Future Railway launches pantograph design competition

As part of the UK’s rail electrification programme, FutureRailway is launching a competition to design a Pantograph Dynamic Behaviour Measurement Device for use in Rolling Stock Maintenance Depots. Currently pantographs cannot be run too close together and are limited in the speed they can achieve. Electric trains which can run at faster speeds whilst coupled together in multiple could improve both train performance and network capacity. Improvements in pantograph capability are thought to be needed to r
March 12, 2014
As part of the UK’s rail electrification programme, FutureRailway is launching a competition to design a Pantograph Dynamic Behaviour Measurement Device for use in Rolling Stock Maintenance Depots.

Currently pantographs cannot be run too close together and are limited in the speed they can achieve. Electric trains which can run at faster speeds whilst coupled together in multiple could improve both train performance and network capacity. Improvements in pantograph capability are thought to be needed to realise these benefits.

FutureRailway are seeking to test the dynamic performance of the pantograph before it is put into service, with the overall objective of reducing the variability in pantograph performance as part of a wider programme to improve OLE system performance and to achieve operation at higher speeds and in multiple.

Innovators, engineers and designers across a wide range of sectors including transport, civil engineer, electrical engineering, and design are invited to develop proposals for this competition.The closing date for competition submissions is by 12pm on Friday 2 May 2014 and a competition briefing/partnership forming event will be held on Friday 21 March 2014 at the East Coast Main Line Bounds Green Depot.

Visit <%$Linker:2External<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary />000oLinkExternalFuture Railway websiteVisit: http://futurerailway.org/eit/Pages/Funding.aspxfalsehttp://futurerailway.org/eit/Pages/Funding.aspxfalsefalse%> for more information.