Bombardier Transportation - European Testing Services for the Railway Vehicle Industry

Bombardier has railway testing facilities in the UK, France and Germany that can give a "one stop" solution to all your rail testing needs, including rail vehicle testing, system testing (e.g. engine, bogie, HVAC, brake and vibration testing) and track measurement services. Capabilities range from a small component test to acceptance testing of complete trains.

The railway testing facilities can offer you:

• Advice on measurement parameters and consultation service for particular measurement problems
• Preparation of test specification to meet customer, contractual, national or international standards
• Preparation of test piece, rig manufacture, development of real-time analysis software, installation of test equipment, management of test train documentation and test planning
• Tests, statically in one of our laboratories or on-site at a customer location; we also carry out dynamic tests on the operator's track
• Many years of railway experience that can be utilised to carry out tests to investigate and solve a particular problem
• Return of test data to one of our bases for analysis using proprietary analysis packages
• Preparation of test reports that satisfy the requirement of the test specification

STATIC TESTS AND RAIL MONITORING

In our experience, customers have expectations from a test but do not know how to meet those expectations. Our staff meet the customer, discuss and understand the problem and then offer advice.

Static tests are performed in one of our laboratories. Customers are welcome to witness the tests, regular updates of test progress are given and webcam facilities have been used in the past to monitor tests.

Dynamic on-track tests are performed at the customer's location. Our staff will prepare the train for the tests, carry out the tests and then return the train to its original condition. In some cases, unobtrusive monitoring equipment can be installed and measurements taken while the train is in passenger service.

SOLUTION OF IN-SERVICE RAILWAY PROBLEMS

In cases where it is required to investigate a particular problem, our staff will source or design transducers for a particular requirement, carry out a test and examine the recorded data at the time of the test to ensure the correct information is being captured. This data will be presented to the customer as soon as possible and if necessary, make changes to the tests to accommodate revised requirements. In our experience, this dialogue is essential to understand and solve in-service problems.

Bombardier has dedicated teams of engineers with electrical, mechanical and testing backgrounds. All testing staff have higher education qualifications. They have many years of experience in the railway industry and all have specialist skills.

Test data is returned to one of our test laboratories for analysis, which is carried out as per the requirement of the test specification. At this stage, dialogue with the customer is essential to provide the exact analysis required. Data from tests is archived and stored for a minimum of three years after the test, so subsequent analysis of data is always possible.

Test reports vary from a simple summary of the tests performed together with a pass / fail conclusion, to a large document presenting many pages of diagrams, tables, plots and figures.

The laboratories operate under management system DIN EN ISO 9001: 2000 and DIN EN ISO 14001: 2000. Also, compliance with BS EN ISO / IEC 17025: 2000, 'competence of testing and calibration laboratories', has been attained.

RAIL VEHICLE AND SYSTEM TESTING AND RAIL TRACK MEASUREMENT FACILITIES

Site-based vehicle testing:

• Torsional stiffness
• Sway (kinematic envelope)
• Slew
• Bogie rotation
• EMC
• Weighing
• Centre of gravity
• HVAC
• Climate chamber (limited capability)

Site-based system testing:

• Car body structure
• Bogie
• Diesel engine
• Pantograph
• Gangway
• Seat
• HVAC
• Brakes
• Fatigue and vibration
• Impact and drop weight

Track measurements:

• Ride
• Dynamic brake
• Noise
• Vibration
• Strain
• Temperature
• Lighting
• EMC

For further information, contact: