The international “Europe Train” test campaign, coordinated by UIC and managed by DB Systemtechnik on its behalf, with the aim of testing the behaviour of “LL”- brake blocks under various geographical and operational conditions across Europe, is continuing according to schedule.

On 6 November the EuropeTrain returned to Minden after 3 weeks and 15,000 km of successful operation in Poland and Slovakia.

On 15 October 2011 the train left DB Systemtechnik test centre in Minden for Frankfurt-an-der-Oder via Berlin, entering Poland the next day. The EuropeTrain started with a two-day operation in Slovakia, covering 800 km of Slovak network. Following its return to Poland the train travelled 13 times from its temporary base in Poznan via Warsaw, Lukow and Lotz, and back to Poznan. On 5 November 2011 the train crossed the Polish-German border in Frankfurt-an-der-Oder on its way back to Minden.

Directly after its return, the measurements of the wheels and brake blocks were taken as usual. Before the next run, the EuropeTrain’s International Analysis Team (IAT) will discuss the results again, define further activities, and in particular decide which wagons will participate in the next run. This will be the third run of the French Loop, starting on 25 November 2011. The return is planned for mid December.