Do you think a Republican victory in NovemberYesA plant in mourning summarizes the architect95 to 2894 while the title Google lost 2If our rate of pay is reduced from 1 to 0900 euros net per month exempt from taxesThe example of accountants is significantFor the support logistics procurement negotiationNo details on the content of maintenance was filteredIn its wake European stock markets also declinedReluctance to disburse 4 billion instead of the 2Alstom held to keep the longest possible secrecy on its new high speed train, called "self-propelled high speed" (AGV), the acronym is a registered trademark of the SNCF TGV. Its prototype, "Pegasus", is unveiled today in the presence of the President of the Republic to Aytré factory, near La Rochelle.
For the French manufacturer, the event is important. The AGV represents the fourth generation of its trains at high speed, after the first orange trains put into service in 1981 on Paris-Lyon, the Atlantic TGV launched in September 1989 to Rennes and Bordeaux, and the duplex TGV operated since 1996.
First, it is the first high speed train that the manufacturer has developed only, without specification of the SNCF, with the idea of conquering new markets abroad. He was devoted a budget of approximately EUR 100 million. Technically, AGV also presents major innovations: more aerodynamic and less heavy with used materials, works in distributed power, each trainset is equipped with engines, whereas in previous generations, only motor, front and rear of the train, were driving. If the German Siemens uses motorization divided for a long time, this choice in Alstom combines with other assets, including a new engine (with permanent magnets) and the articulation of the trainset, already proven on previous TGVS. In total, this allows to display costs lower maintenance and energy savings of approximately 20 compared to a rival train.
The launch customer for known
Designed to achieve 360 kilometres per hour in commercial speed, the AGV can be declined in many lengths, with the number of cars, from 7 to 14, which consist. It is intended to supplement the offer of Alstom, which will continue to offer its TGV duplex, as it comes to the Morocco or Argentina. In addition, it is just possible to develop a duplex version of the AGV, because the place taken by motorization under caisses.
Another first, the AGV already has its launch customer without having undergone traditional testing campaigns. But the train of the world record for rail speed, which reached 574,8 km/h in last April, had essential elements of the AGV. In addition, this first client is also a new entrant in the railway world, since it is the Italian private company Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori (NTV), just for a licence to operate trains at high speed on the Milan-Naples route. NTV acquired 25 trains for 650 million, with purchase of a contract for the maintenance of 30 years for a total value of EUR 1.5 billion market. According to the German regional press, Deutsche Bahn, which has launched a call for tenders, could also wear his vest on the newest of Alstom (see page 31).
The success is however really comprehensive for the constructor only if it can avail of a command of the French national company. It is with this train that Alstom will compete in the tender that SNCF should start at the end of the year for a large part of its aging TGV trainsets. A contract for total $ 8 billion to 10 billion euros, which could be divided into several batches.
