Suvarna Garge (Editor)

MTR Adtranz–CAF EMU

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
In service
  
21 June 1998-present

Entered service
  
1998

Constructed
  
1996-1997

MTR Adtranz–CAF EMU

Manufacturer
  
AdTranz and Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF)

Built at
  
Beasain, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Spain

Family name
  
AdTranz (now Bombardier Movia)

The Adtranz-CAF EMU (also known as A-Train) is an Electric Multiple Unit that operates on the MTR rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. There are two variants, one used on the conventional Tung Chung Line, and a more luxurious version used on the Airport Express. The vehicle interiors were designed for MTR by Jones Garrard, while the vehicle exterior and driver's cab interior were designed by Design Triangle, and the First Two Mod Cab with Passenger interior were built by Diara Design. These two variations are built jointly by Adtranz (acquired by Bombardier Transportation in 2001) and Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) and manufactured in Spain in 1996-7.

Contents

Tung Chung Line stock

Trains of the Tung Chung Line were made up of 7 cars up until 2003, and were increased to 8 cars with W7XX car in 2003 when the West Rail Line and Nam Cheong Station was opened. TCL trains are capable of running with 8 cars in total. The total number of cars ordered was 96.

The configuration of a TCL A Stock train is (Westbound) V-W-X-Y-W-X-Z-V (Eastbound). Maximum train speed is 140 km/h (87 mph) but with the max speed 135 km/h (84 mph) on service currently, maximum acceleration is 1 m/s2 (3.3 ft/s2) (3.6 km/(h·s) or 2.24 mph/s), maximum service brake rate is 1.1 m/s2 (3.6 ft/s2) (3.96 km/(h·s) or 2.461 mph/s), emergency brake has deceleration of 1.35 m/s2 (4.4 ft/s2) (4.86 km/(h·s) or 3.020 mph/s). Traction system of TCL trains is VVVF Inverter based on gate turn off thyristor (GTO thyristor) technology.

Airport Express stock

Trains of Airport Express (AEL) were made up of 7 cars up until 2003. The 88 cars were built and assembled by CAF in Spain while Adtranz contributed control and traction equipment. To cope with the extra traffic demand derived from the opening of AsiaWorld-Expo station, an additional 'F2XX' car was added to each train to form a total of 8 cars. If future demand rises, trains on the AEL are capable of running with 10 cars.

Configuration of an AEL A train is (Westbound) E-F-G-H-F-G-J-K (Eastbound). Except for K cars that have 5 doors on each side, all other cars in AEL have 2 doors on each side and 1 wheelchair space. Each passenger car is mounted with 2 LCD monitors at each end for broadcasting entertainment or turistic programmes and next-station announcement. Maximum train speed is 140 km/h (87 mph) but with the max speed 135 km/h (84 mph) on service currently, maximum acceleration is 1 m/s2 (3.3 ft/s2) (3.6 km/(h·s) or 2.24 mph/s), maximum service deceleration is 1.1 m/s2 (3.61 ft/s2) (3.96 km/(h·s) or 2.46 mph/s)), emergency brake can deliver deceleration of 1.35 m/s2 (4.43 ft/s2) (4.86 km/(h·s) or 3.02 mph/s)). Traction of AEL trains are VVVF Inverter based on GTO Thyrsitor technology.

References

MTR Adtranz–CAF EMU Wikipedia