Railway Solutions for Climate Change Effects

Railway manufacturer Alstom is actively developing solutions aimed at improving the resilience of rail systems against the effects of climate change. The company is focusing on enhancing the durability of trains and infrastructure to withstand increasingly common extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, snowstorms, floods, and sandstorms.

In France, the number of significant rail accidents linked to climatic hazards tripled between 2015 and 2022, highlighting the vulnerability of rail networks. Alstom aims to address this by developing long-term solutions that ensure the reliable operation of trains and associated infrastructure under diverse conditions.

Train design incorporates international standards that define the environmental conditions under which equipment is expected to operate. Alstom designs its trains to function reliably within a temperature range of -25°C to +45°C, with options for specific environmental adaptations to withstand temperatures as low as -40°C. For instance, cooling systems on Alstom's Riyadh metro are engineered to operate even in 58°C heat.

For infrastructure, Alstom has developed solutions to withstand floods and thermal stress. Ground-level static power supply (APS) technology and enhanced cable designs increase infrastructure longevity and resistance to dust, temporary submersion, and extreme temperatures. This technology has been adopted in 11 cities globally, including the tramways in Dubai and Istanbul.