ASSESSMENT OF IMPROVEMENT IN BOGIE CONSTRUCTION FOR URBAN RAIL VEHICLES BY MEANS OF SWINGING COUPLED WHEELSETS

A series of experimental, analytical, and manufacturing tests have been carried out on ways of suppressing at source troublesome running noise on curves and the accompanying wheel/rail wear. A bogie with swinging coupled wheelsets has emerged as the most promising solution for suburban applications. A self-adjusting steering mechanism uses input from the profile forces and produces on curved track a substantially better agreement between wheel trajectory and rail profile than a conventional bogie. The modifications in construction are confined to the wheelsets so that tractive and braking components are unaffected. This seems to be a cost-effective way of reducing not only travel noise and wheel/rail wear but also the incidence of derailments.