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Post by ianvisits on May 18, 2008 10:21:08 GMT
A short news snippet from www.railwayherald.co.uk-- Recent brake testing for faster trains on London Underground’s Jubilee Line used over 90 tonnes of weights to simulate a fully loaded train and to test brake performance. Tube Lines has conducted a series of tests to help progress towards the line upgrade. The train’s emergency brakes were applied at intervals along the line, including at the steepest slopes near Bermondsey and west of Canning Town, where the track dives underground and passes under the River Thames. Measurements of stopping distances will be compared with standard industry figures for braking. |
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Post by d7666 on May 19, 2008 22:27:47 GMT
The full press release from Tubelines is here on the public web site www.tubelines.com/news/releases/200805/20080512.aspx''Recent brake testing for faster trains on the Jubilee line used hundreds of weights. Tube Lines, which is upgrading the line to increase the overall speed and frequency of trains, used over 90 tonnes of weights to simulate a fully loaded train and to test brake performance. A series of tests was completed on a recent Saturday night when the Jubilee line was closed to passengers, helping Tube Lines progress towards the line upgrade which will be completed next year. The train’s emergency brakes were applied at intervals along the line, including at the steepest slopes near Bermondsey and west of Canning Town, where the track dives underground and passes under the Thames. Measurements of stopping distances will be compared with standard industry figures for train braking while temperature sensors embedded in the brake blocks will enable sophisticated computer modelling to aid system designs. In one series of tests, some brakes were disabled to simulate the worst possible conditions a passenger train might encounter. This will contribute towards ensuring the safety of the new signalling system being installed by Tube Lines. Organising the logistics of the testing was a significant challenge for the project team, involving careful co-ordination between many groups. Trans Plant, Tube Lines’ division providing specialist trains, delivered the weights to the Jubilee line depot in Stratford. A team of four people from Metronet completed the heavy work of loading the 720 weights onto and off the test train. London Underground signallers directed the trains involved. The Tube Lines project team liaised closely with its operational counterparts and fleet maintainers from Alstom throughout the weekend and ensured the train used in the tests was ready for passenger service on Monday morning.'' |
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