MOSCOW, July 24 Transmashholding (TMH), Russia's largest passenger car manufacturer, is developing a new passenger train platform with push-pull technology, which has not been previously used in Russia, Kirill Lipa, CEO of the company, said in an interview.
“We are currently working on creating a new platform for passenger electric trains. Previously, they were developed completely anew every time, but we set ourselves the task of creating a platform solution that can be implemented either in the form of an electric train, or in the form of a diesel train, or in the form of a diesel electric train. We are developing a new platform with new dimensions. It will include push-pull technology, which has never been used in Russia before,” said Lipa.
He explained the essence of push-pull. In the last car or the first there is a cab, which is controlled by a locomotive. Accordingly, the driver is there, that is, the locomotive either pulls or pushes «Push-pull is called. The train can move in any direction without rearranging the locomotive,» the head of TMH summed up.
According to him, there will be commuter trains with this technology, but they can also be used for long-distance routes. He answered in the affirmative to the question whether the train will be inside as a designer — what they order, then the manufacturer will deliver.
«This is convenience. We will be able to modify and change the composition for specific customer requirements without additional development. Global companies have traditionally developed a product that could then be customized for the tender of any country. Hence, in fact, we have this logic with a new platform. In Russia, it was taken differently: the plant did not participate in international tenders, but participated in a specific tender of Russian Railways or the metro, and each time a new electric train or metro cars was made,» the head of TMH continued.
However, since TMH has entered global markets and is trying to actively participate in tenders in different countries, it is starting to follow a different path. «That is, we are making a platform that is then universal for customization,» he explained.
Lipa added that for the time being it will be a product for the Russian gauge of 1520 mm, but the base platform is also being made for the gauge of 1435. “By the way, in Africa the gauge is 1435 mm for passenger traffic, in Egypt. Therefore, our task will be to make it in such a way that the bogie can roll under our gauge, under 1520, and under 1435,” said the top manager.
Transmashholding is the largest Russian company specializing in the development and production of rolling stock for railways and urban transport systems. The enterprises of the TMH group produce electric locomotives, diesel locomotives, freight and passenger cars, as well as electric train and metro cars.
The interview took place on the eve of the second summit and economic and humanitarian forum «Russia — Africa». It will be held in St. Petersburg on July 27-28. acts as an information partner of the event.