"ELISA" to validate ALSTOM's AGV very high speed train
concept

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Based on more than 20 years of experience in very high speed,
the AGV (automotrice à grande vitesse) is the fruit of
ALSTOMs continuous research and development in this field
and completes ALSTOMs very high speed product range.

As of early November 2001, a demonstrator train has been
testing technological concepts that will be applied to the future
AGV. ALSTOM is project leader for research into the AGV concept
and is supported by its partners, the French National Railways
(SNCF), which has unsurpassed expertise in high speed rail, and
by CAF.

The demonstration trainset has been named 'Elisa' and is
composed of:

  • An ALSTOM-built AGV-type front end car with distributed
    power,     
  • An intermediate car with distributed power (bodyshell built
    by CAF),     
  • Four TGV Réseau coach cars, provided by the SNCF
    (French National Railways),     
  • A TGV Réseau power car, provided by the SNCF.

In order to guarantee the objectivity of the test results,
ALSTOM has commissioned Agence dessais ferroviaire*, part
of SNCF, to perform the tests on the Elisa demonstrator on track
in the north of France through April 2002.

The testing focuses on:

  • dynamic comfort of the
    trainset     
  • intermediate motor
    bogies     
  • end carrier bogies     
  • airflow of traction
    equipment     
  • acoustics (noise and vibrations inside the
    car)     
  • roof-fitted rheostat     
  • electrical current
    collection     
  • circulation of air in passenger areas

*certified COFRAC (Comité Français
dAccréditation) and ISO 9001
 

Editors notes 

With more than 35 product lines and a presence in over 60
countries, ALSTOM Transport offers cutting-edge products and
services to four distinct types of customers: urban transit
authorities and operators; intercity passenger rail operators and
rolling stock owners; rail freight operators; and intercity
railway infrastructure owners. ALSTOM Transport, with 4.4 billion
euros in sales, has a 17% market share world-wide.

 

Press relations:
Ruth Pavans, tel. +33 (0)1 41 66 97 16

email :
ruth.pavans@transport.alstom.com