What is a tilting electric train concept?

In this article, we discuss what is the tilting train and how it works. Nowadays, many high-speed type trains like bullet trains are tilting type trains.

Force in a turning train

Whenever we travel in a vehicle, the vehicle takes turns. Then all passengers will feel a force (centrifugal force) towards outside. If the vehicle is turning left then we bend the right side. Refer to Figure 1.

This problem is more in the high-speed bullet train, as it turns very fast.

Whenever we did an adventure on the bicycle by turning it, say left at full and high speed. Then we tilt our bicycle also the left side to keep balance.

The same happens in the bullet train or tilting train. This tilt does not happen in a normal train.

What is a tilting electric train?

A tilting train is a train, which tilts during turning. This tilting makes it possible for the train to take turns at high speed.

In the absence of the tilting arrangement, the train has to reduce the speed at every turn. So it will take more time to travel.

So, the tilting type concept is introduced in high-speed trains like bullet trains.

How tilting train works

Now, refer to Figure 2. As and when the train takes a turn at high speed. Its body tilts a little bit as shown in figure 2.

The car body only will tilt. The bogie portion (the bottom portion of the compartment) will remain flat. This is done by changing the length of Part A and Part B as in Figure 2.

As shown, Check that the height of the 2 supporting suspensions has become different. Part “B” is longer than part “A” as shown in Figure 2.

This is done by the complex control system. Control decides the difference between part A and part B depending on the speed and the turning angle etc.

The train can take a turn at high speed with the above control. As the train tilts during turning, we call it a tilting train.

The amount of tilt angle depends on the speed of the train and also the turning radius.

In the absence of the tilting arrangement, the train has to reduce the speed at every turn. So it will take more time to travel.

For more information please watch the video If you like

I hope that you enjoyed the article on “What is tilting train concept and how it works”.

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About the author – G K Agrawal B.Sc and B.Tech (from HBTU Kanpur), Retd. Sr DGM Design (BHEL), the inventor of patents, has lifelong industry experience in the electrical and electronics design field of R&D. He worked for BHEL. He shares his experience and knowledge on blogs and YouTube. Read the profile here.