When EcoDesign Redefines Aerodynamics in Rail Transportation
How Siemens Mobility is rethinking materials and train design to combine performance, sustainability, and energy efficiency in high-speed rail.
Speed Comes at a Price. So Does Air.
At operating speeds exceeding 300 km/h, one factor is becoming increasingly important in rail transportation: aerodynamic drag.
Few physical parameters have a greater impact on the energy consumption of high-speed trains. The challenge is clear: every aerodynamic optimization matters.
At Siemens Mobility, this realization led to a strategic decision: embedding EcoDesign as a core element in the development of new generations of high-speed trains.
Velaro Novo: Rethinking Efficiency
With Velaro Novo, Siemens Mobility’s latest high-speed rail platform, every opportunity for efficiency improvement has been systematically leveraged.
One key area of focus: bogies and their fairing components.
Through targeted aerodynamic optimization and the implementation of new fairing concepts, Siemens Mobility achieved:
- a 15% reduction in the train’s overall aerodynamic drag
- a significant reduction in energy consumption
- an improved environmental footprint across the entire lifecycle of the vehicle
When Materials Become a Sustainability Factor
Traditionally, fairing components in rail vehicles are manufactured from steel, aluminum or fiber-reinforced composite materials.
For Velaro Novo, Siemens Mobility deliberately pursued a different approach: an EcoDesign based on a laminated wood composite structure.
This decision is founded on extensive testing and validation, representing the outcome of a rigorous engineering qualification process. The material must:
- withstand high mechanical loads
- ensure functional safety
- meet stringent fire protection requirements
- resist ballast strike impacts
- deliver minimum weight and optimized costs
- provide tangible environmental benefits
EcoDesign as a Systemic Approach
At Siemens Mobility, EcoDesign is far more than a material selection strategy.
It is a holistic development methodology that:
- integrates environmental criteria into product development from the earliest stages
- evaluates materials based on both technical performance and environmental impact
- validates components through comprehensive laboratory and field testing
The findings demonstrate that wood and wood-based composite materials can, when applied appropriately, meet the demanding requirements of high-speed rail applications while simultaneously delivering measurable environmental advantages.
New Perspectives for Rolling Stock Engineering
Velaro Novo demonstrates that sustainable mobility is not determined solely by propulsion technologies or energy sources.
Equally important are:
- optimized aerodynamics
- innovative and sustainable material concepts
- a comprehensive lifecycle approach
By combining technological innovation with environmental responsibility, Siemens Mobility is paving the way for more efficient, higher-performing, and more sustainable high-speed trains.
Behind the Innovation
Michael Kopp, Program Director, Velaro Novo, Siemens Mobility
Dr. Thomas Moshammer, Head of Advanced Methods, Digital Twins & Engineering Data Analytics, Siemens Mobility