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Mar 4, 2010 – A new train from Siemens will make transport at airports faster and more flexible. Airval — a driverless train that runs on tires — has a top speed of 80 kilometers per hour.  The train’s transport capacity can be increased from 1,000 to 30,000 passengers per hour and per direction:  If more passengers are waiting on a platform, trains can simply be extended in length or run more frequently.  This flexible operation is possible thanks to the latest version of the Trainguard MT CBTC control system from Siemens.  The train is very energy-efficient because it recovers all of its braking energy.  A preliminary model has reduced the travel times between the three terminals of Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris to 8 minutes, compared to the 20-minute bus ride.  The train control system transmits all data, such as the position or speed of the train, in real time.  This makes it possible to quickly adjust train length or time intervals between trains, instead of having to work with fixed distances between trains. Overcrowded rush hour trains can thus be avoided, as can the operation of night trains with lots of empty seats.  Plans call for the train, under the name of Cityval, to also be available on the market as a subway train for large cities, starting around the end of 2010.  The train from Siemens Mobility is very environmentally friendly.  The electric motors in its tires take over the drive and braking functions, enabling the trains to recover all their braking energy.  This is most effective when the braking and start-up procedures are optimally coordinated with each other.  The energy that is recovered can be used to start up another train.  Also new is the cost-efficient guide rail in the middle of the track.  The rollers automatically follow the rails, guiding the car along the track.  In addition to flexibility, another important consideration in the development of the airport train was passenger comfort.  Big windows, air conditioning, and displays with a dynamic information system have been designed to make the journey as pleasant as possible.

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Photo courtesy & © Siemens.