Annual Report 2012 - Knorr-Bremse AG.

114
Report
Market successes // Rail vehicle systems
LEADER is a sophisticated
train management
system that
improves the
locomotive engineer’s
ability to handle trains
more economically
and safely.
LEADER accomplishes this improvement by displaying train-handling recommendations in the locomotive
cab designed to save fuel, reduce in-train forces and assist in schedule compliance. LEAD-
ER’s fuel savings also directly leads to emissions reduction by as much as 15%.
The largest order for LEADER came from North American freight rail operator Norfolk Southern
Railway, operating over 34,000 kilometers of track in 22 US states representing the most extensive
rail network on America’s east coast. In all, Norfolk Southern Railway has ordered 1,125
LEADER systems from NYAB, just over 1,000 of which were in use at the end of the year under
review.
NYAB has also received an order from the Union Pacific Railroad for 760 LEADER systems, approximately
375 of which had been installed by the end of 2012. Burlington Northern Santa Fe has ordered
200 systems, more than 160 of which were installed by the end of 2012. Brazilian operator VALE operates
260 LEADER systems in service at year’s end.
NYAB also concluded a framework marketing agreement with major North American locomotive
builder Progress Rail Services – EMD. In the near future, plans envisage installing LEADER in the customer’s
new diesel-electric locomotives in the factory during production.
In 2012, NYAB delivered LEADER Driver Assist (DA) software to Rio Tinto for use in its Australian mining
fleet. Initial field demonstrations were successful and full field trials are underway. Software and hardware
were delivered and installed on the 68-unit Rio Tinto locomotive fleet and will be operational in
2013. NYAB has begun the design requirement phase for the Rio Tinto AutoHaul project that will lead
to driverless trains in 2014 using LEADER software in conjunction with Ansaldo’s Automatic Train
Operation (ATO) deployment.
In a further evolutionary development a new functionality was added to LEADER in 2012 in the form
of a cruise control system known as “Auto Throttle”, which will go into volume production in 2013.
Knorr-Bremse supplies brakes, doors and HVAC systems to Los Angeles
In the year under review, Knorr-Bremse benefited from an order placed by Los Angeles metro with
Kinkisharyo International, the US subsidiary of Japanese manufacturer Kinki Sharyo, for 78 light rail
vehicle car sets. Knorr Brake Corporation in North America was awarded the contract to supply
the brakes, doors and HVAC systems for the new car sets with which the operator, Los Angeles
County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, is expanding its capacity and modernizing its fleet.
Delivery of the car sets is due to begin in the last quarter of 2015, but Knorr-Bremse is to supply initial
subsets for installation in two prototype vehicles in the first quarter of 2014. On top of the 78 car sets
ordered, the metro operator has taken out an option on a further 157 units.
Knorr-Bremse to equip new light rail vehicles in Honolulu and Houston
Knorr-Bremse is to equip the light-rail vehicles (LRVs) for two new mass transit lines being added to
the commuter networks of the cities of Honolulu and Houston in the USA.
The operating company in Honolulu, Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, placed an order for
80 driverless vehicles with Italian manufacturer AnsaldoBreda. The new LRVs are to handle commuter
traffic in several years from now, on a 32-km line which is still to be built, running east-west through
the city. US-based Knorr-Brake Corporation is to equip the vehicles with brakes, doors and HVAC systems.
Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2015.