The SBB has given up on its project for rapid crossing of curves in the new double-decker trains from Bombardier (TWINDEXX). During a press conference on Friday, general manager Vincent Ducrot highlighted a lack of reliability and comfort.
The Fribourgeois explained that the test races carried out had brought to light negative effects on the comfort of travelers. In addition, this technology for crossing curves assisted by roll compensation in the new double-decker trains from the manufacturer Bombardier proves to be demanding in terms of maintenance.
Known as Wako, this tilting technique prevents the wagons from tilting outwards in curves. It thus allows a curve speed that can be up to 15% higher than that of conventional double-decker train compositions. Alstom, which has been supplying the TGL duplex trainsets since it bought Bombardier’s rail division, even explains that roll compensation reduces lateral g-forces, which improves passenger comfort when cornering.
Reliability in question
The other argument raised Friday to justify the renunciation of this technique of rapid crossing of the curves resided in the reliability of the latter. Put into service about four years ago, Bombardier’s new double-decker trains had had a rocky start with several technical breakdowns and massive delays.
At the time, the SBB had spoken of a “forceps delivery” and had partly criticized the manufacturer. But a return of the trains is not possible, declared Vincent Ducrot, because there is no alternative in the SBB park. Meanwhile, 60 of the 62 trains ordered have been delivered, it was said. The last two will follow in July and August of this year.
>> The details of Nicolas Rossé in the 12:45:
An investment of 32 million which is “not lost”
Believing at the time, thanks to a series of tests, that this technique for crossing curves represented the future, the SBB invested 32 million for the railway infrastructure. “This money is not lost in the sense of deadweight loss. Admittedly, the amortization will not be extraordinary, but we have redone a more resistant infrastructure which will last longer”, explains Vincent Ducrot.
This waiver also has an impact on SBB’s journey time reduction targets. The gains of five minutes on the Lausanne-Bern line and two minutes on the line between Winterthur (ZH) and Saint-Margrethen (SG) from 2036 will not be achieved.
Nor should it be possible to regain the minutes lost over the past 20 years on the Geneva – Lausanne and Lausanne – Brig lines, where trains ran on average 10% slower in 2021 than in 2001.
>> Read about it: A Geneva-Lausanne commuter spends 30 hours more per year on the train than twenty years ago
A new section between Lausanne and Bern?
Nevertheless, SBB wants to pursue its objective and has requested an adaptation of the 2035 offer concept from the Federal Office of Transport. The goal is the construction of a new section between Bern and Lausanne, the development of which should cost more than one billion francs.
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