Low-floor tram

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Two low floor trams, an Alstom Citadis 302 and a Bombardier Flexity Classic, in Adelaide, South Australia AECExtensionCitadisFlexity.jpg
Two low floor trams, an Alstom Citadis 302 and a Bombardier Flexity Classic, in Adelaide, South Australia

A low-floor tram is a tram that has no steps between one or more entrances and part or all of the passenger cabin. The low-floor design improves the accessibility of the tram for the public, and also may provide larger windows and more airspace. [1]

Contents

A low-floor tram allows accessible level access from curb level platforms. Level access can also be achieved either by using a high-floor vehicle serving high-platform stops. Currently both types are in use, depending on the station platform infrastructure in existing rail systems. Some systems may make use of former railway alignments where use of existing high platforms is desirable, while others, particularly new systems, may not have the space to site high-level platforms in urban centres.

Low-floor tram configurations

Mh strabtuer niederflur.jpeg
Entry door of a low-floor tram, with "roll-in" level floor accessibility.
Mh strabtuer hochflur.jpeg
Entry door of a high-floor tram. Steps are visible just inside the door.

Trams traditionally had high floors, and articulated tram designs evolved with low-floor centre sections. Examples of this design are Amsterdam 11G/12G-trams and the Kusttrams in Belgium.

The most common design of 100% low floor vehicles[ citation needed ] is the multi-articulated design. This uses short carbody sections for the wheels with longer sections between them. Examples of this are the Alstom Citadis and Combino. A different design was developed by MAN. In 1990 the GT6N was the first 100% low-floor tram. These trams are found in ten German cities (such as Bremen and Munich) and in the Swedish city Norrköping. Other designs are only partially low floor, with high floors over the bogies at the outer ends and single axle bogies under the low-floor centre section. North American light rail type vehicles frequently have a similar configuration but with a centre bogie designed to accommodate a low floor situated under a short centre section.

In Vienna, Ultra Low Floor (ULF) Trams can "kneel" at the curbside, reducing the height from the road to only 180 mm (7.1 in).

Wheelchair access ramp in Protram 205 WrAs tram. Low floor is approximately 360 mm (14 in) high Protram205 ramp.JPG
Wheelchair access ramp in Protram 205 WrAs tram. Low floor is approximately 360 mm (14 in) high

Some public transport companies have both low floor and high floor trams. They report that low floor trams have 15% higher maintenance costs for the rolling stock, and 20% higher maintenance costs for the infrastructure on average. [2]

Many low-floor trams have fixed bogies [3] which increase track wear and tear, while decreasing the speed at which a tram can drive through a curve (usually 4–15 km/h (2.5–9.3 mph) in 20 m (66 ft) radius curve). [4] The Škoda ForCity and the newest Alstom Citadis X04 try to counter the effect with pivoting bogies while maintaining 100% low floor design. Prior to the new design, pivoting bogies could only be used under high floors, hence such trams could only be part low-floor, with high-floor sections over the pivoting bogies.

Historic examples

Brisbane Hedley-Doyle Stepless tram, No. 301 BrisbaneSteplessTram301.JPG
Brisbane Hedley-Doyle Stepless tram, No. 301

The idea of a low-floor tram dates back to the early 20th century when a number of trolley systems began experimenting with various "stepless" designs. Perhaps the most notable is the Hedley-Doyle Stepless car introduced in 1912 for use on Broadway in Manhattan. [5] A number of other cities also purchased Hedley-Doyle Stepless trams after seeing their success in Manhattan. Since these cars had a unique appearance compared to any other trams running at the time, they earned a number of nicknames, including hobble skirt cars, public welfare cars, and sow bellies. [6]

Typical floor heights

Typical floor heights of low-floor trams are 300 to 350 mm (11.8 to 13.8 in), and the Ultra Low Floor tram has a floor height of only 180 mm (7.1 in). For comparison high-floor trams are typically more than 600 mm (23.6 in) and rapid transit using heavy rail trains has floor heights of 800 to 1,200 mm (31.5 to 47.2 in).

List of low-floor trams by country manufactured and manufacturers

Belarus

Belkommunmash

Canada

Bombardier Transportation
Flexity Outlook in Toronto TTC Flexity 4466 on route 504A King EB at Yonge.jpg
Flexity Outlook in Toronto
E-class Melbourne tram Melbourne Tram E-Class 6007.jpg
E-class Melbourne tram

Croatia

Crotram
TMK 2200-K in Zagreb TMK 2301 Zagreb.JPG
TMK 2200-K in Zagreb

Czech Republic

ČKD Tatra
Aliance TW Team
Tatra T3R.PLF (first car) in Prague Olsanska 4080.jpg
Tatra T3R.PLF (first car) in Prague
Škoda Transportation
Skoda 19T Electra in Wroclaw Wroclaw, new tram lines, Stadion and Kozanow (6).JPG
Škoda 19T Electra in Wrocław
Inekon Trams

France

Alstom
Citadis 302 in Lyon Lyon gold tram II.jpg
Citadis 302 in Lyon

Germany

Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft AG (AEG)
Duewag
MGT6D in Erfurt SWE EVAG 608.jpg
MGT6D in Erfurt
MAN
Siemens
Avenio in The Hague Lijn11.5009.Conradkade.2016.JPG
Avenio in The Hague
Adtranz
Eurotram in Strasbourg TramStrasbourg Eurotram Rotonde Depot.JPG
Eurotram in Strasbourg

Italy

AnsaldoBreda
Fiat Ferroviaria
Società Costruzioni Industriali Milano (Socimi)

Japan

Alna Sharyo  [ ja ]
Little Dancer Type C in Hakodate Hakodate-City-Tram Type9600-9603A.jpg
Little Dancer Type C in Hakodate
Kinki Sharyo
Niigata Transys

Poland

Konstal
Konstal 114Na in Gdansk Konstal 114Na Gdansk.jpg
Konstal 114Na in Gdańsk
Modertrans
Pesa
Pesa Swing 122NbT in Torun Pesa 122 NbT.jpg
Pesa Swing 122NbT in Toruń
Protram
Solaris Bus & Coach

Romania

Astra Vagoane Călători
Astra imperio in cluj napoca Astra Imperio Cluj 62.jpg
Astra imperio in cluj napoca
URAC Bucharest

Russian Federation

PTMZ (Petěrburgskij tramvajno-mechaničeskij zavod)
UKVZ (Usť-Katavskij vagonstrojitělnyj zavod imeni Sergeje Mironoviče Kirova)
71-628 in Taganrog Taganrog, tramvai na uglu Frunze i Glushko (3).jpg
71-628 in Taganrog
71-639 (Castor) in Yekaterinburg 71 639 In Yekaterinburg.jpg
71-639 (Castor) in Yekaterinburg
Uraltransmash
Tver Carriage Works (PC Transport Systems contract)

Spain

Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF)
Urbos trams in Budapest Budapest, Vorosvari ut, 3.jpg
Urbos trams in Budapest
Vossloh España

Switzerland

ABB
Stadler Rail
Tango tram from Basel on test in Zurich Tango als Tram in Zurich beim Paradeplatz.jpg
Tango tram from Basel on test in Zürich

Turkey

Durmazlar
Bozankaya

Ukraine

Electrontrans
Electron T5L64 in Lviv Electron T5L64 Franka square 1.JPG
Electron T5L64 in Lviv
Tatra-Yug

Other trams

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alstom Citadis</span> Family of low-floor trams and light rail vehicles

The Alstom Citadis is a family of low-floor trams and light rail vehicles built by Alstom. As of 2017, over 2,300 Citadis trams have been sold and 1,800 tramways are in revenue service throughout the world, with operations in all six inhabited continents. An evolution of Alstom's earlier TFS vehicle, most Citadis vehicles are made in Alstom's factories in La Rochelle, Reichshoffen and Valenciennes, France, and in Barcelona, Spain, and Annaba, Algeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siemens Combino</span> Low-floor tram manufactured by Siemens

The Siemens Combino is a low-floor tram produced by Siemens Mobility. The first prototype was produced in 1996 at the Duewag works in Düsseldorf; the trams were later built in Krefeld-Uerdingen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siemens Avenio</span> Low-floor light rail vehicle

The Siemens Avenio is a low floor tram family produced by Siemens Mobility, a subsidiary of the German conglomerate Siemens. It is the successor to the Combino family. The first generation was sold as the Combino Supra, Combino MkII, or Combino Plus. With the introduction of the second generation in 2009 the Combino brand was dropped and Siemens have referred to Combino Plus trams in Almada (Portugal) and Budapest (Hungary) as part of the Avenio range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flexity Outlook</span> Type of tram vehicle

The Bombardier Flexity Outlook is a series of low-floored, articulated light-rail trams manufactured by Bombardier Transportation. Part of the larger Bombardier Flexity product line, Flexity Outlook vehicles are modular in design and commonly used throughout Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flexity Classic</span> Light-rail vehicle

The Bombardier Flexity Classic is a model of light-rail tram manufactured by Bombardier Transportation. Although it is marketed as the most traditionally designed member of the Flexity family, it is still a modern bi-directional articulated tram with a low-floor section allowing good accessibility, especially to passengers in wheelchairs. Flexity Classic trams run on 1,435 mmstandard gauge in Australia, 1,000 mmmetre gauge in Essen, 1,450 mm in Dresden, and 1,458 mm in Leipzig.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Socimi Eurotram</span> Electric light rail vehicles

The Socimi Eurotram (later sold as the Bombardier Flexity Outlook (E)) was an electric tramcar designed for the tram system of Compagnie de Transports Strasbourgeois (CTS). Initially produced by Socimi, after the company became bankrupt Eurotrams were manufactured first by ABB Group's transportation division, then by Adtranz and finally by Bombardier Transportation, who marketed the tram as part of their Flexity Outlook range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ADtranz low floor tram</span> German low floor tram model

The ADtranz low floor tram was introduced in the 1990s as the world's first tram with a completely low floor design. This tram was developed by MAN for the Bremen urban transport system. The prototype, tram number 3801, was first publicly introduced on 9 February 1990. From 1991 to 1993, it was being tested in many European cities. Ten German cities have purchased this type. Adtranz took over the rail division of MAN in 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trams in Germany</span> List of German tramway networks

Germany has an extensive number of tramway networks. Some of these networks have been upgraded to light rail standards, called Stadtbahn in German. Straßenbahn and Stadtbahn schemes are usually operated on the legal foundation of the BOStrab, the Tramways Act of Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tramway Français Standard</span>

The Tramway Français Standard (TFS) is a type of tram designed and manufactured by Alstom for use on various tramway systems in France. The TFS is no longer in production, having been superseded by the Alstom Citadis range of tramcars.

The Little Dancer is a low-floor tram brand built by Alna Sharyo, a Japanese manufacturer of trams and light rail vehicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stadler Variobahn</span> Tram / light rail vehicle by Stadler Rail

The Stadler Variobahn is a German-designed model of articulated low-floor tram and light rail vehicle. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Istanbul Tram</span> Tram system in Istanbul, Turkey

The Istanbul Tram is a modern tram system on the European side of Istanbul. The first section, the T1 opened in 1992, followed by the T2, which opened in 2006. In 2011, the T1 and T2 merged, with the line retaining the T1 name. The T4, T5 and the T6 lines followed, opening in 2007, 2021 and 2024 respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trams in Kraków</span> Tram network in Kraków, Poland

The Kraków tram system is a tram system in Kraków, Poland. The tramway has been in operation since 1882, and is currently operated by Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacyjne w Krakowie. There are 22 ordinary, 2 fast, and 3 night tram lines with a total line length of 347 kilometres (216 mi). As of 2013, the total route length of the tramway was 90 kilometres (56 mi), including a 1.4-kilometre (0.87 mi) tram tunnel with two underground stops.

The CAF Urbos is a family of trams, streetcars, and light rail vehicles built by CAF. The Spanish manufacturer CAF previously made locomotives, passenger cars, regional, and underground trains. In 1993, CAF started building trams for Metrovalencia, with the delivery of 16 trams until 1999. This was a variant of a Siemens design and some components were delivered by Siemens, including bogies and traction motors. This design was also sold to Lisbon Trams in 1995; CAF then decided to design and build the Urbos in-house.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Circular light rail</span> Light rail loop line in Kaohsiung, Taiwan

The Kaohsiung Circular Light Rail is a light rail loop line in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, operated by the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation. The line stretches over a length of 22.1 kilometers and has 38 stations. The southern part of this line makes use of the defunct tracks of the Kaohsiung Harbor Railway Line. Construction cost was forecasted to be 16.5 billion New Taiwan dollars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flexity</span> Public transport vehicles made by Bombardier Transportation and Alstom

The Alstom Flexity is a family of trams, streetcars, and light rail vehicles manufactured by Bombardier Transportation until 2021, when French company Alstom took over Bombardier. As of 2015, more than 3,500 Flexity vehicles are in operation around the world in Europe, Asia, Oceania, and North America in 100 cities among 20 countries internationally. Production of the vehicles is done at Bombardier's global production plants and by local manufacturers worldwide through technology transfer agreements.

Trams have been used since the 19th century, and since then, there have been various uses and designs for trams around the world. This article covers the many design types, most notably the articulated, double-decker, drop-centre, low-floor, single ended, double-ended, rubber -tired, and tram-train; and the various uses of trams, both historical and current, most notably cargo trams, a dog car, hearse tram, maintenance trams, a mobile library service, a nursery tram, a restaurant tram, a tourist tram, and as mobile offices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trams in Plzeň</span> Tram system in Plzeň, Czech Republic

The Plzeň tram network is a tram network serving Plzeň, the fourth most populous city in the Czech Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trams in Olomouc</span> Tram system in Olomouc, Czech Republic

The Olomouc tramway network is a standard-gauge tram system located in Olomouc, Czech Republic. Seven lines operate on approximately 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) of track, which makes it the smallest tramway network by length in the Czech Republic. It is operated by Dopravní podnik města Olomouce a.s. (DPMO), a company owned by the city of Olomouc. As of 2022, DPMO had a total of 69 tram vehicles intended for regular passenger transport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alstom Citadis 100</span> Two series of low-floor trams from the Citadis family

Alstom Citadis 100 are two series of low-floor trams from the Citadis family, produced at Konstal's plant in Chorzów from 1999 to 2001. A total of 21 units were built, currently operated in Gdańsk and the Silesian Interurbans.

References

  1. "The joy of high ceilings (also called low floors)". Human Transit. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
  2. Prof. Dr. Ing. Thomas Siefer (March 2010). "Abschlussbericht - Entwicklung des Stadtbahnnetzes Hannover - Studie zum Einsatz von Niederflurfahrzeugen" [Final report: Development of the Hanover light rail network - Study on the use of low-floor vehicles](PDF) (in German). Institut für Verkehrswesen, Eisenbahnbau und -betrieb (TU Braunschweig). p. 111. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2012-02-18. Eine weitere Erknenntnis der Unternehmem, die sowohl Hochflur-, als auch Niederflurfahrzeuge im Einsatz haben, ist der direkte Kostenvergleich beider Systeme. Für die Wartung und Instandhaltung der Fahrzeuge werden im Mittel Mehrkosten in Höhe von 20% genannt. Für die Wartung und Instandhaltung der Infrastruktur werden beim Einsatz von Niederflurfahrzeugen um 15% höhere Kosten ermittelt.
  3. "Zelingr, Heptner" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-05-12.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. "ČVUT.cz - Čapek, Kolář" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  5. 1 2 "A Novelty in Car Construction, The "Stepless" type of the New York Railways Company". Brill Magazine. VI (3). J. G. Brill Company: 73–84. 1912. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  6. "San Diego Electric Railway San Diego Class I Electric Streetcar Bodies No. 126, 128 & 138" (PDF). pp. 24–25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-05-06. Retrieved 2012-08-17.