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ALSTOM Transport Dec. 6 announced it had reached a milestone in bringing its automotrice á grande vitesse (AGV) articulated high-speed trains configured with distributed power closer to revenue-service reality.



ALSTOM, along with partners French National Railways (SNCF) and Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles S.A. (CAF), has been testing technological concepts on a demonstrator train since early November.



The train, named "Elisa," comprises ALSTOM’s AGV front-end car with distributed power, an intermediate car with distributed power (and CAF-built bodyshell), and four TGV Réseau coach cars and a TGV Réseau power car provided by SNCF.



To ensure objectivity, SNCF’s Agence d’essais ferroviaire is performing the following tests on the demonstrator:

• dynamic comfort of the trainset

• intermediate motor bogies

• end carrier bogies

• traction equipment airflow

• car interior acoustics

• roof-fitted rheostat

• electrical current collection and

• passenger-area air circulation.



Team members plan to operate Elisa on the northern France track through April 2002.