Trains of the future

As the global urban population grows, the dynamics of urban transport are changing rapidly. Spending in the public transport sector is driven by the need to provide faster and more reliable transport solutions, both within cities and among them. For engineers, designing systems that can handle increasing passenger loads while maintaining high levels of service and safety is a continuing challenge.?

Infrastructure modernisation

Countries like France, Germany and Italy are mobilising massive budgets—€100 billion, €80 billion and €115 billion respectively—to upgrade their railway systems. This trend underscores the growing need for interoperability and harmonisation of standards and signalling systems across borders. Engineers are at the forefront of solving these challenges, ensuring that new and existing infrastructure can work seamlessly together.

Environmental appeal

Rail transport is gaining favour as an environmentally friendly option. Compared to other modes of transport, trains offer the appeal of reduced carbon impact. To heighten this appeal, today’s railways are exploring even more sustainable alternatives, such as hydrogen-powered trains. Engineers play a crucial role in this transition, working on innovative solutions to reduce the environmental footprint of travel.

Digital transformation?

Digital innovation enables the management of increasingly complex traffic flows, offers multimodal transport options, and enhances passenger safety and comfort. Advances in predictive maintenance promise to improve equipment uptime and reduce maintenance costs. Engineers are driving this digital shift, developing and deploying technologies that make rail systems smarter and more efficient.?

Pioneering excellence in the rail sector

Staying ahead in the rail sector requires continuous innovation and adaptability. At ALTEN, we invest heavily in R&D to stay at the forefront of technological advancements. Our dedicated innovation labs work on developing new solutions that anticipate and respond to future trends and challenges. Additionally, we maintain strong partnerships with academic institutions and research organisations, which keeps us connected to the latest scientific insights and technological breakthroughs. This proactive approach ensures that we are always ready to offer our clients state-of-the-art solutions that keep them competitive.?

– Dr. Marcel Klehr , Managing Director ( ALTEN Germany )

Thinking ahead

Many trains must be adapted or renewed to meet evolving demands in terms of comfort and functionality, as well as technical requirements. For example, some metro lines delivered with a driver’s cab may eventually be converted to fully automatic operation. In terms of engineering, this means thinking ahead.??

The acquisition of a train represents an average of 30% of the cost over its 20-or-so-year life-cycle; maintenance, operation, modernization and dismantling account for the remaining 70%. For this reason, buying new trains is sometimes a better option than renewing ageing equipment. Today’s new generations of trains are more efficient, less energy-hungry and more reliable. This has an impact on operating costs and lowers the final cost to customers over the long run.??

This green aspect defines our engineers’ mission. They are immersed in technology that’s evolving to respond to environmental concerns. We’re looking for materials that are less polluting – eliminating more and more controversial substances. But it’s not always easy. We want lighter trains that require less energy to move, but safety concerns – such as fireproofing – can mean incorporating insulation materials that may impinge on the mass.

– Maxime LEFORT , Senior Project Leader (ALTEN France)

Train design: Details that make the difference

The railway sector is a rapidly changing environment. There are a lot of suppliers, a lot of people involved, and our customers also have changes they want to make along the way. Our design team needs to keep up with those changes – to adapt the design to the evolving requirements. We are in contact with the client on a daily basis, and they have great confidence in us.?

– Natalia Garcia Perez , Coach Business Manager, Transport Division ( ALTEN Spain )

We use product life-cycle management software to ensure that everyone on the team is kept up to date. One of the strengths of our team is their familiarity with the various tools and elements. Developing the bill of materials needed by the customer for the assembly of the train is very important. We have a library of all the standard elements – like bolts, nuts, washers, fabrics.

– Lorena F. , Senior Project Leader ( ALTEN Spain )

Expertise for the future

The rise of digital technology and the emergence of new mobility paradigms are revolutionizing the way people move in the 21st century. The increased efficiency exemplifies this transformation, interoperability, and regularity of rail networks. Mounting urbanization, combined with the desire to reduce CO2 emissions, is leading public figures and major companies to invest massively in rail transport, focus on renewable energy sources, reduce carbon emissions, and promote eco-friendly practices. As for railway operators, they are making it a priority to increase the capacity of existing lines by modernizing their signaling systems.

One major challenge is staying up to date on all project-related news, changes, and developments for each stakeholder. Our role is interconnected with every project stage and area: design, validation and verification, quality, safety, and others. To support the project team, I must also ensure that I am well-informed about changes in laws, standards, rules, processes, and return on experience.

– Emily De Mol , Certification and?Authorization?Engineer ( ALTEN Belgium )

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