Congestion and pollution pose serious challenges to the growth of industrialised and developing nations. Rail presents a low carbon alternative to air and road as the backbone of national transportation infrastructure. Around the world, Bombardier Transportation moves hundreds of thousands of people quickly and efficiently to their destinations. The company’s latest innovations in rail technology open a window to a future in which high speed is not just about travelling faster but also smarter from A to B.

High speed (HS) and very high speed (VHS) trains offer passengers an attractive alternative to motorways and medium distance air travel because of quick boarding and travelling comfort. In many countries, economic stimulus packages initiated in recent years support the construction of new rail networks. Modern high speed trains offer some of the most exciting and innovative technology found in transport, inspiring the imagination of passengers across the globe.

BOMBARDIER ZEFIRO high speed trains
Bombardier is creating a new sense of speed with its groundbreaking ZEFIRO family, featuring the world’s most economical and eco-friendly VHS trains. These ultra-modern trains combine the highest capacity in the market with pioneering levels of passenger comfort. The flexible vehicles can be customised to any market needs and cover a top speed range between 250 km/h and 380 km/h. They are the culmination of Bombardier’s global experience in the VHS sector, spanning more than two decades. Currently, there are four ZEFIRO trains in development – the ZEFIRO 250 and ZEFIRO 250NG (next generation) trains with top speeds of 250 km/h, the ZEFIRO 380 train with a maximum speed of 380 km/h, and the V300ZEFIRO train for Europe.

As a world leading aerospace company, Bombardier has special expertise in aerodynamic design. It has applied these unique skills to the ZEFIRO family to achieve better overall train performance in terms of speed, safety and noise reduction. Advanced aerodynamic properties reduce wind drag ensuring better performance at very high speeds and lower energy consumption. This ultimately lowers operating costs. Examples include improved designs for the front end of the train and bogie skirts, reduced spacing between cars, and high speed pantographs specially designed to minimize aerodynamic resistance. ZEFIRO trains achieve true pan-continental interoperability because they are compatible with different power supply systems and different signalling and train control equipment. This enables cross-border travel beyond simple country-to-country trips.

The innovative ZEFIRO 380 and V300ZEFIRO trains are equipped with the proven BOMBARDIER FLEXX Speed bogie. It is designed to ensure excellent ride quality at very high speeds. The FLEXX Speed bogie family guarantees safe, stable and comfortable running throughout the entire speed range up to 380 km/h.

The V300ZEFIRO train – very high speed for Europe
The new European flagship of very high speed travel will be the Frecciarossa 1000 in Italy (the V300ZEFIRO model in Bombardier’s product portfolio), premiering in Italy in 2014. The 50 trains will be delivered in consortium with Ansaldo Breda for Trenitalia, the leading Italian train operator, who placed the order some two years ago. The V300ZEFIRO train is capable of operating at top speeds of up to 360 km/h on Italy’s high speed network.

The train’s unusually high acceleration ensures excellent travel times even on winding routes. It is fully interoperable and will provide cross-border service, taking passengers to other European countries without the need to change trains. It could also be adapted for use on the European network, for example in France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK. Currently under development, the train is an eight-car Electrical Multiple Unit (EMU) that can run in single operation and multiple operation of two units and will have a total capacity of 485 + 2 (tip-up seats facing the space for passengers with reduced mobility) in four classes and a bistro.

BOMBARDIER TWINDEXX Swiss Express – a new level of speed and comfort
In many cities, Bombardier’s double deck trains are a familiar sight. Offering high capacity in densely populated areas and fast speed on intercity rail links, double deck trains are central to an eco-friendly and comfortable rail transportation, moving millions of people every day.

Leading the way to a new level of fast and comfortable regional transportation are 59 new TWINDEXX Swiss Express trains for the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). One of the technical highlights of the TWINDEXX train is the leading-edge BOMBARDIER FLEXX Tronic WAKO system. It compensates the natural rolling motion of the carbody while driving, thus maximising comfort for passengers and at the same time allowing the train to take curves particularly quickly. Compared to other systems, the train will tilt only to a very limited degree and therefore causes no problems for people who feel unwell in “normal” tilting trains. This mechatronic technology, merging proven technical components into an innovative system, enables double deck intercity trains to increase speed in curves by up to 15 per cent, thus significantly reducing travel times. Visitors to Bombardier’s InnoTrans stand can enjoy an exciting TWINDEXX multimedia experience to find out more about this next generation of high speed rail.

Proven high speed expertise around the world
For more than two decades, Bombardier has been a key player in the design and delivery of almost all major European very high speed trains as well as other significant high speed projects, with a portfolio of more than 20 products worldwide. Bombardier has participated in Europe’s most prestigious VHS trains, including the ICE family in Germany, the ETR 500 in Italy as well as the new generation of ETR 1000 and four different series of TGV in France. The company’s high speed competence is also evident, for example, in orders (with a consortium partner) such as the AVE S-102 high speed trains by the Spanish State Railway (RENFE). Beyond Europe, Bombardier has been involved in the development of the Acela Express tilting train operating between Washington D.C. and Boston in the USA at speeds of up to 240 km/h, as well as the Xinshisu (X2000) and the CRH1 in China.