Dynamic homologation tests of ETR1000-V300Zefiro up to 350km/h

The homologation of railway vehicles in Europe is ruled by EN 14363. It defines testing scenarios, experimental setups, data post-processing procedures and limit values for a number of different parameters mainly associated with vehicle safety and ride quality. In particular, in the case of high speed and/or high axle load vehicles, a testing methodology based on the measurement of wheel-rail contact forces at several wheelsets of the vehicle and accelerations at a number of other places is required. However, for the homologation of very high speed trains (i.e. trains having an operating speed above 300km/h) it should be taken into account that limit values for track geometry quality of the test track provided by the standards go up to a maximum speed of 300km/h. Thus, the homologation process of a very high speed train has to face a number of uncertainties and open questions that require accurate evaluations and will provide very important data for the extension of existing standard requirements to higher speeds than the ones considered today. The present paper presents the work carried out for the dynamic homologation of ETR1000-V300Zefiro train up to an operating speed of 350km/h. The homologation sensor layout as well as the distributed acquisition system for monitoring the whole vehicle will be presented. It should be noted that, for the first time, dynamometric wheelsets were provided with accuracy information that was constantly monitored during line tests. The influence of vehicle speed on vehicle safety and ride quality up to 350km/h will be presented through the most relevant parameters accounted for by the standards and considerations on how to extend existing standards will be provided.