Conti to supply air springs to US high-speed rail project

Atlanta, Georgia – ContiTech AG is to supply air springs to Brightline, an intercity express passenger rail project, which will ultimately connect Miami and Orlando in Florida.

Continental air springs, which are “assembled and finalised in the US”, are being used to add comfort at top speeds of up to 200km/h, said a ContiTech statement.

Used in the bogie of trains for local and long-distance transport, the primary and secondary suspension systems aim to minimise vibrations and impacts.

Brightline is set to launch introductory services for the Miami-to-West Palm Beach route, for which it can use the existing rail network.

The company has added a second track between the destinations that is nearing the end of construction.

Once fully operationally, Brightline will connect Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando International Airport with a total route of 240 miles.

According to ContiTech, rail traffic is increasing in the US, noting that authorities there have their sights on new medium and long-distance routes as well as high-speed trains.

The German company said it aims to provide “tailor-made” products for the US rail vehicle industry, backed by local production facilities.