Final tests of braking systems for the Moscow — St. Petersburg high-speed railway have begun at the experimental ring in Shcherbinka. The work is being carried out by VNIIT specialists according to the technical specifications of RZD.
The inertial brake stand accelerates samples to 450 km/h — 50 km/h higher than the design speed of the future railway.
During the tests, the equipment recreates extreme conditions: temperatures from -40 to +40 °C, humidity up to 100%, crosswinds up to 25 m/s, and intense precipitation. Sensors record friction pair wear and friction coefficient fluctuations with an accuracy of 0.01 units in real time.
The key requirement for the samples is to withstand at least three consecutive emergency braking events while maintaining operational characteristics. Currently, steel wheel and axle discs paired with cermet pads from four manufacturers are being tested at the site.
The test speed at this stage reaches 400 km/h, the duration of one braking cycle is from 60 to 90 seconds, and the load on the friction pair is up to 120 kN.
Maxim Khudorozhko, head of the "Traction Rolling Stock" research center, explained that based on the test results, engineers will form a database to adjust brake control algorithms. This will ensure a braking distance of no more than 3.5 km during an emergency stop from a speed of 400 km/h — a key safety parameter for high-speed rail.