GERMAN Railway has developed and built a special vehicle for testing the first applications of the European Rail Traffic Management System/ European Train Control System in Germany. This will initially be on the route from Jüterbog to Halle and Leipzig, where trials are planned this year and next.
The 120 km/h diesel-powered test car with hydrodynamic drive has been designated Class 707 and was assembled in Brandenburg to a design based on a catenary inspection car; measuring equipment was fitted at DB’s research centre in München. The vehicle is intended to test ERTMS/ETCS equipment from different suppliers in several countries and will ultimately be used for commissioning trials.
After completion of tests in Germany, it will travel to France and Italy for further work. Class 707 is also equipped to check LZB inductive train control installations.
