The “Europe Train” test train, which has been travelling across Europe since December 2010 to test low-noise brakes – equipped with composite “LL” brake blocks” – before it goes into series production to retrofit the existing European freight wagon fleet, has completed its tenth run.

“Europe Train” is a project managed by UIC on behalf of the international railway community. To date, 29 railway companies, four industry suppliers and the sector organisations UIC, CER and EIM have signed the resolution for the preparation of “Europe Train”. This UIC project is managed by Mr Johannes Gräber from Deutsche Bahn.

On 16 December the EuropeTrain returned to Minden after three weeks and approximately 13,500 km of successful operation in France without any trouble or incidents. Many thanks to the operations team in Lyon for this efficient job.

After the train left the DB Systemtechnik test centre in Minden for Antwerp via Bad Bentheim on 26 November, it was transferred to Paris on 28 November.

During the French Loop, which started early on 29 November, the EuropeTrain made several journeys from its temporary base in Paris Le Bourget to Lyon, Metz and Marseille. On its way back to Minden the train crossed Belgium and the Netherlands and crossed the German border in Bad Bentheim today at 9am.

Directly after the train’s return, the measurements of the wheels and brake blocks will be 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. In parallel a second edition of the interim report is under discussion among the experts of the project team and will be issued by the beginning of next year.

EuropeTrain operations will start again on 21 January 2012 with a mixed run through Germany and Switzerland. The return is planned for mid February 2012.

Pictures and current information on the EuropeTrain project can be found at http://EuropeTrain.uic.org