Auckland transport have released a new video showing some of our new electric trains on the production line in Spain.
The last board report gave us the following details on the progress of the project.
Design
The design activity is now focussed on review of test programmes and specifications for testing of the vehicles in New Zealand. These tests require extensive coordination from four key parties, Auckland Transport, Veolia, KiwiRail and CAF. The detailed scope of these tests is being finalised and plans for access to the rail network, for testing, are being discussed with KiwiRail and NZTA.
Type testing of the equipment in Spain is continuing without any significant issues.
Production
Vehicles for the first two EMUs are now all on the assembly line and a production flow has been established. The first vehicle for EMU No 1 will move off the production line into the test bay on 8 May, with the second and third vehicles following two weeks later.
Production of the bodyshells and bogies for subsequent EMUs is progressing in accordance with the programme well.
On 30 April the first vehicle was placed on its production bogies for the first time. CAF advised this went very smoothly and identified two minor interface problems which are being corrected. This was a significant milestone for the project, with all major equipment interfaces on the EMUs now tested. The following photographs show the vehicle body being lowered onto the bogies.
Programme
CAF is currently two weeks behind programme. Discussions have been held to find a way to recover this delay. CAF are adjusting the sequence of some of the tests to use the time more efficiently and have found a shipping route which will remove several days from the transit time. It is expected that these changes will bring the project back onto programme for the first train, assuming that no significant problems are discovered during the final stages of assembly and testing. The successful bogie installation has increased confidence that the original programme will be achieved.Three month look ahead
The first EMU will be tested in Spain during May and June. It expected to be shipped at the end of June. Arrival in New Zealand is expected at the end of August.The Driver Training Simulator is in transit. It will arrive in June and be installed in the EMU Maintenance and Stabling Facility at Wiri. It will be operational and ready for driver training to begin in mid July
Here is the last update we had of the progress.