SWITZERLAND: Stadler has installed a section of 950 mm gauge track between Hemishofen and Ramsen to enable the pre-delivery testing of rolling stock built to the so-called ‘Italian metre gauge’, which is narrower than true metre gauge. ‘As there are no narrow gauge networks outside Italy with the track gauge typical of southern Italy, such rolling stock could previously only be tested at their future operating location’, explained Ansgar Brockmeyer, Deputy Group CEO at Stadler. ‘Thanks to the new track, we can test the trains here in Switzerland and, given the proximity to our factory in Bussnang, optimise them quickly and efficiently. This significantly speeds up the subsequent commissioning on site in Italy. Both the customer and passengers benefit equally from this.’ The test track uses a section of standard gauge heritage railway which does not carry regular services. This has previously been used to test a Flirt H2 hydrogen train that Stadler built for California. Stadler worked with Bahninfra and Müller Gleisbau to install a third rail to create an almost 4 km section of dual gauge track Stadler plans to test 21 narrow gauge trainsets for the Italian regions of Sardegna, Calabria and Sicilia on the line over the next three years, with the first being a hydrogen multiple-unit ordered by Sardegna’s ARST. Trials to assess performance and reliability will be undertaken from mid-October. ‘We are focusing on testing the hydrogen propulsion system’, said project manager Alessio Salvatore on October 16. ‘The train is being tested with varying levels of hydrogen in the tank and at different speeds. This will be followed by further tests relevant to type approval, including acceleration and braking behaviour. Every test successfully completed brings us one step closer to deploying the vehicle on the local route in Italy.’ Railway Gazette International notes that the 950 mm gauge is also used on the Italian-built railway in Eritrea, although a heritage line in Switzerland presumably offers a more practical environment for testing than the ‘Darjeeling of Africa’. See also Stadler to supply battery and hydrogen trains for Italian narrow gauge lines Hydrogen-powered narrow gauge train for Sardegna unveiled Hydrogen-powered zero-emission multiple-unit enters passenger service in California
SWITZERLAND: Stadler has installed a section of 950 mm gauge track between Hemishofen and Ramsen to enable the pre-delivery testing of rolling stock built to the so-called ‘Italian metre gauge’, which is narrower than true metre gauge.
‘As there are no narrow gauge networks outside Italy with the track gauge typical of southern Italy, such rolling stock could previously only be tested at their future operating location’, explained Ansgar Brockmeyer, Deputy Group CEO at Stadler. ‘Thanks to the new track, we can test the trains here in Switzerland and, given the proximity to our factory in Bussnang, optimise them quickly and efficiently. This significantly speeds up the subsequent commissioning on site in Italy. Both the customer and passengers benefit equally from this.’
The test track uses a section of standard gauge heritage railway which does not carry regular services. This has previously been used to test a Flirt H2 hydrogen train that Stadler built for California.
Stadler worked with Bahninfra and Müller Gleisbau to install a third rail to create an almost 4 km section of dual gauge track
Stadler plans to test 21 narrow gauge trainsets for the Italian regions of Sardegna, Calabria and Sicilia on the line over the next three years, with the first being a hydrogen multiple-unit ordered by Sardegna’s ARST. Trials to assess performance and reliability will be undertaken from mid-October.
‘We are focusing on testing the hydrogen propulsion system’, said project manager Alessio Salvatore on October 16. ‘The train is being tested with varying levels of hydrogen in the tank and at different speeds. This will be followed by further tests relevant to type approval, including acceleration and braking behaviour. Every test successfully completed brings us one step closer to deploying the vehicle on the local route in Italy.’
Railway Gazette International notes that the 950 mm gauge is also used on the Italian-built railway in Eritrea, although a heritage line in Switzerland presumably offers a more practical environment for testing than the ‘Darjeeling of Africa’.
See also
- Stadler to supply battery and hydrogen trains for Italian narrow gauge lines
- Hydrogen-powered narrow gauge train for Sardegna unveiled
- Hydrogen-powered zero-emission multiple-unit enters passenger service in California
Source: Railway Gazette
