AEROTRAIN

AEROdynamics Total Regulatory Acceptance for the Interoperable Network

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The certification of a rail vehicle according to European regulations, Technical Specifications for Interoperability, European Standards and national safety rules represents a significant element of both vehicle cost and time to market. Indeed, a large part of vehicle certification mandates testing for safety, performance and infrastructure compatibility. AEROTRAIN will help meet the business scenarios listed in the ERRAC SRRA 2002 and 2007 by aiding the spread of European homologation and acceptance procedures to speed up interoperable product approvals while squeezing out risk through improved safety management. In the field of aerodynamics a recent EN focuses on common definitions and descriptions of the aerodynamic phenomena and measurement procedures. Due to the application to all types of rail traffic it has not converged yet to one method per phenomenon but allows variations arising from national rules. The focus of the project is therefore on using the TSI route to consolidate the methodologies allowing the free exchange of certification data. The project is part of the TRIO-TRAIN cluster (Total Regulatory Acceptance for the Interoperable Network) which comprises 3 related projects dealing with key railway interoperability issues: Aerodynamics (AEROTRAIN), Railway Dynamics and Track Interaction (DYNOTRAIN) and Pantograph/Catenary Interaction (PANTOTRAIN) all submitted under the 2nd Call of the FP7. The objective of these projects is to propose an innovative methodology via a computer simulation/virtual homologation that will allow multi-system network and route approval in Europe to become a faster, cheaper and better process for all involved stakeholders. Therefore the success of the TRIOTRAIN cluster will lead to a time reduction for relevant parts of the certification process from 24 to 6 months; an 80% saving in effort for the acceptance of a new vehicle already accepted in an other country and an estimated financial saving of €20-50 Million/year.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

An EU initiative proposed quicker and more cost-effective ways to certify trains so that they can operate throughout Europe's rail network and reinforce safety.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The creation of an integrated European railway area calls for improved interoperability of infrastructure, rolling stock and signalling systems. Rail vehicles have to meet European regulations to be approved for use across the rail network. However, the current approval process for railway vehicles in Europe is very long and costly.

Funded by the EU, the http://www.triotrain.eu/ (AEROTRAIN) (Aerodynamics total regulatory acceptance for the interoperable network) project set out to introduce a set of innovative methodologies to make the process for rail vehicle certification with respect to aerodynamic effects easier in Europe.

Project members addressed the technical specifications for the interoperability of high-speed trains and conventional railways. These specifications harmonise European and national standards on aerodynamics in order to reduce certification costs and time. To help achieve this reduction, they replaced current cross-wind and slipstream tests with new options without jeopardising safety and introduced virtual testing for validating head pressure pulse loads and cross-wind aerodynamic loads.

The team defined methodologies and then proposed new measurement methods to be applied to the developed certification procedures. It ensured that proposals for new or modified standards are directly applicable and in line with European and national safety authorities.

AEROTRAIN presented a time- and cost-efficient certification process for new interoperable rail vehicles. This leads to improved interoperability while enabling future certification procedures for aerodynamic effects to cost less and not take so much time. Rail transport will see a boost in competitiveness and desirability as a result.