TheSocimi Eurotram(later sold as theBombardier Flexity Outlook (E)) was an electric tramcar designed for the tram system ofCompagnie de Transports Strasbourgeois(CTS). Initially produced bySocimi,after the company became bankrupt Eurotrams were manufactured first byABB Group's transportation division, then byAdtranzand finally byBombardier Transportation,who marketed the tram as part of theirFlexity Outlookrange.
| |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Eurotrams have been used on theStrasbourg tramway(France), theAzienda Trasporti Milanesi(Italy), and on thePorto Metro(Portugal).
History and design
editThe Eurotramlight rail vehicleswas originally designed for theCompagnie des Transports Strasbourgeois(CTS) specifically for use on theStrasbourg tramway;design requirements included a 100% low floor design, airconditioning, and a higher than usual power to weight ratio for the 8% gradients in the tunnel under Strasbourg's main station. The appearance was stylised by Belgian designerPhilippe Neerman.[1]
Tenders for manufacture of the tram led to contracts withABB GroupandSocimi(Milan, Italy); Socimi subsequently went bankrupt and ABB completed production alone, on the basis of Socimi's prototypes; the trams were manufactured at ABB'sYork Carriage WorksandDerby Litchurch Lane Worksin England, with some parts from ABB Trazione (Italy).[1][2]
The tram design was modular, consisting2.575-metre (8 ft5+3⁄8in) cabs,7.550-metre (24 ft9+1⁄4in) passenger units, and2.350-metre (7 ft8+1⁄2in) articulation sections. The initial Strasbourg vehicles used seven modules: two cabs, three passenger units and two articulation sections, for a train length of33.1 metres (108 ft7+1⁄8in) Each train has a mixture of powered and unpowered bogies;[3]the bogie design used independently rotating wheels, each on a stub axle,[4]the primary suspension was of the radial arm type, and the secondary suspension air spring type.[5]Each wheel of a powered bogie was separately powered by bogie mounted three phase asynchronous motors, connected via a gearbox, with the wheel and motor axises of rotation parallel.[6]
The maximum capacity of the Strasbourg seven module trams was 285 with 66 seated, the nine-module trams had an increased capacity of 370 passengers, with 92 seated.[7]Total installed traction power was 324 and 416 kilowatts (434 and 558 hp) for the seven and nine module trams.[8]
After the acquisition ofAdtranz(ABB transportation group's successor) byBombardierthe design was marketed as part of theFlexity Outlookfamily.[9]
The Eurotram design was planned to be used on theNottingham Express Transitsystem which was under development in 1998.[10]However safety regulations relating to door closing, coupled with the relatively slow motion of the Eurotram's single leaf door meant that the tram would be delayed at stops; an alternative design was chosen, the double leaf dooredIncentrotram.[11][12]
In December 2002 Porto tram number 018 was taken to Australia, five sections being placed on static display outsideCustoms House, Sydneyfor two weeks before being taken toMelbournewhere it operated on thelocal tram networkuntil March 2003 as a seven section tram.[13][14][15]
Orders
editTwenty-six 33.1m (7 module) Eurotrams were delivered to (Strasbourg tramway) CTS for service on Strasbourg's line A between 1994 and 1995. CTS placed a second order in 1996 for twenty-seven units, nine of which were 7 module trains, and eighteen were 9 module trains.[7]
TheMilan tram system(Azienda Trasporti Milanesi) acquired 20 units fromAdtranz.[16]
72 units were built for thePorto tram network(Porto Metro) were constructed from 2001 at Bombardier's factory inAmadoraPortugal.[9](seeSorefame.)
Over 150 units were built between 1994 and 2004.[17]
| City | Network | Number | Unit-Numbers | Built by | UnitType | Year Built | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straßburg, France | Tram Strassburg | 26
10 17 |
1001–1026
1031–1040 1051–1067 |
ABB
Adtranz |
8-axled
8-axled 10-axled |
1994–1995
1998–1999 1999–2000 |
|
| Milano, Italien | Milano Tram | 26 | 7001–7026 | Adtranz | 8-axled | 1999–2000 | Unidirectional |
| Porto, Portugal | Metro do Porto | 72 | MP-001–MP-072 | Bombardier | 8-axled | 2001–2006 | Units can be coupled |
-
ATM 7005, Milan (2009) -
Porto Eurotram (2012) -
Porto Eurotram interior (2012) -
33m and 43m Strasbourg Eurotrams (2006) -
Interior of an Eurotram in Strasbourg, in a non-refurbished version -
Interior of an Eurotram in Strasbourg, after their refurbishement in 2019
References
edit- ^abWansbeek 2003.
- ^Darter & Hall 1995.
- ^Darter & Hall 1995,p. 28.
- ^Darter & Hall 1995,p. 31.
- ^Darter & Hall 1995,pp. 28, 41.
- ^Darter & Hall 1995,p. 42.
- ^ab"Strasbourg Light Rail, France",www.railway-technology.com
- ^"Fiche Technique Eurotram de Strasbourg"(in French).Retrieved17 April2012.
- ^ab"Metro do Porto Light Rail, Portugal".www.railway-technology.com.Rolling Stock.
- ^Armstrong, Pat (August 1998),"Nottingham Express Transit",Tramways & Urban Transit
- ^INCENTRO for Nottingham,Light Rail Transit Association,10 April 2000
- ^"Nottingham Express Transit, United Kingdom",www.railway-technology.com
- ^A Portuguese Tram in AustraliaTrolley Wireissue 292 February 2003 pages 20-23
- ^Eurotram at Circular QuayTransit AustraliaFebruary 2003 page 56
- ^Oporto Eurotram Runs in MelbourneTransit AustraliaApril 2003 pages 97-99
- ^"Milano Metro, Italy",www.railway-technology.com
- ^Muller, Georges,Traction Ferroviaire: Les Tramways; Caracteristiques de Materiels Roulants,Ed. Techniques Ingénieur, pp. 7–8
Sources
edit- Wansbeek, C.J. (March 2003),"Strasbourg: Interurban tram strategy strengthens city system",Tramways & Urban Transit,archived fromthe originalon 20 July 2011
- Darter, Michael I.; Hall, Kathleen Theresa (1995),"Applicability of low-floor light rail vehicles in North America",Transit Cooperative Research Program Report,no. 2, National Research Council (U.S.). Transportation Research Board,ISBN0309053730
External links
edit