AGV (train)
The AGV is an Alstom train intended as the successor to France’s TGV high-speed trains; the name stands for automotrice à grande vitesse , or ‘high-speed self-propelled carriage’.
Alstom is conducting investigations to produce trains at the same costs as existing TGVs, with the same safety standards. Instead of having separate power cars at either end of the train, as current TGVs do, the AGV will have distributed traction with motors under the floors of the passenger carriages. This is the arrangement used on most regular-speed multiple-unit trains and also high-speed trains such as the Siemens Velaro and Japan's Shinkansen trains. The space saved through not having a power car will enable the AGV to offer up additional seats. It is availble in configurations from seven to fourteen carriages, with a total of 250-650 seats, depending on internal layout and number of carriages.[1]
The commercial service speed will be 360 km/h.[2] The AGV weighs less than its rivals which reduces its power consumption, and it consumes 30% less energy than previous TGV designs.
The prototype was unveiled on 5 February, 2008, with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in attendance.[3]
NTV
The first customer for the AGV is Italian company Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori, Europe's first private open access high speed train operator. NTV has ordered 25 11-coach AGV trains in a contract announced on January 17 2008.[4]
See also
- Autorail à grande capacité, a standard-speed multiple unit class of trains used by the SNCF
External links
- AGV tailors capacity and performance to the market Railway Gazette International September 2007
- "ELISA" to validate Alstom's AGV very high speed train concept
References
- ^ "Alstom unveils AGV prototype train". Railway Gazette International. 2008-02-05.
- ^ "AGV : Performance and modularity". Alstom. October 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ "France unveils super-fast train". BBC News. 5 February, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Alstom awarded Italian AGV contract". Railway Gazette International. 2008-01-17.