Alfa Pendular

Alfa Pendular is the name of the Pendolino high-speed tilting train of Portuguese state railway company CP.[1] It connects the cities of Guimarães, Braga, Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra, Santarém, Lisbon, Albufeira and Faro, among others at speeds of up to 220 kilometres per hour (137 mph).

Alfa Pendular
An Alfa Pendular train in new livery.
The old interior of a second class carriage.
ManufacturerFIAT Ferroviaria, ADtranz, Siemens
Built atSorefame, Amadora
Family namePendolino
Entered service1999
Refurbished2017
Number built10 six-carriage units
Number in service8
Number scrapped1
Fleet numbersSérie 4000 (numbers 4001-4010 and 4051-4060)
Capacity301 seats
Operator(s)CP
Line(s) servedBraga-Porto-Lisbon-Faro
Specifications
Train length158.9 m (521 ft)
Width2.92 m (9 ft 7 in)
Height4.39 m (14 ft 5 in)
Maximum speed220 km/h (140 mph)
Weight298.3 t (293.6 long tons; 328.8 short tons)
Axle load14.3 t (14.1 long tons; 15.8 short tons)
Traction system8 asynchronous three-phase Siemens 1TB2223-OGA03 motors
Power output4,000 kW (5,400 hp)
UIC classification(1A)(A1) – (1A)(A1) – 2′2′ + 2′2′ – (1A)(A1) – (1A)(A1)
Track gauge1,668 mm (5 ft 5 21⁄32 in) Iberian gauge
Alfa Pendular
 Guimarães
G
0
 Braga
B
 Santo Tirso
G
 Nine
⇄ Minho
B
 Trofa
M
 Famalicão
M
53
 Porto-Campanhã
⇄ Douro, Minho
MN
 Douro
(S. João Bridge)
N
55
 Gaia
N
121
 Espinho
⇆̸ Vouga
N
121
 Aveiro
⇄ Vouga
N
170
 Coimbra
⇄ B. Alta
N
 Rio Mondego
(Choupal Bridge)
N
 Pombal
→ Leiria
N
 Entroncamento
⇄ B. Baixa, Leste, Tomar
N
 Santarém
N
340
 Lisboa-Oriente
⇄ Sintra
N
 Lisboa-Santa Apolónia
N
 Entrecampos
⇄ Oeste, Sintra
C
 Tagus
(25 de Abril Bridge)
S
 Pinhal Novo
⇄ Alentejo
SJ
 Sado River
S
 Tunes
⇄ Algarve
AS
 Albufeira
A
 Loulé
A
624
 Faro
⇄ Algarve
A

The trains were assembled in Portugal by ADtranz at the former Sorefame works at Amadora, based on contracting partnership between Fiat-Ferroviaria as the main contractor and ADtranz and Siemens as the main subcontractors.

Beginning 2017, the trains were refurbished, introducing new interiors, livery, seating and features such as Wi-Fi and power outlets.[2]

Description

The Alfa Pendular high speed train is a six car electric multiple unit (EMU), which is derived from and closely resembles the Giugiaro designed Italian Fiat-Ferroviaria ETR 480 Pendolino train. The bogies had to be redesigned to operate on Portugal's 1,668 mm (5 ft 5 21⁄32 in) Iberian gauge track.

There are 8 traction motors, installed on all but the two middle vehicles of the train, developing 4.0 megawatts (5,400 hp). This M-M-T-T-M-M arrangement spreads the weight of the train, giving it a weight of only 13.5 tonnes (13.3 long tons; 14.9 short tons) per axle, which helps its cornering ability at high speed.

During testing, a top speed of 245.6 km/h (152.6 mph) was reached close to Espinho in 1998.

Tilting technology

Its tilting train technology, with a maximum tilt angle of 8°, allows the train to negotiate curves at higher speeds than conventional trains. The combination of the resulting high cornering velocity and the tilting movement of the carriages helps ensure a comfortable ride for the passengers, although the jostle and sway compensating for track irregularities may cause "travel sickness" in those susceptible. The hydraulic tilting system is governed by two gyroscopes in the head cars. The curve is found on the base of the elevation of the external track.

The use of this train did not require particular modifications to the existing rail network, but it is expensive in terms of maintenance of the rolling stock because of the complexity of the tilting system.

Stations

The stations served by the Alfa Pendular are from north to south:[3]

Old first class carriage on the Oporto - Lisbon service.

See also
  • List of high speed trains

References
  1. Série 4000: CP official website
  2. Portugal, Comboios de. "#NovoAlfaPendular". CP.PT | Comboios de Portugal. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  3. Comboios de Portugal > Alfa Pendular > Estações

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