First PENDOLINO tilting train for Czech Railways

On March 26, ALSTOM rolled out the first
PENDOLINO
tilting train for the Czech Republic at its facilities in
Savigliano, Italy, in the presence of Czech Railways
officials.

The train was the first to be delivered one month in
advance with respect to the contractual obligations in an
order for seven PENDOLINO trains by Czech Railways.

The trains will run under 3 voltages (3kV DC; 15 kV, 16 2/3
Hz; and 25 kV, 50 Hz) at a maximum speed of 230 kph. The
seven-vehicle trainsets are 184.4 meters long and carry up to 333
passengers. They will be equipped with the most advanced
signaling and telecommunications technologies, such as ETCS Level
2, GSM-R and event recording.

The PENDOLINO for the Czech Republic was developed to meet the
Czech Railways' specific requirements. The colors and interior
design including the air-conditioned compartments and the
bar car are by the Czech designer Patrik Kotas. A special
area has been equipped to carry bicycles.

Among other safety features, a special area for the train
captain has emergency braking equipment, an intercom system, a
public announcement system, an external display management
system, a diagnostic display and a music management system.

The Czech PENDOLINO will be presented to the international
press in Prague in the summer of 2003 and will enter into
commercial service on the Berlin-Prague-Vienna route in 2004.

The PENDOLINO is a multiple unit that, thanks to its active
tilting system, can negotiate curves at speeds up to 35 percent
higher than conventional trains, with maximum comfort and safety
for passengers.

ALSTOM's active tilting system may be powered either
hydraulically, as is the case in the Czech PENDOLINO, or
electromechanically, as is the
PENDOLINO
for Virgin Trains in Britain. The system is service-proven,
with about 200 million trip kilometers since 1988. Some 2,000
cars use ALSTOM tilting technology, and 294 have been optioned by
ALSTOM customers.

With more than 35 product lines and a presence in over 60
countries, ALSTOM's Transport Sector 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's Transport Sector, with 4.4 billion in sales in
2001, is among the world's leading suppliers to the railway
industry. 

Press information:
Helen Connolly

Tel. +33 (0)1 41 66 91 43

helen.connolly@transport.alstom.com