Pesa Dart EMU design

[bikkuri bahn]

Here is a maker I was not aware of, Pesa of Poland. This is their Dart HSR design, initially tested for 160km/h max. operational speed. I like how the side profile is similar to Japanese rolling stock designs with open space visible in the underframes, rather than the skirting favored by the big three. Where does this maker slot in in terms of price point in the world rolling stock market?

 

Edited July 21, 2015 by bikkuri bahn

[kvp]

Pesa is an old east european manufacturer, who can compete on price and little else. The lack of skirting is because it's a 100% high floor emu, designed for a 100% low floor network, so it has steps and no disabled access. What you see as skirting on most modern european trains is actually the low floor sides of the trains. Pesa have a 60% low floor design though. What is good in Japan and the UK, where high platforms are a standard, is actually a problem in most of Europe, where traditionally all non subway stations have low platforms.

 

The 160 km/h speed is not special, since even the suburban commuter Stadler Flirt-s can and do run that fast. No to mention being almost 100% low floor with easy access from low platforms. Even loco hauled stock can go as fast as 230 km/h, like most Taurus (Siemens Eurosprinter) hauled trains. So the current up to date technology for conventional lines is around 250 km/h with 100% low floor intercity emu-s.

 

However true high speed lines (those above 300 km/h) have much faster trains and most of the skirting is to avoid turbulence during high speed running, so ballast and other stuff near the rails don't get tossed around. Some german ICE trains that previously only ran on ballastless tracks had to be equipped with extra covers to be able to run on ballasted french lines at full speed. Besides this, even the newest french double decker high speed trains have 100% low floor doors.

 

In short, Pesa might have a nice paint scheme, but their technology is way too old to be competitive and they are not cheap enough to be really viable in face of the EU disabled access regulations.

[bikkuri bahn]

So, in simple terms, it sucks :glasses1: