Tests and validations represent a crucial stage, which enables the performance of a product to be verified and to ensure that it is entirely in line with initial expectations. For a vehicle, a multitude of tests are undertaken: leak tests, impact resistance, the endurance of doors, track testing, etc. Simulations are also carried out on equipment such as lights, GPS units and car radios. This means that the activities involved are extremely varied, from acoustic engineering to road testing.

The approach is similar for a train. Does it travel and brake correctly? Is the wiring entirely suitable? Is the driving software fully operational? The various tests carried out involve all the functional components of a train, on an electrical, technical, automatic or IT level.

Ultimately, the data gathered enables in-depth analyses to be conducted, generally on pre-production models and during accelerated cycles. The aim: to detect possible faults, to identify their causes and rectify them, prior to overall validation against current standards and the manufacturer’s criteria.