BRAKING: Tüv Süd has provided safety, quality and performance standard certification for Metroflexx, Wabtec’s ‘next-generation’ braking system for metro trains.
Designed to significantly reduce the weight, energy consumption and life-cycle cost of a train, Metroflexx communicates with the train computer and traction equipment to optimise use of electrodynamic braking. The patented design ensures that a single failure will not prevent continued safe operation, and the system can be replaced in less than 20 min by just one person. Embedded condition-based maintenance capabilities provide alerts for fault reporting, and show remaining time until overhaul and inspection to maximise availability and minimise maintenance costs.
Earlier this year Alstom awarded Wabtec a contract to supply Metroflexx along with pantographs and event recorders for 219 metro cars which will form three-car and six-car trainsets for the future Grand Paris Express automated metro lines 15, 16 and 17.
‘This order marks the first, large-scale commercial application of Metroflexx, our new brake control system that offers the highest degree of safety and performance’, said Lilian Leroux, President of Wabtec’s Transit business. ‘The system will provide top-of-the-line stopping distance and reduce dwell time, enabling the Grand Paris Express to maximise train capacity and operations.’
