Pilatus Bahnen, the operator of the worlds steepest cogwheel railway has put a new fleet of energy-efficient railcars into operation in Switzerland.
Built by Stadler, the new fleet is equipped with ABB drive technology which is designed to help with improved sustainability and reliability.
The Pilatus Bahnen is located near Luzern in the Swiss Alps and runs for just over 4.6 kilometres. It has an average gradient of 35% but at its highest point, reaches a gradient of 48%.
Godi Koch, Pilatus-Bahnen CEO said: “We are pleased to commission this new generation of rack-and-pinion trains equipped with ABB traction inverters featuring the latest drive technology.
“These enable more energy-efficient operation and enhance the comfort and speed of the ride for our guests.”
The planning, construction and testing of the trains on the route took several years due to the complexities and the challenging nature of the terrain and project in general. The design of the train is unique, with large glass fronts and a panoramic roof. Alongside this, the narrow gauge and horizontal gear’s perforated principle limited the available space for electrical components which meant a lightweight but robust design was needed. This solution was then mounted underneath the wagons.
Energy efficiency was key for the project with the electrical energy generated fed back into the grid and then made available for the ascent. This works in the way that motors serve as generators that convert the kinetic energy into electricity, which flows back into the overhead line via traction converters, instead of converting the braking energy into waste heat.
The traction coverter solution is custom-designed and uniquely housed in a single enclosure, with the two traction converters installed underneath each train unit. They then convert the electrical energy from the overhead line into the volate and frequency required.
Gil Fischer, Local Division Manager ABB Traction Switzerland, adds, “we are very pleased that ABB drive solutions are also being used in the latest generation of vehicles and that we are supporting Pilatus-Bahnen AG on its way to continued reliable and even more efficient rail operations.”
Image and Video Credit: (c) PILATUS-BAHNEN AG
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