Alfa Pendular

5 ft 5+21⁄32 in) Iberian gauge

v t e Alfa Pendular
Legend
km Braga 000 Guimarães Minho Nine Santo Tirso Ramal de Braga Linha do Minho Linha de Guimarães Linha do Minho Famalicão Trofa Linha do Minho Linha do Norte Porto- Campanhã 053 Linha do Douro Linha do Minho São João Bridge across the Douro Gaia 055 Espinho 121 Linha do Vouga Aveiro 121 Linha do Vouga e Ramal de Aveiro Coimbra-B 170 Linha da Beira Alta Choupal Bridge across Rio Mondego Pombal for Leiria Entroncamento Linha da Beira Baixa Linha do Leste Santarém Ramal de Tomar   Lisbon-Oriente 340 Linha de Sintra Lisbon-Santa Apolónia Linha do Norte Linha de Cintura Entrecampos Linha do Oeste Linha de Sintra Linha de Cintura Linha do Sul 25 de Abril Bridge across Tagus River Pinhal Novo Linha do Alentejo Sado River Linha do Sul Linha do Algarve Tunes Linha do Algarve Albufeira-Ferreiras Loulé Faro 624 Linha do Algarve

Alfa Pendular is the name of the flagship Pendolino high-speed tilting train of Portuguese state railway company CP.^[1] It connects the cities of Guimarães, Braga, Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra, Santarém, Lisbon, Albufeira and Faro, among others at speeds of up to 220 km/h (135 mph).

The trains were assembled in Portugal by ADtranz at the former Sorefame works at Amadora, based on contracting partnership between Fiat-Ferroviaria as the main contractor and ADtranz and Siemens as the main subcontractors.

Beginning 2017, the trains were refurbished, introducing new interiors, livery, seating and features such as Wi-Fi and power outlets.^[2]

Description

The Alfa Pendular high speed train is a six car electric multiple unit (EMU), which is derived from and closely resembles the Giugiaro designed Italian Fiat-Ferroviaria ETR 480 Pendolino train. The bogies had to be redesigned to operate on Portugal's 1,668 mm (5 ft 5+21⁄32 in) Iberian gauge track.

There are 8 traction motors, installed on all but the two middle vehicles of the train, developing 4.0 megawatts (5,400 hp). This M-M-T-T-M-M arrangement spreads the weight of the train, giving it a weight of only 13.5 tonnes (13.3 long tons; 14.9 short tons) per axle, which helps its cornering ability at high speed.

During testing, a top speed of 245.6 km/h (152.6 mph) was reached close to Espinho in 1998.

Tilting technology

Its tilting train technology, with a maximum tilt angle of 8°, allows the train to negotiate curves at higher speeds than conventional trains. The combination of the resulting high cornering velocity and the tilting movement of the carriages helps ensure a comfortable ride for the passengers, although the jostle and sway compensating for track irregularities may cause "travel sickness" in those susceptible. The hydraulic tilting system is governed by two gyroscopes in the head cars. The curve is found on the base of the elevation of the external track.

The use of this train did not require particular modifications to the existing rail network, but it is expensive in terms of maintenance of the rolling stock because of the complexity of the tilting system.

Stations

The stations served by the Alfa Pendular are from north to south:^[3]

• Braga
• Guimarães
• Famalicão
• Trofa
• Porto-Campanhã
• Vila Nova de Gaia
• Espinho
• Aveiro
• Coimbra-B
• Pombal
• Entroncamento
• Santarém
• Lisboa–Oriente
• Lisboa–Santa Apolónia (off the lines from/to Faro)
• Lisboa-Entrecampos
• Pinhal Novo
• Tunes
• Albufeira-Ferreiras
• Loulé
• Faro

See also

• List of high speed trains

References

External links

Media related to Alfa Pendular at Wikimedia Commons

• CP 4000 @ Trainspo