The AeroLiner3000 is a project for the introduction of a double-decker train in the UK, which can run on a large part of the existing British rail network with the tight loading gauge PG1. The train was developed by Andreas Vogler Studio together with the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt - DLR). At the InnoTrans 2016 in Berlin, a long full-scale demonstrator was presented.
Background
In 2014, Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB)'s innovation programme launched a competition titled "Tomorrow’s Train Design Today" to identify passenger rolling stock designs that will provide ‘a glimpse of the future’ and showcase the capability of the rolling stock supply chain to deliver key elements of design to the rail industry. The goals of the competition were formulated to be very open, but with one main restriction: not to touch the basic infrastructure. The main drivers of the competition brief are the 4Cs: capacity, low-carbon, customer comfort, and cost-sensitive innovation.
Andreas Vogler Studio (AVS) teamed up with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to propose a high-capacity double-decker high-speed train to run at up to on the new High Speed 2 (HS2) high-speed line from London to Birmingham and be able to continue on the existing lines as far as Edinburgh. The resulting train, named "AeroLiner3000”, became competition finalist and a feasibility study was conducted. A demonstrator was also built and shown at the InnoTrans 2016 in Berlin.
Over the past two decades, double-decker cars have greatly helped to increase capacity for train operators, especially in Europe, but also worldwide. However, due to historical reasons, Great Britain has been greatly restricted by its limited gauge and generally, double-decker cars have not been considered.
Previous British double-deck carriages
Originally started as an experiment, British Railways did have the 'Bulleid Double Decker' car SR Class 4DD in operation for more than 20years from 1949 to 1971. As the compartments were alternately high and low, to ensure that the overall height of the unit was within the clearances necessary to pass through tunnels and under bridges, the 'Bulleid Double Decker' was more a split-level than a true double-decker.
The 4DD was somewhat unsuccessful because the upper level compartments were cramped and poorly ventilated (the upper-level windows could not be opened due to tight clearance). The compartments were pressure-ventilated but the equipment proved to be troublesome. Dwell times at stations were lengthened because of the increase in the number of passengers per door. Finally, to obtain the extra seating capacity that was being sought, it was instead decided to lengthen trains from eight cars to ten and to further decrease the seat pitch.
Concept
The AeroLiner3000 proposal has set itself the goal of investigating a double-decker high-speed train following the HS2 Classic Compatible Train Specifications 2012.
The resulting concept is a trainset, with long end cars and long intermediate car, each with four individually powered and controlled wheels at the very end to form an innovative virtual Jacobs-bogie. The axle loads are 17tonnes. The cars' construction consists of continuously bent equal diameter steel tubes which are laser welded, achieving an extreme lightweight construction, which becomes also apparent in the large windows with their very slim diagonal posts. The total weight is about 25% less compared to a conventional car-body. Each car has two small toilets and six priority seats at the lower deck. Depending on the train layout, a 200m trainset with at least 627 and up to 700seats can be achieved. This compares to a TGV Duplex with 510seats.
A half-train of the double-deck AeroLiner3000 electrical multiple unit (EMU) consists of two end cars and nine intermediate cars with independently rotating wheel running gear to allow for passage on the lower deck. The middle intermediate car is a multi-functional car which can provide a restaurant. The 374-tonne train is capable of running operationally at up to 400 km/h on high-speed lines. Fitting into the GB PG1 gauge allows for running on many other lines of the GB rail network as well. The AeroLiner3000 is planned to run on the existing infrastructure.