Variobahn

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Variobahn on London's Tramlink network

The Variobahn, formerly known as the Variotram, is a German-designed articulated low-floor tram model. Since its introduction in 1993, the Variobahn has been manufactured variously by ABB, Adtranz, Bombardier Transportation, and since 2001 by Stadler Rail. As of 2009, 254 trams have been ordered, with an additional 110 on option. A unit costs about €2.5 million.[1][2]

Operators include the Graz Holding, the Bergen Light Rail, the Chemnitz Tramway, Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr, the Helsinki Tramway, the Rhine Neckar Area Tramway, London Tramlink and the Sydney light rail network.

History

Variotram in Nuremberg, Germany

Prototypes and early deliveries

The Variotram was first developed by ABB Asea Brown Boveri at Henschel and a prototype was launched in 1993 for the Chemnitz tramway in Germany, operated by Chemnitzer Verkehrs-Aktiengesellschaft (CVAG). The serial delivery, with minor modifications, was made between 1998 and 2001—bringing the total number of units for Chemnitz to thirty. Of these, twenty-four were operated by CVAG and six by City-Bahn Chemnitz. In 1995, ABB's train division merged to become Adtranz. One prototype the following year sold to the Duisburg Stadtbahn, but serial production was never initiated for Duisburg.[1][3]

In 1996, six trams were delivered to serve on the light rail between Mannheim, Heidelberg and Weinheim, Germany, operated by Oberrheinischen Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft. From 2001 to 2007, it ordered additional 20 trams. These were supplemented in 2002 by 8 trams for the Heidelberg Tramway, and in 2001–07 by 16 trams for the Mannheim Tramway.[1] In 1996 the Sydney light rail system, in Australia, took delivery of seven trams, which were built in Dandenong, Victoria.[4][5]

Helsinki

Variotram in Helsinki, Finland

Forty Variotrams were delivered to Helsinki City Transport (HKL), Finland, between 1998 and 2003 for use on the Helsinki tramway, at a cost of €76 million.[6] These trams were built by Transtech (who later produced the newer Artic models) in Otanmäki under a technology transfer agreement with Adtranz. During this time the company was acquired by Bombardier, who inherited the design in 2000, making the Helsinki trams the only Variotrams to be produced under the Bombardier name.

In service, the Variotrams were found to be ill-suited for Helsinki's tram network, having suffered from numerous technical problems, including cracks in the bogies and vehicle body shells. Before 2009 often less than half of the trams have been in working condition.[7][8] HKL considered returning the trams to Bombardier as unsatisfactory, but after a long series of negotiations a compromise was reached in May 2007, when the responsibility for maintaining the trams was transferred to Bombardier.[8] The contract agreed in May 2007 states that, from May 2008 onwards, if more than four Variotrams in Helsinki are not in operational condition, Bombardier must pay a daily fine to the HKL for every non-operational tram. If more than eight trams are in non-operational condition, HKL has the right to cancel the contract and return the trams to Bombardier, who are obliged to return the €76 million that HKL paid for the trams.[8] In order to cope with the requirements of the agreement, Bombardier established its own maintenance workshop in Helsinki in mid-2008, located in the premises of the former VR Group electric locomotive workshop in Pasilan Konepaja.[9]

Stadler

Stadler built Variobahn for the Bergen Light Rail.

To concentrate on its own Flexity family of vehicles, Bombardier reached an agreement with the European Commission where Bombardier would divest the Variotram division to Stadler Rail of Switzerland.[10]

Stadler subsequently renamed the tram as Variobahn and has since secured several contracts,[1] delivering:

As of 2009, a total of 254 Variobahn trams have been ordered, with an additional 110 on option. A unit costs about €2.5 million.[1]

Problems in Munich

In December 2014, MVG took seven of its Variobahns out of service due to cracks in vehicle bodies. By January 2015, all Variobahns had to be withdrawn for repairs. MVG chose not to exercise options to buy any more Variobahns, and turned to Siemens to supply its next generation of trams.

Specifications

Variobahn in Mannheim, Germany

The Variotram is a low-floor light rail tram designed for city center operation. Since customers consist of both existing and new systems, and their specifications vary, the Variotram has flexibility in specifications. It can be built as uni- or bi-directional, with 70 or 100% low floor. Rail gauge can be standard gauge or metre gauge. Width options include 2.3 metres (7 ft 7 in), 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in), 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in) and 2.65 metres (8 ft 8 in). The length varies with either three, four, five or seven articulated modules. The floor height is 350 millimetres (14 in) over the rail. The seating and standing arrangements are flexible, and the trams feature 1,350 millimetres (53 in) wide doors. The tram has hub motors on all wheels, thus eliminating the need for axles and bogies. These compact motors are the key to the low-floor concept, since they can be placed under the seating. This allows the full length of the tram to be step-free accessible from the platforms.[13]

Several of the configurations of the trams are customizable to fit each tramway. In addition to the four possible widths and choice of gauge, the trams can be custom-built for the necessary length.[1] Trams are built modally, so that they can later be rebuilt or extended.[14] All trams built so far have five modules and twelve wheels. The trams are available with four motor settings: four or six wheels powered with 95-kilowatt (127 hp) motors, or eight or twelve wheels with 45-kilowatt (60 hp) motors. Of the models built so far, the length has varied from 24.4 to 42.8 metres (80 to 140 ft) (Helsinki and Mannheim, respectively). Similarly, tare weight varies from 35 to 50 tonnes (34 to 49 long tons; 39 to 55 short tons). Seating capacity varies between 38 (Graz) and 100 (Heidelberg), while standing capacity peaks at 193 for the Duisburg version.[1]

Production

System Owner Quantity Delivery Length Width Gauge Operation Seats Standing Maximum power
kW		 Ref
Chemnitz Stadtbahn Chemnitzer Verkehrs-Aktiengesellschaft 14 1993–2000 31.4 m (103 ft) 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in) Standard Uni 89 123 8 x 45 kW [15][16]
10 2000 Bi 74 124
City-Bahn Chemnitz City-Bahn Chemnitz 6 2001
Mannheim Tramway MVV Verkehr 6 1996 32.2 m (106 ft) 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) Meter Bi 90 100 4 x 95 kW [1]
16 2002–07 42.7 m (140 ft) 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) Uni 129 130 6 x 95 kW
20 30.5 m (100 ft) Bi 80 90 4 x 95 kW
Duisberg Stadtbahn Duisburger Verkehrsgesellschaft 1 1996 33.8 m (111 ft) 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) Standard Bi 38 193 8 x 45 KW [4][17]
Inner West Light Rail Transport for New South Wales 7 1997–98 28.0 m (91.9 ft) 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in) Standard Bi 74 143 8 x 45 kW [4][5]
Helsinki Tramway Helsinki City Transport 40 1998–2004 24.4 m (80 ft) 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) Meter Uni 55 80 12 x 45 kW [6]
Heidelberg Tramway Heidelberger Straßen- und Bergbahn 8 2002 39.4 m (129 ft) 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) Meter Bi 100 130 6 x 95 kW [4][17]
Ludwigshafen Tramway Verkehrsbetriebe Ludwigshafen am Rhein 8 2003 30.5 m (100 ft) 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) Meter Uni 88 90 4 x 95 kW [1]
Bochum–Gelsenkirchen Tramway Bochum-Gelsenkirchener Straßenbahnen 30 2007–11 29.6 m (97 ft) 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) Meter Bi 68 120 8 x 45 kW [18]
Nuremberg Tramway Verkehrs-Aktiengesellschaft Nürnberg 8 2007 33.8 m (111 ft) 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) Standard Uni 87 147 8 x 45 kW [1]
Munich tramway Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft 14 2008–11 33.8 m (111 ft) 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) Standard Uni 87 147 8 x 45 kW [11][19]
Bergen Light Rail Hordaland County Municipality 26 2009–17 32.2 m (106 ft) 42.2 m (138 ft) 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in) Standard Bi 84 128 8 x 45 kW [14][20]
Graz Tramway Graz AG Verkehrsbetriebe 45 2009– 27.0 m (88.6 ft) 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) Standard Uni 38 113 8 x 45 kW [21]
Potsdam Tramway Verkehrsbetrieb Potsdam 18 2010– 32.2 m (106 ft) 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) Standard Uni 57 118 8 x 45 kW [2][22][23]
Tramlink Transport for London 6 2012 32 m (105 ft) 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in) Standard Bi 72 134 [24]
Aarhus Letbane Aarhus Letbane I/S 12 2017 32 m (105 ft) 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in) Standard Bi (224 total) [25][26]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

  • Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons
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