A
bogie is an eight-wheel carriage having the capacity of 60 tons.
While the bogies division has a central role in all UK train-building programmes at the Derby site, the quality of its work means it is also winning a strong reputation internationally.
The concept for the ICx bogies was also piloted out of the Derby office, with Deutsche Bahn being specifically keen to tap into the team's expertise in inboard bearing bogie technology.
Siemens is responsible for the main contract, with Bombardier providing the trailer cars and the bogies.
Innovative flexible frame bogies that can cope with challenging track conditions have been designed by Bombardier's Derby division for London Underground's deep-level Victoria and Northern lines, and for its sub-surface Metropolitan, District, Circle, and Hammersmith and City lines.
Operators must make sure the
bogie bottoms are free off crud after every operation.
Up to now, only the individual underframes and parts of bogies were validated on a test bench, with fatigue tests and tests of other components simulated by computer.
The use of the test bench for complete bogies improves this process by reducing the time needed to ensure product reliability.
By repeating these tests according to standardised, regulated cycles, the physical change in the bogies over time can be determined.
In France, Bombardier Transportation received an order from Alstom, valued at approximately $9 million Cdn (6 million euros), for the supply of 6 trailer cars and 12 carrying bogies for ZTER electrical multiple units.
In Venezuela, Bombardier Transportation, through its participation in the Frameca consortium, was awarded a $19-million Cdn order (12 million euros) for the manufacture or 56 motor bogies and 28 carrying bogies for the extension of the Caracas metro, which is one of the largest underground systems in the world.
This order, which also includes an option for an additional 96
bogies, brings the total number of this type of
bogies ordered for the SNCF double-deck rolling stock to more than 3,200.
