Alstom starts AGV tests on the Italian rail network

The AGV - Alstoms fourth generation high-speed train
- will cover over 60,000 kilometres on the Italian rail network
between January and July 2010. The prototype will run initially
on the conventional Rome-Florence line, then on a portion of
the high-speed Rome-Naples line, and finally on the
direttissima between Rome and Florence. During
the acceleration tests, it will achieve a maximum speed of 335
km/h.

The new series of tests follows those carried out during the
past two years at the rail test centre in Velim (Czech
Republic) and on the East European high-speed line (France).
The prototype has already been operating for nine and a half
months and has covered nearly 55,000 kilometres.

Ten engineers from various Alstom Transport manufacturing sites
will make up the teams that will take it in turns to travel on
board the prototype between January and July 2010. The
measurements and data collected by the 2,000 sensors fitted to
the trainset will be transmitted to Alstoms engineering
departments. The AGV is due to be certified for the Italian
network by mid 2011.

In parallel with these tests, Alstom is continuing with the
manufacture of 25 trainsets ordered by the operator NTV. Having
begun in December 2008 at La Rochelle in France, manufacture
then started at Alstoms Savigliano site in Italy in July
2009. The first trainset will leave the Alstom factories in
Autumn 2010, and will also embark on a series of tests on the
Italian rail network that will complete the certification
process.

The Italian railway operator NTV awarded Alstom a 650
million order for 25 new generation very high-speed AGV
trainsets. The contract also covers the maintenance of the
trains for a period of 30 years (the cost of which is not
included in the contract) and includes an option for 10 more
trainsets.

The AGV has been designed under the latest European
interoperability standards, and meets European and Italian
environmental and safety standards. Its traction system, which
enables the AGV to travel at commercial speeds of up to 360
km/h, played a central role in the performance of the train
which set the new world rail speed record of 574.8 km/h on 3
April 2007.

About Alstom Transport
With a focus on sustainable transport, Alstom Transport
develops and offers the most complete range of systems,
equipment and services on the rail market. Alstom Transport is
capable of managing an entire transport system, from rolling
stock to signalling and infrastructure, as well as offering
turnkey solutions. In 2008-2009, Alstom Transport had a
turnover of 5.7 billion, and its orders had increased by
9% over the previous financial year. Alstom Transport has a
presence in more than 60 countries and employs 27,000 people.

Press contact
Benjamin Wright - Tel. + 33 (0)1 57 06 85 37

benjamin.wright@transport.alstom.com

Website:
http://www.transport.alstom.com

Press corner:

https://www.partners.alstom.com/transportpress