Véhicule Automatique Léger

Vehicle of automatique Léger (VAL, German: "light automatic vehicle ") is a particularly easy built, driverless, trail -run mass transit vehicle, which is used both as a people mover, for example in airports as well as urban rapid rail system. Originally developed by Matra VAL today is a product of Siemens Mobility.

Technology

The support and drive function is exerted by rubber-tired wheels on a concrete guideway. Lateral guide wheels roll along the side mounted guide rails. In a crossover guide rails take in the middle of the track lateral guidance. Just the tip of the guide rail is moved to the steering of the vehicle.

The system is based on an invention by Professor Robert Gabillard ( Université Lille Nord de France) and was developed transportation in the early 1980s by Matra. The Department of Transport Technology Matra belongs since 2001 to completely Siemens Transportation Systems.

The VAL system in 1983 was first employed in the then newly-built metro Lille. It is because of the lower costs particularly well suited for medium-sized cities. The acronym originally meant Villeneuve d'Ascq à Lille ( German: " Villeneuve d'Ascq to Lille " ) and called the two endpoints of the first track. Only later it became véhicule automatique Léger.

As with some other driverless passenger transport systems, the platforms are separated at the VAL system by transparent glass walls with inset platform doors of the tracks. This is intended to prevent accidents caused by falling onto the roadway persons or objects and suicide. The platform doors open and close the passenger change simultaneously with the vehicle's doors after a train has entered the station.

The automatic line 14 of the Paris Métro and also automatically operated line D of the Lyon Métro are, however, no VAL systems, nor the subway opened in 2008, Lausanne.

Neoval

Since 2004, Siemens is developing jointly with the French Lohr Group in the project Neoval the successor of the Val Trains of Neoval system are managed by a single central rail, similar to that built by Lohr Translohr system, and require no electrical power between the stations from. So the cost of the infrastructure should be reduced since no additional power rail or trolley is required. The system is also able to recover the braking energy and use by a regenerative braking system. Since March 2009, a first Neoval pre-production vehicle will be tested on the test track of Lohr in Strasbourg with the Airval.

Cityval

The Cityval system is based on the Neoval project. Line B of the Métro Rennes will be the first use of this system. 19 two-part Cityval trains have been ordered for this line, which is scheduled to end of 2018.

Airval

At the UITP World Congress in Vienna, Siemens has introduced the Airval system on June 8, 2009. Airval also based on the project Neoval and is the version for use at airports as a people mover.

Installations

Vehicle types

The designations for the types of vehicles Val 206, Val 208 and Val 256 are derived from its width.

Projects

In Aachen, the use of the system Cityval was investigated in the framework of the project campus web. The Steering Committee had called for early 2011. When, from the citizens' initiative "Campus web = megalomania " initiated referendum decided in March 2013, around 66 % of people participating in the vote against the campus track.

Gallery

Val 208 of the CDGVAL at the station Parc PX

Val 206 of OrlyVal in the depot

VAL 208 of the Métro Toulouse

Mini | VAL in Taipei, Taiwan

Val 256 at O'Hare Airport in Chicago