Alfa_Pendular

Alfa Pendular

Alfa Pendular

HSR system in Portugal


Alfa Pendular is the name of the flagship Pendolino high-speed tilting train of Portuguese state railway company CP.[1] It connects the cities of Guimarães, Braga, Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra, Santarém, Lisbon, Albufeira and Faro, among others at speeds of up to 220 km/h (135 mph).

Quick Facts Manufacturer, Built at ...
Alfa Pendular
km
Braga
000
Guimarães
Nine
Santo Tirso
Famalicão
Trofa
Porto-
Campanhã
053
Gaia
055
Espinho
121
Aveiro
121
Linha do Vouga e
Ramal de Aveiro
Coimbra-B
170
Choupal Bridge
across Rio Mondego
Pombal
for Leiria
Entroncamento
Santarém
Lisbon-Oriente
340
Lisbon-Santa Apolónia
Entrecampos
Pinhal Novo
Tunes
Albufeira-Ferreiras
Loulé
Faro
624

The trains were assembled in Portugal by ADtranz at the former Sorefame works at Amadora, based on contracting partnership between Fiat-Ferroviaria as the main contractor and ADtranz and Siemens as the main subcontractors.

Beginning 2017, the trains were refurbished, introducing new interiors, livery, seating and features such as Wi-Fi and power outlets.[2]

Description

The Alfa Pendular high speed train is a six car electric multiple unit (EMU), which is derived from and closely resembles the Giugiaro designed Italian Fiat-Ferroviaria ETR 480 Pendolino train. The bogies had to be redesigned to operate on Portugal's 1,668 mm (5 ft 5+2132 in) Iberian gauge track.

There are 8 traction motors, installed on all but the two middle vehicles of the train, developing 4.0 megawatts (5,400 hp). This M-M-T-T-M-M arrangement spreads the weight of the train, giving it a weight of only 13.5 tonnes (13.3 long tons; 14.9 short tons) per axle, which helps its cornering ability at high speed.

During testing, a top speed of 245.6 km/h (152.6 mph) was reached close to Espinho in 1998.

Tilting technology

Its tilting train technology, with a maximum tilt angle of 8°, allows the train to negotiate curves at higher speeds than conventional trains. The combination of the resulting high cornering velocity and the tilting movement of the carriages helps ensure a comfortable ride for the passengers, although the jostle and sway compensating for track irregularities may cause "travel sickness" in those susceptible. The hydraulic tilting system is governed by two gyroscopes in the head cars. The curve is found on the base of the elevation of the external track.

The use of this train did not require particular modifications to the existing rail network, but it is expensive in terms of maintenance of the rolling stock because of the complexity of the tilting system.

Stations

The stations served by the Alfa Pendular are from north to south:[3]

Old first class carriage on the Oporto–Lisbon service.

See also


References

  1. Portugal, Comboios de. "#NovoAlfaPendular". CP.PT | Comboios de Portugal. Retrieved 2019-09-23.

Media related to Alfa Pendular at Wikimedia Commons


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