Emsland test facility
The Transrapid Test Facility (TVE ) is a testing ground for the Transrapid maglev system with a 31.8 km long test track in the western part of the district of Emsland in Lower Saxony ( Germany ).
The test facility is operated by the industrial plant mbH ( IABG ), which is entrusted with the implementation of plant operation or of attempts since 1985. My owner is since the MVP ( Test and Planning Society of maglev systems mbH). In the 1980s, the plant was operated by the pilot and planning company for Maglev Systems Inc, a subsidiary of the former German Federal Railroad and Lufthansa.
Because of the end of 2010 decided on promotion of investment by the federal government, a restoration, a further operation was funded by the county and the industry or modifications discussed in a research center for electric mobility as alternatives for further use.
The operating license for the Transrapid Test Facility in Emsland expired at the end of 2011; the line was closed. On the site a center for electric mobility will now be set up for around 4 million euros.
Geography
The Transrapid Test Facility Emsland located in the Emsland region between the cities of Papenburg in the north and the south and east of Meppen Dörpen communities in the north and in the south Lathen. A few kilometers west of the Ems flows past the plant. Through the grounds leads the route of the partially finished side channel Gleesen - Papenburg. Five kilometers east begins the ridge of the Hümmling.
The test track located in the test facility performs predominantly flat terrain, only its south loop runs in the located southeast of Lathen stallion mountains (up to 42 meters high) through hilly and wooded area.
Beyond or parallel to the Ems and pilot plant runs in a north -south direction, a section of the A 31 and this side of the river in the same direction such the B 70, whose side roads you can come to rest.
Test Track
The test section of the Transrapid Test Facility Emsland, which is considered currently the longest test track for magnetically levitated vehicles on earth, consists of a single-track straight stretch on a mostly elevated track, the ( North and South Loop ) can be ridden in the ring road thanks to two end loops. Here are located at the end of the straight two points, another is the entrance to the test center.
The straight stretch twelve kilometers long and for high -speed operation up to 450 km / h suitable ( record run of 10 June 1993). The curve radius of the southern loop is around 1000 meters, that of the Nordschleife 1690 meters, in the corners, the side slope of the travel is twelve degrees. On the grounds of the Transrapid test facility also is a test hall and the visitor center.
History
Construction phase
The Transrapid test facility was built under the sponsorship of the German Federal Ministry of Research from 1980 to 1987 in two phases of the maglev system industry.
1978 was the decision to build a maglev - scale test facility. The development of the system was taken in mid 1978.
Mid-1979 the planning of a pilot plant was recorded. During the selection process, a configuration was chosen, which should contain all the essential elements of an application-oriented guideway ( inclinations, bends, crests, switches and others) within budget. Prior to the planned in Donauried National Test Facility for transport techniques had failed.
Construction on the track began in June 1980. In a first phase the test center was built with a test straight along the still unfinished Ems - side channel and the Nordschleife. For the first twelve -kilometer portion 422 million marks were estimated. Of this, roughly 60 million to the vehicle. Mid-1983 began the preparatory work on the second stage ( Wendeschleife South).
On 30 June 1983 for the first time inverted the Transrapid 06 ( remotely ) on the partially completed test facility. End of October 1983, the Transrapid floated for the first time officially on the plant. Previously was already a 18.5 m long special vehicle - a transport vehicle for people, equipment and material - rolled with 16 tires on the road. This up to 50 km / h vehicle served the clearing snow in the amount of up to 55 cm.
On 4 May 1984, the Transrapid 06 broke through with 205 km / h for the first time 200-km/h-Marke. On August 16, 1984, the TR reached 06,257 km / h, presented on 17 October the same year the vehicle at 302 km / h new speed record on the test unit.
Beginning in December 1987 hovered for the first time a Transrapid on the southern loop of the experimental plant. On the second day of operation, the monorail made it to 406 km / h world record for passenger-carrying maglev vehicles. A little later, the train reached a speed of 412.6 km / h
Accident and consequences
On 22 September 2006, the Transrapid 08, a serious accident with 23 dead and 11 injured, as well as a total loss to the vehicle occurred.
On 19 April 2007, the first of the three sections of the new Transrapid 09 arrived at the track. Your first ride trials took place in July 2008. End of May 2009, the approval for the transport of people was granted.
As a result of the accident about two-thirds of the approximately 60 employees, between September 2007 and January 2008 were employed in short-time work. In December 2007, the operating company submitted to the competent Lower Saxony State Authority for Road Transport and an application for a new operating license of the plant. This authorization to test operating on the route was on 3 July 2008 with different requirements (eg no visitors ride sharing ) license. From 29 July 2008, the Transrapid 09 was on the line go.
Search for a re-use
With the expiry of the federal government at ThyssenKrupp and Siemens in 2005 commissioned Next Development Programme ( WFP) was in space that the track end of June 2009 lose their function. According to the system houses then lie so before an application- ready system, which could be marketed internationally and illustrative technological lead of Germany. For any other further developments they would no longer need the test facility. The duty to foreseeable dismantling of the plant falls IABG to. A first, rough estimate is about 40 million euros costs. The cost of decommissioning bears, according to a 1984 concluded management contract, the covenant. On 24 June 2009 it was announced that county, state, federal and industry have agreed on a further operation of the test track and its funding until April 2010 in order to allow the testing of newly developed track support.
As part of the budget deliberations of the Federal was decided in November 2010 to provide the expected cash costs of 40 million euros to the district of Emsland - Lathen available. This intends to convert the test facility in a research center. Here, a modification is being considered in a research center for electric mobility. Of the companies involved in the construction of the Transrapid only the research- to the construction of the infrastructure construction company Max Bögl has expressed a willingness to participate in the further financing of the pilot plant. In early December 2010, as a precautionary measure the mass dismissal of employees of the test track requested because the parties had not yet agreed on a re-use concept and federal funds are locked because of that.
The traffic scientist Peter Mnich confirms the opinion of Siemens and ThyssenKrupp, the test section was not necessary for the development of the Transrapid. Rather, data and experience are necessary from a control mode. Critics of the object of the test track, including participating in the construction of the Transrapid guideway company Max Bögl, but point to the necessary tests for the optimization of newly developed components of the roadway. You also see a need for the facility for the presentation of the system to interested parties. In the event of an order the system for training before completion of the route to be built was necessary. It is also feared that a closure of the test facility is interpreted abroad as a signal to the task of technology.
Between 1970 and 2008 flowed federal funds in the amount of 800 million euros in the plant. Of this amount, more than half of the construction of the plant, the rest was spent on operation and maintenance. For the 2009 federal budget funds in the amount of 6 million euros had been scheduled for the operation of the plant. Depending on the number of applications, the involved companies are obligated to repay up to 100 million euros in funds from the development program.
Originally the test track should be built back in 2012; the cost of approximately 40 million euros should be taking into the hem. How many jobs are to be retained is unknown, about 60 employees in November 2011 to date has been canceled. As the center for electric mobility, which will be located on the premises, is to test the charging batteries while driving, was initially still dispense with the dismantling of the track.
Driving performance data on the TVE
Gallery
Aerial view of the northern curve ( looking south )
Transrapid Test Facility Emsland in May 2001