Aventra
Encyclopedia
The Aventra is a new family of EMU
s designed by Bombardier
as a successor to the Electrostar
EMUs.
.
Aventra has been designed to accommodate large numbers of passengers for city centre metro-style operations and longer outer suburban journeys; it features a gangway design that allows maximum use of the interior space and ease of movement throughout the train. This new design is already in use on the Class 378 rolling stock used by London Overground
.
The Class 378 is currently the lightest train in its class. However, AVENTRA is expected be 10 tonnes lighter, partly due to the aluminium structural components, used on other vehicles from which Aventra has evolved. Bombardier claims the new train will be 70 per cent more reliable than the best available today, enabling faster journeys and using up to 50 per cent less energy than the Class 319s, which currently operate on the Thameslink services. A ‘driver assistance system’ will take into account gradients and real-time route conditions, to advise the driver how best to minimise power consumption while still meeting the timetable. Trials using a Class 365 brought a 13 per cent energy saving. Unlike today’s commuter trains, AVENTRA will also shut down fully at night and can be ‘woken up’ by remote control before the driver arrives for the first shift.
systems - one for the saloon and the vestibules and the other for the driver's cab. Energy saving techniques have been implemented in the HVAC design and control with a view to optimising power consumption and fresh air cooling, as well as regulating the internal temperature based on the number of occupants. The weight saving from using a single unit (rather than two as on the Electrostars) is expected to be about 200kg per car, which when combined with the simplified roof construction, provides an overall weight reduction of approximately 30 per cent.
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
s designed by Bombardier
Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
as a successor to the Electrostar
Electrostar
Electrostar is the name given to a series of related electric multiple-unit passenger trains manufactured by Bombardier Transportation at their Litchurch Lane Works in Derby, England...
EMUs.
Description
The multiple units have been designed to be lighter, more efficient, and have increased reliability. They have lightweight all-welded bodies, wide gangways and doors to shorten boarding times in stations, and ERTMS. Lightweight FlexxEco bogies are used, derived from those used by Voyagers and Meridians. They are expected to consume 50% less energy than a Class 319British Rail Class 319
The British Rail Class 319 dual-voltage electric multiple units were built by BREL York in two batches in 1987–88 and 1990. The trains were introduced for new north-south cross-London services from Bedford to Brighton, and since privatisation these services have been operated by Thameslink and...
.
Aventra has been designed to accommodate large numbers of passengers for city centre metro-style operations and longer outer suburban journeys; it features a gangway design that allows maximum use of the interior space and ease of movement throughout the train. This new design is already in use on the Class 378 rolling stock used by London Overground
London Overground
London Overground is a suburban rail network in London and Hertfordshire. It has been operated by London Overground Rail Operations since 2007 as part of the National Rail network, under the franchise control and branding of Transport for London...
.
The Class 378 is currently the lightest train in its class. However, AVENTRA is expected be 10 tonnes lighter, partly due to the aluminium structural components, used on other vehicles from which Aventra has evolved. Bombardier claims the new train will be 70 per cent more reliable than the best available today, enabling faster journeys and using up to 50 per cent less energy than the Class 319s, which currently operate on the Thameslink services. A ‘driver assistance system’ will take into account gradients and real-time route conditions, to advise the driver how best to minimise power consumption while still meeting the timetable. Trials using a Class 365 brought a 13 per cent energy saving. Unlike today’s commuter trains, AVENTRA will also shut down fully at night and can be ‘woken up’ by remote control before the driver arrives for the first shift.
Display System
Using Bombardier Orbiflo to provide up-to-date passenger information also enables the Passenger Information System to display departure details for station or airport connections. Another advanced facility is to provide advice on seat availability based on loading, guiding passenger to vehicles with more space. The PIS can also deliver information to the passenger through audio or video message tailored specifically to the route travelled.Energy Saving
The design includes two independent HVACHVAC
HVAC refers to technology of indoor or automotive environmental comfort. HVAC system design is a major subdiscipline of mechanical engineering, based on the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer...
systems - one for the saloon and the vestibules and the other for the driver's cab. Energy saving techniques have been implemented in the HVAC design and control with a view to optimising power consumption and fresh air cooling, as well as regulating the internal temperature based on the number of occupants. The weight saving from using a single unit (rather than two as on the Electrostars) is expected to be about 200kg per car, which when combined with the simplified roof construction, provides an overall weight reduction of approximately 30 per cent.