DESIRO - Future Reliability for CFR

This year, in Berlin, the frame-contract between SNTCF "CFR Calatori" SA and Siemens AG -TS was signed in the presence of the Prime Minister of Romania, Mr. Adrian Nastase. The two parties were represented by Mr. Valentin Bota, General Director of SNTCF "CFR Calatori" SA, and by Mr. Hans Schabert, vice-president of Siemens TS. The contract stipulates the construction of 120 Diesel motor cars, in collaboration with the Romanian industry.
The value of the contract is of approximately 250 million USD and stipulates the construction of a series of motor cars built in Germany at Siemens Uerdingen, followed by a number of train sets and sets of components. They will be assembled in Romania in parallel with the re-design of OL frames and the graduate assimilation of some components (sub-assemblies).
DESIRO represents a new family of Diesel motor cars and electric train sets for the passenger regional and inter-regional traffic conceived by the Siemens company.

The restructuring, region divisions and privatisation of the railways generated in the past years a modification of the requirements regarding the new vehicles for the passenger regional and inter-regional traffic. The railway undertakings and the operators involved in the passenger traffic need light vehicles, with operation costs as low as possible, easy to maintain and at technical and comfort level as high as possible.

THE UTILISATION FIELD
The DESIRO vehicle family covers the following utilisation fields:
regional and distribution traffic that has a reduced or medium number of passengers;
the sub-urban traffic for commuters and connection lines with airports, with a great number of passengers on short distances;
long journeys traffic with speeds up to 160 km/h and high comfort.
The conditions offered by DESIRO
for passengers:
attractive design both inside and outside, according to the client's desire;
series valuable solution and with optional equipment and comfort levels;
the height of the access steps (575/800/1040 mm) and also the inner finishing works, the areas with low floor, the easy access without foot plates are characteristics conceived including the persons with special needs;
reduced travel time due to the high commercial speed, the maximum speed being of 120 km/h up to 160 km/h.
for operators:
modular concept for the whole range of vehicles, from the one composed of a single car and propelled by Diesel motor to the electric train set composed of six cars;
high safety in driving and the utilisation of verified constructive variants;
high availability due to the technical conception, to the feasibility, to the redundancy of the critical components and to the utilisation of the series spare parts;
practically identical vehicles for both hauling modes, Diesel or electric;
"ready to go" vehicles, as a consequence of the numerous tests done on the ring of the testing centre from Wegberg-Wildenrath,
service during the operation of the vehicle.

THE MODULARITY CONCEPT
This is the answer of the Siemens AG company, a concept that covers the requirements of the passenger traffic, ranging from the sub-urban one to the long distance one, respectively the DESIRO vehicle family - a modular concept that meets all the requirements. The different modules can be combined according to the most varied requirements of the operators and the end vehicle's design can be chosen from three variants. The number of cars and seats can be adapted individually according to one's desire and additionally, different arrangements meant to enhance the comfort level can be provided, arrangements like: bistro, sanitary facilities for persons with special needs, multi-functional spaces and conditioning equipment.
This means that each client can "assemble" by himself the DESIRO vehicle, according to the potential of traffic, to the line's profile, to the comfort requirements and to the operation principles.
Technically, different propelling devices, different safety systems and different gauges are offered. The result is a train that answers completely to the passengers' requirements and to the special conditions imposed by the operators.
DESIRO can be conceived at choice, either as a frame with individual cars, respectively with conventional bogies, either with articulated cars, respectively with Jakobs bogies.
The modular construction is a characteristic of the DESIRO vehicle concept. The module is that part of the system that covers a great number of sub-modules and components. The module has mechanical and electric interfaces with the neighbouring modules, very clearly defined. This way, a series of advantages can be obtain during the fabrication and during operation. To this purpose, we can distinguish three main modules:
the module of the box of the vehicle (Fahrzeugkastenmodul);
the module of the rolling equipment (Fahrwerksmodul);
the module for the operation (Antriebsmodul).
Various configurations of the trains can be obtained with only four types of modules of wagons. A substantial reduction of the investment costs can be obtained through this system. There are designed the following types of modules for the box of the wagon:
ending wagon for the conventional bogies;
ending wagon for Jakobs bogies;
intermediary wagon for conventional bogies;
intermediary wagon for Jakobs bogies.
In the ending wagons are placed the main components of the operations, and in the intermediary wagons are generally placed the sources for the board tensions and other auxiliary services.
From the dimension point of view, DESIRO can be developed gradually, starting with the length of 24 meters of the Diesel vehicle (DMU), respectively the 41 meters, of the electrical vehicle (EMU). The carcasses of the wagons, according to the version, can be achieved with smaller lengths. The width can also vary according to the standard dimensions of 2.83 meters.
From the point of view of the rolling stock utilized at the building of the wagons boxes, these can be made of aluminum or steel, including alloyed steel.
The module of the rolling equipment and the operation mode
No matter which is the construction version of DESIRO vehicle, with individual wagons or articulated, as well as independent of the vehicles' configuration or its width, there are utilized only five different types of modules of the rolling stock:
conventional bogie for electrical operation; used as an engine bogie, as well as a carrying bogie,
Jakobs engine bogies for electrical train sets,
Jakobs carrying bogie for electrical train sets,
conventional bogie for Diesel vehicles, used as an engine or carrying bogie,
Jakobs carrying bogie for Diesel vehicle.
From the operation point of view, according to the field of utilization of the vehicle, DESIRO - Diesel version will be delivered with mechanical-Diesel operation, Hydraulic - Diesel or Electric Diesel operation.
As electrical train set it can be delivered for the supplying system in the alternative current, 15 kV, 16 2/3 Hz or 25 kV, 50 Hz, as well as for the continuous power supply.

ECONOMICAL ADVANTAGES
Besides the advantageous purchasing price, the ulterior prices are very important for the maintenance and exploitation (LCC), due to the fact that they are very reduced.
The family of DESIRO vehicles offers advantages, in comparison with the same products, from all points of view:
-power consume;
-preventing maintenance
-corrective maintenance;
-spare parts, supplying/availability.
Reduced power consume is obtained through:
-optimal weight of the vehicle, due to the:
• Utilization of light metallic constructions made of aluminum or steel;
• Utilization of hauling equipment of big capacity with reduced masses and volumes;
• Self-ventilated hauling engines, which, at the same power, are more compact and lighter than the ones ventilated by force;
-hauling equipment with reduced consumes and losses:
• Through the utilization at 25 kV/50Hz tensions of the hauling inverter with IGBTs, which allows an exploitation at high frequency rhythms, without being necessary additional scheme elements (diodes, condensers, and resistance) with the afferent losses;
• Through an optimal operational regime of the hauling system, provided by permanent surveillance of the revolution and of the current of the engines;
• In Diesel version, through the amortization of the engine operation with the transmission equipment is guaranteed an optimal exploitation;
• In electrical version, through the utilization of the recovering brakes that are part of the equipment (electric, pneumatic and magnetic track) their utilization is optimized according to the situation, giving priority to the electrodynamics brake with recovering, which has minimal wears;
• Through a centralized adjusting device of all the components of the heating, air conditioning and ventilation system from the ventilation aggregate, which, according to the humidity and the temperature of the outside air, it adjusts the temperature in the rooms meant for the passengers.


Examples of vehicles from DESIRO family achieved or in the achievement phase

1st Example: Diesel vehicle having a single coach:
The length: 24 meters;
The width: 2.83 meters;
Places: sitting/standing: 69/46 (4 passengers/m2).

2nd Example: Diesel vehicle compounded of two articulated coaches
(Series VT 642 for DB A.G.)
150 pieces ordered, delivered in 1999
The length: 41.7 meters;
The width: 2.83 meters;
Places: sitting/standing:123/75 (4 passengers/m2).

3rd Example: electric vehicle (train set) compounded of three coaches, supplied in c.c. 3 kV
(Series EMG 313 for Slovenian Railways)
ordered 20 pieces and 10 more with two coaches
The length: 57.2 meters;
The width: 2.83 meters;
Places: sitting/standing: 195/163 (4 passengers/m2).

4th Example: electric vehicle (train set) compounded of four coaches, supplied in c.a. 15 kV, 163/3 Hz:
The length: 69.9 meters;
The width: 2.83 meters;
Places: sitting/standing: 247/128 (4 passengers/m2).

5th Example: electric vehicle (train set) compounded of five coaches, supplied in c.a.
25 kV, 50 Hz,
for Greek Railways (OSE)
20 pieces ordered
The length: 88.72 meters;
The width: 2.83 meters;
Places: sitting/standing: 304/278 (4 passengers/m2).