'Wobbles' corrected on high speed trains
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by Thom Morris
High speed trains leaving from Ashford International Station
have been modified after passengers suffered from 140mph
wobbles.
Rail operator Southeastern have said the trains were suffering
from a 'sideways movement' while travelling at speed from the town
towards London.
The Japanese manufacturer Hitachi is now adding dampeners to the
trains to ensure the fleet of 29 trains, which cost about £9
million each, is able to travel without the problem.
It is believed to have been caused as trains switch between the
high-speed line and conventional tracks at Ashford and
Ebbsfleet.
A Southeastern spokesman said: "There is a bit of slight
sideways movement but there are no safety issues and we are in the
middle of an ongoing programme to rectify the problem.
"We're adding dampeners to the bogies (the chassis carrying the
wheels) and we've done 10 so far and the remaining ones will be
completed in the next couple of months."
The trains are undergoing the modifications at the Hitachi depot
in the town.
The high-speed trains will form the Olympic Javelin service in
2012 taking spectators from St Pancras to the Olympic park in
Stratford.
Have you noticed the 140mph wobble? Leave a comment below.
Wednesday, September 08 2010
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