Portuguese railway lines - new trains

[Paulo2004]

Although Portugal has begun the process of building brand new bullet-like high speed lines (TGV), the older ones have also been rebuilt with new, almost high speed trains (180km/h).

http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/alfa/images/logo.gif

http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/alfa/images/alfa8.jpg

http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/alfa/images/alfa1.jpg

http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/alfa/images/alfa3.jpg

http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/alfa/images/alfa5.jpg

http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/alfa/images/alfa7.jpg

[Tubeman]

What are those things that look like Wing Mirrors?

[Nephasto]

What are those things that look like Wing Mirrors?

They are what they look. :P

I have to say one thing: The top speed of those trains is 220 km/h, and they do run at that speed in some parts of the line.

[Vertigo]

Some more info: the train is a tilting train. The tilting mechanism makes it able to run faster through curves. The train was derived from the Italian Pendolino, developed by the rail division of FIAT (which was later taken over by Alstom).

This family of trains is very popular with European rail operators. Here they are from various operators:

Trenitalia (Italy):
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/it/electric/emu/ETR460/96II-23.jpg

Cisalpino (rail services Italy-Switzerland-Germany):
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ch/private/Cisalpino/Switzerland-misc/Cisalpino_Brig1.jpg

RENFE-Alaris (Spain):
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/es/electric/emu/490/Vila-real/490-1771.jpg

RENFE-AVE (Spain):
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/es/electric/emu/104/AVE-104_001c.jpg

SZ (Slovakia):
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/si/electric/emu/310/Ljubljana/310_001_Lj.jpg

CD (Czechia):
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/cz/electric/emu/680/680ch04.jpg

VR (Finland):
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/fi/electric/emu/Sm3-S220/Sm3_Salo.jpg

[Tubeman]

They are what they look. :P

So they can do 3-point turns? :crazy:

Why on Earth would a train need wing mirrors?

[Vertigo]

Just a guess... in some countries the conductor or station supervisor gives a manual departure signal to the driver, by waving or holding up a sign. Perhaps those mirrors allow the driver to see it without having to get out of his seat?

[Imperador]

They must be there for a reason. ;)

[BlueTiger]

SZ (Slovakia)

Sorry, but this is wrong.
It's Slovenia, not Slovakia.
The national railway company of Slovakia is ZSR.

[Vertigo]

Sorry, you're right, I meant Slovenia. Those names are so much alike. ;)

BTW, Slovakia also ordered Pendolino trainsets. They will be the same as the ones delivered to the Czech railways.

[Paulo2004]

:) Happens to the best!!

[Paulo2004]

six new railway stations will be inaugurated next year. I'll post pics as soon as I get them.

[Honestlad]

Many countries have opted for this model. Portugal did well I think in getting them.

[Paulo2004]

http://www.luso.u-net.com/03fertag.jpg

http://www.pateb.com/pix/publicos/cpo1areeiro.JPG

http://www.pateb.com/pix/publicos/cpo5areeiro.JPG

[DonQui]

The Alfa pendular is being put into service between Lisbon and Porto, correct? Is this meant to be THE high speed rail link between the two cities, or will their be a standard gauge railway that will part of the high speed rail network between the two cities. In other words, is Alfa pendula in the short run (20-30 years) option being used to increase the speeds of services until a new standard gauge service connected with the Spanish and European high speed rail networks is constructed?

[Nephasto]

The Alfa pendular is being put into service between Lisbon and Porto, correct? Is this meant to be THE high speed rail link between the two cities, or will their be a standard gauge railway that will part of the high speed rail network between the two cities. In other words, is Alfa pendula in the short run (20-30 years) option being used to increase the speeds of services until a new standard gauge service connected with the Spanish and European high speed rail networks is constructed?

The Alfa pendular is on operations for some years now. It's top speed is 220km/h but it's only reached in short sections...

As for the TGV, there are plans to built a new line, but nothing concrete by now.

[Paulo2004]

http://www.moptc.pt/docs/imagens/CP_GareOriente01_Large.jpg

[Falcon83]

Some more info: the train is a tilting train. The tilting mechanism makes it able to run faster through curves. The train was derived from the Italian Pendolino, developed by the rail division of FIAT (which was later taken over by Alstom).

This family of trains is very popular with European rail operators. Here they are from various operators:

Trenitalia (Italy):
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/it/electric/emu/ETR460/96II-23.jpg

Cisalpino (rail services Italy-Switzerland-Germany):
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ch/private/Cisalpino/Switzerland-misc/Cisalpino_Brig1.jpg

RENFE-Alaris (Spain):
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/es/electric/emu/490/Vila-real/490-1771.jpg

RENFE-AVE (Spain):
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/es/electric/emu/104/AVE-104_001c.jpg

SZ (Slovakia):
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/si/electric/emu/310/Ljubljana/310_001_Lj.jpg

CD (Czechia):
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/cz/electric/emu/680/680ch04.jpg

VR (Finland):
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/fi/electric/emu/Sm3-S220/Sm3_Salo.jpg

It's been bought by Ansaldobreda (Finmeccanica group)

[Paulo2004]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v695/Paulo_2004/gor2.jpg

[Paulo2004]

http://s1.pt-host.ptisp.net/comboios/Media/FotosALE/Foto3400-1.jpg

http://s1.pt-host.ptisp.net/comboios/Media/FotosALE/Foto3400-2.jpg

http://s1.pt-host.ptisp.net/comboios/Media/FotosALE/Foto3400-6.jpg

[JohnnyMass]

are these refurbished ones or are they brand new Paulo? They're very nice!

[Bitxofo]

High speed is 250km/h or more!
180km/h is NOT high speed...
;)

[Paulo2004]

High speed is 250km/h or more!
180km/h is NOT high speed...
;)

? - who said that?

[Vertigo]

The international association of railways (UIC) holds this defenition of "high speed rail":

200+ km/h on upgraded existing lines
250+ km/h on newly built lines

But of course defenitions may differ.

[Arpels]

yup is trew!!

[Paulo2004]

.....

[Puro_pt]

So they can do 3-point turns? :crazy:

Why on Earth would a train need wing mirrors?

Well, they are very useful to me as i operate single manned trains and with mirrors i can supervise passenger entrance/exit from my seat. However, they are most usefull as they allow me to control the rear of the train for things such as obstacle clearance, end of speed restrictions, problems with brakes(just find the smoke). Fools were the british that didn't use them on their railways. nowadays even EWS is fitting them to their class 66 locomotives.

[fred_mendonca]

Although Portugal has begun the process of building brand new bullet-like high speed lines (TGV), the older ones have also been rebuilt with new, almost high speed trains (180km/h).

http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/alfa/images/logo.gif

http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/alfa/images/alfa8.jpg

http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/alfa/images/alfa1.jpg

http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/alfa/images/alfa3.jpg

http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/alfa/images/alfa5.jpg

http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/alfa/images/alfa7.jpg

This train is able to reach up to 220 km/h so it's an high speed train.

[Bitxofo]

^^Depending on the average speed in a journey.
;)

[sotavento]

CP Alfa Pendular runs (presently) at 224km/h

It's planned (and prepared) to run at 250km/h in new porposedly bilt tracks in the near (or not) future ... :cheers:

[sotavento]

CP Alfa Pendular runs (presently) at 224km/h

It's planned (and prepared) to run at 250km/h in new porposedly bilt tracks in the near (or not) future ... :cheers:

[Bitxofo]

^^That's top speed, not average speed.
;)

[Paulo2004]

True.