MTR Adtranz–CAF EMU

  • A-Train / CAF-Train (LAR-Train)
  • Adtranz–CAF EMU
  • 港鐵機場鐵路列車
Tung Chung line train
Airport Express train
Interior of a CAF-Train used on the Tung Chung Line
Interior of the Airport Express
In service22 June 1998; 26 years ago (1998-06-22) – present
ManufacturerAdtranz, CAF
Order no.551[1]
Built atBeasain, Spain
Constructed1996–1997
Entered service1998
Refurbished2008, 2020–present (AEL)
Number built
Formation8 cars per trainset (originally 7 cars)
Fleet numbers
  •   Tung Chung line : V601~V801 - V612~V812 (Vxxx, Wxxx, Xxxx, Y7xx, Z8xx)
  •   Airport Express : E101~K401 - E111~K411 (E1xx, Fxxx, Gxxx, Hxxx, J4xx, K4xx)
OperatorsMTR
DepotsSiu Ho Wan
Lines served
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminum alloy with fiberglass end bonnets
Train length184.2 m (604 ft 4.0 in)
Car length
  • 24.6 m (80 ft 8.5 in) (end cars)
  • 22.5 m (73 ft 9.8 in) (intermediate cars)
Width3,096 mm (10 ft 1.9 in)
Height3.7 m (12 ft 1.7 in) (without pantograph) (air conditioners flush with roof)
Platform height1.25 m (4 ft 1.2 in)
Doors
  • 5 per side (TCL stock and AEL K car)
  • 2 per side (AEL stock)
Maximum speed
  • 140 km/h (87 mph) (design)
  • 135 km/h (84 mph) (service)
Traction systemAEG DASU 6.1 3-level GTO–VVVF or(Adtranz)
Traction motors24 × AEG BASu 5551/4 265 kW (355 hp) 3-phase AC induction motor
Power output6.36 MW (8,530 hp)
Acceleration1 m/s2 (3.3 ft/s2)
Deceleration
  • 1.1 m/s2 (3.6 ft/s2) (service)
  • 1.35 m/s2 (4.4 ft/s2) (emergency)
Electric system(s)1,500 V DC overhead lines
Current collector(s)Pantograph
UIC classificationBo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′
Braking system(s)SAB-WABCO electropneumatic and regenerative
Safety system(s)ATO (SACEM) and ATP
Coupling systemBSI
Track gauge1,432 mm (4 ft 8+3⁄8 in)

The Adtranz-CAF EMU (also known as A-Train, CAF-Train or LAR-Train) is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train that operates on the MTR rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. There are two variants, one used on the conventional Tung Chung line, and a more luxurious version used on the Airport Express. The vehicle interiors were designed for MTR by Jones Garrard (Tung Chung Line) and Design Triangle (Airport Express), while the vehicle exterior and driver's cab interior were designed in the UK by Design Triangle[2] (the first two model building of these were made in Spain by Diara Design [ca]). These two variations are built jointly by Adtranz (acquired by Bombardier Transportation in 2001) and Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF)[3] and manufactured in Spain in 1996-7.

History

On 21 November 1994, the joint venture of AEG Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH (later Adtranz) and Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles was awarded the contract to build the rolling stock for the Lantau Airport Railway under Contract 551.

Details

The Adtranz–CAF trains initially were formed as 7-car sets up until 2003–2005 when the 8th car was added. They were built and assembled by CAF in Spain while Adtranz contributed control and traction equipment. Their maximum speed is 140 km/h (87 mph) but with service limits to 135 km/h (84 mph), with maximum acceleration of 1 m/s2 (3.3 ft/s2), maximum service brake deceleration of 1.1 m/s2 (3.6 ft/s2) and emergency brake of 1.35 m/s2 (4.4 ft/s2). These trains are equipped with the AEG DASU 6.1 3-level GTO–VVVF inverter.

Tung Chung line stock

Trains of the Tung Chung line were made up of 7 cars up until 2003, and were increased to 8 cars with the 'W7XX' car added in 2003 when the West Rail line and Nam Cheong station was opened. The total number of cars ordered was 96.

Tung Chung line cars
car type driver cab motor pantograph auto-
coupler 		length
(mm) 		seat standing
capacity 		wheelchair
space 		amount
V car ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ 24600 42 252 2 24
W car ✗ ✓ ✗ ✗ 22500 48 252 ✗ 24
X car (trailer) ✗ ✗ ✗ ✓ 22500 48 252 ✗ 24
Y car ✗ ✓ ✓ ✗ 22500 48 252 ✗ 12
Z car ✗ ✓ ✗ ✓ 22500 48 252 ✗ 12

The configuration of a TCL train is (Westbound) V6XX-W6XX-X6XX-Y7XX-W7XX-X7XX-Z8XX-V8XX (Eastbound).

Airport Express stock

Trains of Airport Express (AEL) were made up of 7 cars up until 2005. The total number of cars ordered was 88. To cope with the extra traffic demand derived from the opening of AsiaWorld–Expo station, an additional 'F2XX' car was added to each train to form a total of 8 cars. However, the 'K4XX' cars function as baggage container cars for bulky baggage checked in via the in-town check-in services at Hong Kong and Kowloon stations.[4]

Airport Express cars
car type driver cab motor pantograph auto-
coupler 		length
(mm) 		seat standing
capacity 		amount
E car ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ 24600 60 84 11
F car ✗ ✓ ✗ ✗ 22500 64 84 22
G car (trailer) ✗ ✗ ✗ ✓ 22500 64 84 22
H car ✗ ✓ ✓ ✓ 22500 64 84 11
J car ✗ ✓ ✗ ✓ 22500 64 84 11
K car (van) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ 24600 13 baggage containers 11

Configuration of an AEL train is (Westbound) E1XX-F1XX-G1XX-H2XX-F2XX-G2XX-J4XX-K4XX (Eastbound). Except for 'K4XX' cars that have 5 doors on each side, all other cars in AEL have 2 doors on each side and 1 wheelchair space. Each passenger car is mounted with 2 LCD monitors at each end for broadcasting entertainment or tourist television programmes and train announcements, such as next-station broadcasts.[5]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to A-Stocks (MTR).
  1. ^ "List of Current Contracts". www.info.gov.hk. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  2. ^ "Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis: IHS Jane's | IHS".
  3. ^ ":: CAF - Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, we create railway solutions ::". www.caf.es. Archived from the original on 17 December 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  4. ^ Crighton, Gordon; Budge-Reid, Alistair (November 1998). "Hong Kong International Airport railway". Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. 126 (6): 35–54. doi:10.1680/icien.1998.126.6.35. ISSN 0965-089X.
  5. ^ "HONG KONG LAR. AIRPORT (MTCR)". CAF. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012.