Keywords: high-speed train, bogie, track friendliness, running stability, wheel wear, rail wear, active suspension, simulation, on-track tests.

For high-speed rail vehicles there would be a contradiction between, on the one hand, running stability on straight tracks at high speed and, on the other hand, reasonable wheel and rail wear in small and medium-radius curves. High-speed trains would also require superior geometric track quality in order to deliver good ride comfort for the passengers. This paper describes the process of developing and optimizing a track-friendly bogie. A simulation model has been used to investigate dynamic stability on straight tracks at high speeds along with the wheel and rail wear in tighter curves, as well as ride comfort with different types of suspension. The aim is to develop a bogie with sufficient running stability margin, while track forces, wear and ride comfort are the primary goals.

The result is a bogie with relatively soft wheel-set guidance allowing passive radial self-steering (RSS), which in combination with appropriate yaw damping ensures stability on straight tracks at higher speeds. It also includes the development of active lateral suspension (ALS). This bogie has been tested according to EN 14363 at speeds up to about 300 km/h and in curves with radii ranging from 250 m and up.

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