Depou Alstom Grivita pentru trenuri electrice

On 23 April 2024 Alstom has announced the completion of a new maintenance facility in Bucharest. It is located in the area of the existing Atelierele CFR Grivita works,  established in 1897 in Grivita district of the capital (near București Basarab station, adjacent to Gara - București  Nord).

Alstom Grivita Depot is Romania’s first established depot dedicated to the maintenance and testing of electric trains and locomotives. To initiate this 50 million EUR project, Alstom has contracted in 2023 the acquisition of 30,000 m² of land which includes several buildings and access to the mainline. The agreement has been executed with Atelierele CFR Grivita. The project included significant modernisation work on existing facilities and the construction of new ones to establish a modern site for the maintenance of the 37 Coradia Stream EMUs acquired by the Railway Reform Authority (ARF).

According to the Alstom‘s November 2023 press release, the initial phase of the investment - a depot equipped for testing and maintenance operations - was to be ready by the end of January 2024, and the full completion is expected in the second half of 2024. Alstom is actively recruiting employees, with approximately 50 expected to undergo specialised training.

Gabriel Stanciu, Alstom Managing Director for Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova, said: “This new depot underscores Alstom’s enduring commitment to the Romanian market and marks a significant milestone as we celebrate our 30th anniversary in the country this year. Along with maintenance operations, Alstom Grivita Depot is also dedicated for testing, validation and fine-tuning operations, to ensure that the new rolling stock reaches the performances required by the contracts. This is the first modern depot to be built in Romania in the last 30 years.“ It will be equipped with the latest generation technology, including HealthHub, Alstom’s solution for predictive maintenance and fleet management, and an underfloor wheel lathe. 

Currently, the first six-car Coradia Stream is stabled at the new Grivita depot, undergoing mandatory testing  - static and dynamic - in view of certification in accordance with TSI and the National Notified Technical Rules (NNTR). Following the completion of these verification tests, an additional 60 final certification tests are necessary to validate train compliance and secure authorisation for passenger operations to commence.

To optimise the process, Alstom is using three RE-IR 101 units simultaneously, dividing key phases of the testing procedure. The main functionalities and performances to be demonstrated according to TSI and NNTR at the new Coradia Stream EMUs are:

- Electrical and electronic systems: This includes the testing of all components related to the operation of the train's electrical and electronic systems, such as signalling, communication, train control, fire detection and passenger access doors;
- Braking systems: This involves ensuring that the train's braking systems meet the prescribed standards for safety, efficiency, and performance under various conditions and over the complete train lifetime;
- Railway Dynamics: This involves ensuring that the train is able to maintain stability against risk of derailment in different type of track geometry and quality and under different loads;
- Propulsion systems: This testing determines the train's ability to accelerate, decelerate, and maintain speed under various conditions;
- Passenger comfort: This involves assessing the passenger experience, such as interior noise levels, ride comfort, temperature control, and other features that can impact the passenger's comfort;
- Crashworthiness and Structural Robustness: This evaluates the train's ability to support structural loads and the ability to resist impacts in the event of a collision and protect the passengers in the carriages;
- Environmental performance: This testing is done to ensure that the train complies with environmental regulations and includes a wide range of factors such as noise pollution, energy efficiency, electromagnetic compatibility, eco design;
- Train Driving Condition: This involves ensuring that driver's cabin and man-machine interfaces are safe, efficient and comfortable to ensure proper train driving;

Overall, 10,000 km of final dynamic testing without passengers, on a commercial line, is considered an adequate amount to ensure that the train meets regulatory requirements and ensure that it is safe, durable, and reliable for passenger use. This final phase is designed to ensure that the train has undergone proper validation to meet the required standards for passenger service.

Testing a train for such a high distance under various conditions at high speeds helps to identify any potential defects that could develop during the train's lifetime. Additionally, it helps to ensure that any components that may wear out over time, such as wheels, brakes, or suspension, have undergone a thorough testing process and have suitable replacement plans in place.

Alstom has been active in Romania for 30 years and is a market leader in railway electrification and signalling solutions, currently employing over 1,500 people. The company is responsible for implementing signalling or electrification solutions on the Northern branch of the Rhine-Danube railway corridor in Romania as well as on two lots of the Cluj - Oradea line as well as the first lot of the Caransebeș - Lugoj line.

The company is part of the consortium building the second metro system in Romania, in the city of Cluj-Napoca, the first fully automated metro line in the country. The first CBTC urban signalling solution in the country is under implementation by Alstom on Bucharest’s metro Line 5. Alstom has also been the provider of maintenance services for the Bucharest metro fleet for the last 20 years and a new long-term contract is in place, valid until 2036.