IMPROVED PASSENGER EQUIPMENT EVALUATION PROGRAM TECHNOLOGY REVIEW. SEMIANNUAL REPORT

The status of three foreign rail technologies is analyzed in this the first of four semiannual reports. The three technologies are tilting car body mechanisms, pantographs, and passenger train brake systems. Tilting car bodies are used to increase train speed in curves while remaining within the safety requirements of overturning moment and the established levels of passenger comfort. Systems being developed in Europe and Canada are discussed. As train speeds increase in electrified corridors, power collection becomes a problem due to uneven track and catenary undulations. Slow response time due to pantograph mass is being overcome by staged pantographs where the final element is small and thus can respond to rapid changes in distance between the car roof and catenary. Two-stage pantographs and pantographs for tilting car bodies are discussed. Increasing train speeds on existing corridors requires improved braking systems so as not to exceed present signaling installations and corridor stopping distances. New concepts of brake systems in development are discussed.

• Corporate Authors:

  Unified Industries, Incorporated

  205 South Whiting
  Alexandria, VA  United States  22304

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Research and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Dow, A L
• Publication Date: 1977-10-25

Media Info

• Pagination: 32 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Active suspension systems; Actuators; Brakes; Center of gravity; Comfort; Detectors; Disc brakes; Eddy current brakes; Foreign; High speed rail; Hydraulic brakes; Hydraulic equipment; Mechanics; Pantographs; Passenger cars; Passenger comfort; Passenger transportation; Railroad cars; Railroad tracks; Railroads; Safety; Stopping distances; Technology; Technology assessment; Tilting trains; Transmission lines; Vehicle design
• Geographic Terms: Canada; Europe; United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Braking systems; Magnetic brakes; Magnetic track brakes; Passenger car design
• Subject Areas: Design; Passenger Transportation; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00175266
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: FRA/ORD-77/74
• Contract Numbers: DOT-FR-74249
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: May 18 1978 12:00AM