Page 394 - 360.revista de Alta Velocidad - Nº 6

Watson, Inara. Amer, Ali. Bayyati, Ali.

from 11.4t Hitachi Train to 23t Bombardier. Such large difference can be explained by the type
of railway that uses this rolling stock. Shinkansen line that employs Shinkansen-Series 700 is
HSR with fences and screens that secure the entire length of the track. In contrast, the Acela
Express operated on upgraded infrastructure with level crossings equipped with anti-collision
structure to meet USA crash standards.
Zefiro high speed train, which has 16.5t axle loading and manufactured by Bombardier, is one
of the most economical and environmentally friendly trains in the world. With optimizing the
energy use, minimising waste and lowering the carbon footprint from the total life-cycle, the
efficiency of trains increased by around 50%. Resources efficiency with different constructors
of rolling stock for HSR is different and it depends on raw material intensity that was used to
produce the modern rolling stock. This may mean reducing the axle load and decreasing the
amount of raw materials used to produce the rolling stock. Another important feature is the
power system of HSR. With a centralized power system train that has a heavy locomotive engine,
the subgrade and foundation must be stronger and a stronger rail must be used. This involves
more raw-materials to build the high-speed railway lines. The distributed power system is more
advanced in term of using fewer raw materials.

Table 2.2. Comparison of different types of high speed trains in terms of power
systems, axle loading, and car body materials

Main Axel
Country Train Power system Car Body
Constructor Loads
Aluminium with
France Alstom AGV Centralized 17t
carbon
Shinkansen-
Japan Hitachi Distributed 16t Carbon steel
Series 0
Shinkansen-
Japan Hitachi Distributed 11.4t Aluminum alloy
Series 700
Spain Talgo Talgo 350 Centralized 17t Aluminium

Italy Hitachi Rail Italy Frecciarossa Distributed 17t Aluminum alloy
Aluminium-silicon
Germany Siemens ICE1 Centralized 19.5
alloy
Aluminium-silicon
Germany Siemens ICE2 Centralized 19.5t
alloy
Germany Siemens ICE3 Distributed 15t Aluminium

Sweden Bombardier SJ X2 Centralized 17.5t Stainless steel

USA Bombardier Acela Express Centralized 23t Stainless steel

China Bombardier CRH1 Distributed 15t Stainless steel

China Siemens CRH3C Distributed 17t Aluminium

Canada Bombardier Zefiro Distributed 16.5t Aluminium

(Data taken from several sources)

392 360.revista de alta velocidad