Whitepaper: Innovation at Alstom - Train weight optimisation
In today’s world, innovation is happening at an unprecedented pace in various fields, including material, technology, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and processes, among others. It is important to not only follow a long-term vision but also to make innovations quickly available. At Alstom, we therefore differentiate between “innovation in the now” and “innovation for the future”.
This paper is part of a series of documents that explain our approach to a specific topic to deliver innovation in the now and to prepare innovation for the future.
Alstom focuses on innovating lightweight designs to enhance train performance, safety, and cost-effectiveness. By reducing weight, they lower energy consumption and operating costs, leading to cheaper infrastructure and longer-lasting components. For instance, the use of recycled composite skirts on monorails and lighter trains equipped with advanced technologies results in fuel savings and faster travel times. Alstom’s lightweight technologies also facilitate better traction and allow for the integration of additional features without exceeding existing axle load limits. Overall, optimizing weight contributes to profitability while ensuring efficient rail operations.
