C2-class Melbourne tram

Not to be confused with C-class Melbourne tram or C-class Melbourne tram (1913).

C2-class
C2 5123 on Bourke Street, December 2014
Manufacturer	Alstom
Built at	La Rochelle, France
Family name	Citadis 302
Number built	5
Number in service	5
Fleet numbers	C2 5103, C2 5106, C2 5111, C2 5113, C2 5123
Capacity	54/150 (seated/standing)
Depots	Southbank
Lines served	Route 96
Specifications
Train length	32,517 mm (106 ft 8.2 in)
Width	2.65 m (8 ft 8 in)
Height	3.27 m (10 ft 9 in)
Doors	10
Articulated sections	5 (four articulations)
Wheel diameter	610–530 mm (24–21 in) (new–worn) [1]
Wheelbase	1.6 m (5 ft 3 in) [1]
Weight	40.0 t (39.4 long tons; 44.1 short tons)
Traction motors	4 × Alstom 4-HGA-1433 120 kW (160 hp) [2]
Power output	480 kW (640 hp)
Acceleration	1.03 m/s2 (2.3 mph/s)
Deceleration	1.39 m/s2 (3.1 mph/s) (Dynamic braking) 1.2 m/s2 (2.7 mph/s) (Mechanical braking) 2.67 m/s2 (6.0 mph/s) (Emergency) [3]
Electric system(s)	600 V DC (nominal) from overhead catenary
Current collector(s)	Pantograph
UIC classification	Bo′+2′+Bo′
Bogies	Alstom Arpège [1]
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The C2-class trams are five-section Alstom Citadis 302 trams built in La Rochelle, France that operate on the Melbourne tram network. They were built for the tram network in Mulhouse, France, but being surplus to Mulhouse demands, were leased to use in Melbourne in 2008, later being purchased by the Government of Victoria. The trams operate solely on route 96.

History

C2-class undergoing testing on La Trobe Street in June 2008

In 2008, an arrangement to lease five low-floor, air-conditioned, bi-directional, five section Alstom Citadis 302 trams was brokered with Mulhouse, France, through Yarra Trams' then French parent, Transdev. ^{[4] [5] [6]} The lease agreement was $9 million for four years with shipping costs of $500,000 for each tram, ^[7] with the first tram arriving in Melbourne in February 2008. ^{[8] [9]} The first tram was launched on 11 June 2008. They were quickly nicknamed Bumblebees from their yellow colour and the first was officially named Bumblebee 1 before entering service, with the rest following suit up to Bumblebee 5. All entered service on route 96. ^{[5] [10] [11]}

All Citadis trams in Mulhouse are named after municipalities in the Mulhouse Alsace Agglomération, including the five trams that now run in Melbourne:

• Tram no. 5103 (Mulhouse 2003): Bollwiller , now Bumblebee 3
• Tram no. 5106 (Mulhouse 2006): Reiningue , Bumblebee 4
• Tram no. 5111 (Mulhouse 2011): Pulversheim , now Bumblebee 5
• Tram no. 5113 (Mulhouse 2013): Ungersheim , now Bumblebee 2
• Tram no. 5123 (Mulhouse 2023): Battenheim , Bumblebee 1

Being surplus to the demands of Mulhouse, they were originally intended to be leased only until December 2011. ^[10] However, it was announced in November 2010 that the State Government was in negotiations to acquire the C2-trams, with all five subsequently purchased in 2012/13. ^{[7] [12] [13] [14]}

Prior to entering service in Melbourne, they had minor adjustments made at Preston Workshops, including improvements to the air-conditioning and modifications to the Mulhouse livery. ^{[6] [10] [15]} They have since been repainted into standard Yarra Trams livery and retain their Bumblebee names on a logo behind the driver's cab.

Operation

C2-class trams operate on the following route:

• 96: Brunswick East to St Kilda Beach ^{[7] [15]}

References

1. "Alstom Bogies Catalogue 2015 – English" (PDF). Alstom. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 September 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
2. "Alstom Motors Catalogue 2015 - English" (PDF). Alstom. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
3. "Tram Track Design" (PDF). Yarra Trams. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
4. "Mulhouse Light Rail and Tram Train, France". railway-technology.com. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
5. "First of Five French Trams Now on Melbourne Tracks" (Press release). Minister for Public Transport. 11 June 2008. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
6. "Five more trams to be added to the metropolitan system". Yarra Trams. 7 February 2008. Archived from the original on 10 February 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
7. Lucas, Clay (13 October 2010). "Bee trams to stay, but at what price?". The Age . Retrieved 21 October 2013.
8. "C2.5123". Vicsig. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
9. "Melbourne welcomes Mulhouse tram" Railway Gazette International March 2008 p. 127
10. "Yarra Trams introduces Plan Bee". The Age . 18 June 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
11. C2-Class Archived 19 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Yarra Trams
12. "Mulhouse trams to stay in Melbourne" Trolley Wire issue 323 November 2010 p. 19
13. "Tram Procurement Program". Public Transport Victoria . Archived from the original on 13 May 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
14. "Public Transport Victoria Annual Report 2012 – 13" (PDF). Public Transport Victoria . 2013. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
15. "C2 Class". Vicsig. Retrieved 6 December 2013.

External links

Media related to Citadis 302 trams in Melbourne at Wikimedia Commons