Alstom has received recognition from the Eisenbahn-Bundesamt (EBA), the German Railway Federal Authority, for NBT, its concrete slab track solution for high-speed and conventional rail systems. This non-ballast track solution has been developed for mixed traffic at a maximum operational speed of 360 km/h.
The EBA classified NBT as “Zulassung zur Betriebserprobung”, i.e. “Approved for operating testing”. The EBA is recognised worldwide for its experience in the slab track homologation, which is carried-out in the past 40 years on the German high speed railway network.
Two main actors of the railways German community have worked closely with Alstom to obtain this approval: The TÜV (TÜV Rheinland InterTraffic GmbH / ACR – Assessment & Certification Rail Office), a recognised international group that acts as Notified body (NoBo) and TUM (Technical University of Munich) with their Department of Civil, Geo and Environmental Engineering.
Alstom co-developed NBT for main-line owners seeking a concrete track i.e. a railway track with extensive lifespan and high infrastructure availability, which can be installed faster than traditional slab track, and be operated for mixed traffic (both passenger-dedicated and freight transport). NBT has an innovative slab design inspired from concrete pavement experience. The construction process is derived from the service-proven Appitrack technology which allows higher construction rates with 300 m of track laid per day and schedule of track laying reduced by 40%.
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