Siemens Velaro

The artificial word Velaro (derived from the Spanish word for high speed: Alta Velocidad ) is a family of high-speed trains manufactured by Siemens Mobility. Velaro is a registered trademark of Siemens AG. The trainsets are the development of the ICE 3 in each case to the needs of various railway companies adapted lines of development dar.

• The Spanish National Railways (RENFE ) appointed as the first railway company multiple unit designated by Siemens Velaro E as RENFE class 103 With a cruising speed of 350 km / h and a top speed of 403.7 km / h, this variant was June 22, 2007 until 28 September 2010, the fastest mass-produced train in the world.
• In Russia, the Sapsan, a version runs on broad gauge under the manufacturer's designation Velaro RUS.
• For China, the CRH3, a variant with a wider gauge to standard gauge, as Velaro CN in production and partially in scheduled operations. This variant presented on 9 January 2011 at a speed of 487 km / h world record for standard trains on.
• In manufacturing units are for the German railway 16 trains of the DB Class 407 as the Velaro D.
• Also in production is the 16-car Velaro e320 as Euro Star 320, which so far exclusively from British Class 373 (TGV TMST ) will complement the existing fleet of trains through the Euro Tunnel from 2015.
• In March 2013, the decision fell for Siemens to deliver six units plus a seventh test kit to the Turkish railway company TCDD.

The total value of the orders came in February 2011 to 4.4 billion euros.

• 2.1 Velaro E
• 2.2 Velaro CN
• 2.3 Velaro RUS
• 2.4 Velaro D
• 2.5 Velaro e320
• 2.6 Velaro TR

Technology in general

The Velaro is based on the operated by the Deutsche Bahn ICE 3 While the ICE variant was developed in the 1990s by a consortium of several companies led by Siemens, is the Velaro purely a Siemens product. With the separation of the Association of now the sole manufacturer Siemens had to revise the trainset in general, because the time between publication of the Technical Specifications for Interoperability ( TSI) and advanced standards, including those set new and more complex demands on fire protection. Then there was the redesign of the previously derived not from Siemens Zuganteile. The constructed in aluminum integral design unit train Velaro is designed as a platform that can be modified to the specific needs of customers in different countries. Among other things, the local requirements have been adjusted in the current versions drive power, electricity, air-conditioning, seating capacity, car body widths and gauges. Also the car crossing was changed compared to the ICE 3. The exterior doors are electrically operated, single-leaf sliding doors with a clear width of 900 and a clear height of 2050 millimeters.

Unlike the ICE 3 can also be operated without power from the catenary traction auxiliary equipment such as rectifiers cooling water pump, inverter cooling fan, fan drive motor and the fan of the braking resistors. Exposing the cooling in the phase separation points on the LGV Est had led the ICE 3 repeated problems.

In contrast to the ICE 3 Velaro most variants are not equipped with an eddy current brake, only the Velaro D has this brake system.

Distributed drive

Another important characteristic of the train is one of the distributed drive as it already came with the ICE 3 is used, is dispensed with to power cars. In addition to the traction motors and brakes, which are located under the floor has always been, even those components of the electrical and mechanical equipment were now arranged under the floor on each car of the train, which otherwise are in the power heads (eg, transformers, traction converters, auxiliary converters, air compressor, air tank, brake stand, battery box, battery charger). In an eight-car trainset 50 percent of all bogies are driven (40 percent in ten divider Velaro RUS). Thus, the starting tractive effort was increased in comparison to the ICE 2 power cars by 50 percent and now stands at around 300 kN 200 kN held earlier. The traction was, as in the ICE 3 in comparison to the ICE 1 and 2, improved so much that even in a four percent gradient is a start-from is then possible even if a quarter of the input power is not available.

Also, the number of seats increased for the same train length by about 15 percent. An entity known as Velaro HD design study is based on 536 seats in a 200 -meter-long train from (2 2 seating, UIC profile). Also allows the concept at both ends of the train has an unobstructed view of the passengers on the route. From the lounge seats can be separated only by a glass pane, look to the driver on the shoulder.

Technical data compared

The life of a Velaro high -speed train set is set to 30 years.

Variants

Velaro E

The Velaro E (E for España, Spanish for Spain ) is the first developed based on the Velaro platform exclusively by Siemens train. The 26 eight -car trains, with a required by the operator operating speed of 350 km / h, and the series designation received 103 operator is the Spanish National Railways (RENFE ), which also called for a division into three classes of cars. The trainsets were developed in line in technology and interior detail as well adapted to the area of ​​operation and operator preferences. Since 2007, the units operate on different routes in Spain as planned.

Velaro CN

The Velaro CN ( CN for China ) is the second developed based on the Velaro platform train. He stands out with broadened car bodies and technical adjustments to high speed rail in the People's Republic of China, where it operates under the name CRH3. The production takes place in China mainly locally. The CRH3 currently runs on the high-speed Beijing- Tianjin and Wuhan-Guangzhou high-speed line. On two relations he runs together with the high-speed trains of the type CRH2.

Velaro RUS

The Velaro RUS (RUS for Russia ) is the third developed based on the Velaro platform trainset variant. She received the brand name Peregrine Falcon (Russian сапсан, Sapsan: so called in Russian the fastest bird in the falcon family). With its widened car bodies, it is based on the Velaro CN, but runs on the Russian broad gauge and is particularly adapted to the specific climatic conditions on site. Since December 2009, the very first series of eight trains in Russia scheduled times, an additional eight units will follow from 2014.

Velaro D

The Velaro D (D for Germany ) is the fourth developed based on the Velaro platform variant. The aircraft were originally planned for 2011 and was delayed several times. Shortly before Christmas 2013, the first four trainsets have been authorized.

The four-system trains that are run by Deutsche Bahn as Class 407 should come in traffic in Germany, France and Belgium used. The trainsets are associated with the Deutsche Bahn ICE 3 fleet.

Velaro e320

On 7 October 2010 the Euro Star Group announced its intention to order for ten Velaro trains to complement their fleet known. The 16 -part and 400 m long trains will have a capacity of 900 seats and a top speed of 320 km / hr.

The contract should include a volume of more than 600 million euros. The first trains are around 2015 to be used ( as of October 2010).

Velaro TR

In June 2013 it was announced that Siemens was awarded a contract for seven high-speed trains of the Turkish State Railways including maintenance contract. The contract is worth approximately 285 million euros. The eight -car trainsets will run on the high speed lines Ankara - İstanbul and Ankara - Konya. The order is divided into six passenger trains and a test train. While the trains are to be delivered from 2015, originally manufactured for the German rail trainset in Turkey was transferred to a test train in late September 2013.

Tenders and possible prospects

Siemens offered the Italian private rail company, NTV on 25 eight-car Velaro units. To this end, in late 2006, a three-part Velaro E trainset from Krefeld to Rome was transferred for a presentation. In mid-January 2008, the company was subject to this offer against the Alstom AGV.

For the planned high-speed line in Argentina from Buenos Aires to Rosario and Córdoba, a consortium was shortlisted election in which Siemens had commanded a Velaro; the final offer with a financial plan was not submitted because the cost of land acquisition were not estimated.

For use as a successor to the first, soon auszumusternden TGV - production series vehicles were Velaro by SNCF General Guillaume Pépy early 2007 also been brought into the conversation.

In October 2010, Siemens formed a partnership to participate in the 2012 anticipated tender for a high-speed corridor between Tampa and Orlando ( Florida). In the concept and the rail operator Veolia and the construction company Skanska and Global Via were involved. Siemens wanted this offer Velaro trains, which would have been expected to built at the factory Sacramento. However, the plans for the high-speed connection of Florida Governor Rick Scott rejected in February 2011.

In early 2012, Siemens was talking to Euro Carex, which wants to use up to 25 at least 300 km / h fast trains in freight transport. In addition to coatings based on the Velaro platform, the use of TGV Duplex was discussed at this time also.