Test and validation centre, Wegberg-Wildenrath
The Wegberg -Wildenrath ( official name: Testing and Validation Center Wegberg- Wildenrath ) of Siemens AG is device for initial start-up, type testing and approval of railway vehicles and railway systems.
The test center is located in Wegberg- Wildenrath in the Heinsberg (North Rhine -Westphalia), is organizationally to the Siemens Infrastructure & Cities Sector of the Rail Systems Division. It is recognized by the Federal Railway Authority as a test center for railway typical examinations and as an expert agency for requiring monitoring vehicle systems pursuant to § 33 EBO. Siemens offers the facility also third-party companies to use.
Structure and facilities
The 28- kilometer track network of the system consists of two test rings and three test tracks that are performed in addition to standard gauge on the small test ring also meter gauge. This interior ring is therefore also used for trams. On the outer 6.1 km long test ring with curve radii of about 700 meters to maximum speeds of up to 160 km / h and be driven on the inner 2.5 km long ring with a radius of 300 meters up to 100 km / hr. On a 1.5- kilometer-long straight test track 80 km / h can be achieved in dry weather. A 410 meter long track has ramps with slopes of four and seven percent ( about 2.5 percent is considered steep section ). Another 553 -meter track with curve radii of 50, 25, and 15 meters has now been removed, as it was the extension of the Zugbildungshalle 2 in the way. A fifty- meter long measuring curved track with a curve radius of 150 meters for the determination of wheel contact and managers and thus consideration of the derailment. Additionally there is a siding, which connects the test center on the rail route Wegberg Klinkum - Wegberg -Wildenrath, and further over the Iron Rhine, with the rail network of the Deutsche Bahn.
The Zugbildungshalle 1 has elevated nine tracks with catenary of up to 220 meters in length, partly with and partly mine. Of these, a 75 -meter-long track is also designed to meter gauge. There are also three levels of roof work. The Zugbildungshalle 2 has three standard gauge, elevated tracks with catenary and pit, each 220 feet long. This is currently being extended to the Velaro Euro Star accommodate completely. There is also a bogie drop, can be incorporated into the special measuring bogies, as well as an extraction system for exhaust gases of diesel vehicles.
On a rotary tilting table for standard and meter gauge trains arc, drain and tip rides can be simulated. A tilting device measures the roll behavior by means of inclination of the vehicle in order to simulate the influence of lateral accelerations, such as crosswinds and centrifugal forces. Using an acoustic measuring device can internal and external noise tests are conducted up to a speed of 160 km / hr.
For the electrical power supply to the drive vehicles are both overhead lines and busbars are available which can be operated with various types of current. The big test ring is equipped with PZB and the European ETCS Level 1 and 2 and the Dutch train protection system ATB. Additional signal systems can be temporarily installed. With a sprinkler system leak testing can be performed.
Siemens also provides other rail vehicle manufacturers, testing facilities available. By the beginning of 2010 110 million euros were invested in the project.
RWTH Aachen University is planning to try out the Galileo satellite navigation system in Wegberg -Wildenrath. These were pseudolites installed on seven 50 -meter-high towers that simulate real satellites. The goal is a satellite-based marshalling. As a test vehicle of CargoMover used.
- Wegberg -Wildenrath
Test site Wildenrath as a model
ICE 3 Class 407 in the test center, 2012
History
The testing is on a 35 -acre site of the former NATO airfield RAF Wildenrath the Royal Air Force Germany. It was opened in mid-1997 and initially employed 80 employees. By 2012, the number rose to around 900 people, including contractors in the test center.
The decision to implement the system was made in early 1995. Initially up to DM 90 million should be invested. For the core area of the test center 20 hectares should bought, leased about 15 acres for the test tracks and extension options are agreed as options. The two planned track rings should reach at radii of about 400 and 1275 meters a circumference of 2.5 and 6 km. Completion was scheduled for 1997.
In the spring of 1998 it was planned to take until January 2000, a climatic wind chamber on the premises into operation. The system should it replace the existing obsolete facility in Vienna Arsenal, will be built on a comprehensive 4.4 hectares of land and operated using an existing siding. The proposed maximum wind speed was 160 km / h The approval process for the facility was completed in late 1998. The commissioning of the 84 million DM expensive plant was expected by the end of 2000. In addition, in early 1999 were tested the integration of further testing facilities, including an expansion of the section Dalheim Rheydt.This for 240 km / h Likewise, there were plans for the construction of a visitor center. No project of this three press releases has been realized.
In spring 1999, a further expansion of the system in the amount of DM 23 million was approved. So should another test hall with track systems arise in the marshalling yard Reydt beyond a parking area for construction vehicles. The total investment volume rose to a total of 133 million DM The parking area at the yard of Reydt is used to this day.
In spring 2000, there were capacity problems after numerous vehicles of the series 152, 403, 406, 424, 605 and 642 were put into operation at the same time. Then the commissioning of individual units of class 605 was temporarily shifted to an additional leased premises at GER - Ratheim. Due to lack of capacity in mid-2002 was largely shifted the type test of the Desiro UK on rail test ring Velim.
In autumn 2000, Adtranz, Alstom LHB and Bombardier entered into a memorandum of understanding with Siemens and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy and Transport of North Rhine -Westphalia on a competitively neutral opening of the test center to secure the competitiveness of the German railway industry. A neutral operating company should sell about 15 percent of normal capacity of the plant (worth around 1.5 million euros ) for research, development and commissioning according to these plans. The ten-year agreement provided an option to increase to 50 percent. Later, the operation of the plant was taken over by Rail Test GmbH. In addition to their own use of Siemens TÜV Inter- Traffic GmbH, the Institute of Railway Technology, the Research Association for Underground Transportation Facilities and TÜV Süd were involved in the society.
By mid- 2001, Siemens invested claims to more than DM 150 million in plant expansion. The company announced plans to invest up to the end of 2002 DM 36 million more into the system. Among other things, the railway line between Reydt and wild Rath electrified as well as a test track for a top speed of 240 km / h in the vicinity of the test center should be built. In addition, continued the construction of a wind climate chamber was planned, as is a facility for testing the radio driving operation. The existing infrastructure should be optimized for the testing of local trains and the power supply for different voltages to be expanded.
Around 2002, the second Zugbildungshalle went into operation.
2012 began the construction of a twelve- million-euro multifunctional hall. According to the company Siemens has therefore invested since 1997 a total of 127.5 million euros at the site Wildenrath.