Fashion trends for heavy trains
04.02.2010 (18:35)
It is a surprise, but the current worldwide engineering industry does not engage its own manufacturers in designing new trains. It is outsourcing special companies. The French Alstom differs from others in this sense. Xavier Allard, Manager of Alstom Transport Design Department, tells us about the problems and trends in this engineering sector, and also how the "Allegro" design was created.
- Mr. Allard, tell me please, what part does the design department take in engineering?
- I shall start with a little bit of history. Just few people know, that from 10 to 15 years ago, railway rolling stock operators were the people who worked out technical specifications for the design of those trains which they ordered to production sites. So, manufacturers neither designed, nor created their own new models of trains or trams. This situation has changed quite recently, when the manufacturing companies faced the necessity to create design departments for new production.
The reason was the market competition sharpened. It is not a secret that when technical solutions, prices, performance characteristics and functionality have equal value, only the design is able to swing the the consuming operator's scales. This was the reason why the manufacturers found it necessary to develop new train models, and to work in the so-called "turnkey" mode, which means doing everything - both mainline rolling stock and the infrastructure, passenger information systems and maintenance of the entire facilities afterwards.
- Does it mean that each machine-building corporation has its own design department, which works out new models?
- It is not exactly that. The fact is that most companies involve special organisations to create new models of trains. So, Alstom Transport is the only one in this sector which has a special planning and design department in its structure. It employs about 20 people, and we create the whole of the Alstom’s product line, from trams to the new generation of high-speed trains.
- Is it hard to be the first?
- It is rather unusual. I came to this company from the automotive industry, and the first thing I noticed here was absence of the manufacturer's logo on the train’s facade. I mean, what was normal for motorcars was new for trains. So, I started working on the Alstom’s logo, which we later displayed on the train’s "bumper", on its sides and on the glass. Simultaneously, it was necessary to keep a balance and to make sure that our logo would not interfere with the operator’s symbol.
- What is a starting point for projects? What is Alstom guided by?
- We believe that the concept of a new train should reflect the character and culture of the city or the country where it will work. I can give you a few examples of how we implemented this idea. For example, a symbol of Turkey is a typically shaped tulip; therefore trams in Istanbul have a well-recognizable goblet shape. This kind of symbol in Reims is a glass of champagne, and you can find it in our design in that country.
- And what about Russian-Finnish trains?
- Here we had a difficult task. First of all, we do not know Russian market very well. We have spent a lot of time studying it. We met local designers, fashion stylists and creators of interior and furniture. In the course of this project, following our customer's request, a Russian design agency was finally engaged in creating external appearance of the train. Secondly, a train must be recognizable and typical for both countries simultaneously. Hence, the concept requires that both Russian and Finnish symbols are included. We believe that finally we have managed to observe the balance and to reach a middle ground in this issue.
Interviewed by Maria Shevchenko
Print version
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