The NEW PENDOLINO: The fourth generation of tilting
technology

The new ALSTOM trains the fourth generation of tilting
technology represent an advanced technological solution
and one that is unique in the world, making it possible to use
fast trains on existing track rather than one laid specifically
for high speed. This offers a perfect opportunity for assuring
more efficient passenger services which satisfy customer
requirements whilst making use of the existing rail network and
so enabling high-speed access even to smaller centres.

A bit of history

The name, Pendolino, is used to identify
the family of high-speed, tilting-technology trains. These trains
owe their name (which in Italian means pendulum) to
the mechanism enabling them to tilt when going round a bend. The
maximum tilt of 8 degrees allows the trains to reach a speed that
is up to 35% higher than for conventional trains, whilst assuring
the greatest safety and comfort for passengers. Developed by
ALSTOM Ferroviaria, world leader in the production of high-speed
trains based on tilting technology, they are built at
ALSTOMs Savigliano sites, in Piedmont and in Sesto San
Giovanni near Milan (which will supply the traction
convertors).

The Pendolino first began service in Italy in 1988, under the
codes ETR450 and ETR460, followed by ETR470 and ETR480.

To date, 421 trains around the world (total comprising trains
in service and in production) have been fitted with
ALSTOMs active tilting  technology. Overall, these
trains have travelled over 200 million kilometres. The countries
that use the Pendolino train, other than Italy, are: Germany,
Czech Republic, Switzerland, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, Spain,
Portugal, Finland. ALSTOM has also recently been award a contract
to supply trains to China based on Pendolino technology.

The new Pendolino

The new Pendolino trains, built for Trenitalia and
Cisalpino, represent a further development of the earlier models
in order to better respond to the requirements expressed by the
market and the customers of Trenitalia and Cisalpino. The
innovative features concern the interior and exterior design, now
closer to the customers brand strategy, and an improved
comfort and services for passengers. Moreover, some important
technical characteristics have been increased, such as the power
of the traction unit, and the level of
redundancy of components and equipment to achieve
an ever-better level of reliability. The new trains will be
produced in full accordance with the new regulations governing
interoperability (for example, passive security in case of
impact).

The trains have the following characteristics:

 Seven cars , 4 motors and 3 trailers;

 Gauge: 1,435 mm,

 Voltage:

   - Trenitalia: 3 kV CC 25 kV CA

   - Cisalpino: 3 kV CC 25 kV CA
15 kV CA

 Length of coach: 26.2 m (total length 28.2 m);

 Total length of train: 187.4 m;

 Width of train: 2.83 m;

 Maximum load per axle: 16.5 t (with passengers);

 Weight of train: 387 t;

 Total weight of train under normal load (with seated
passengers): 421 t;

 Top speed: 250 kph;

 Total installed power: 5500 kW;

 Seating: 430 +2 for wheel chair users;

 Tilting actuating system: electro-hydraulic;

 HVAC system with built-in redundancy;

The new Pendolino will also be fitted with ERTMS signalling
systems (2nd level) and SCMT, while the trains produced for
Cisalpino will have ERTMS, SCMT, ZUB, LZB  and Signum
systems.

The principle differences between the existing and the
new Pendolino