Flexity 2

Flexity 2
A Bombardier Flexity 2 on the G:link, September 2014.
ManufacturerBombardier Transportation, later Alstom
Family nameFlexity
Specifications
Traction systemMitrac 500
Electric system(s)600–750 V DC from overhead catenary
Current collector(s)Pantograph
BogiesFlexx Urban
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge or 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge

The Flexity 2 is a family of tram or light-rail vehicle manufactured by Bombardier Transportation (now Alstom). It is 100% low-floor, in order to easily accommodate wheelchairs and pushchairs. The trams are bi-directional, with cabs at both ends and doors on both sides, and are articulated with five or seven sections. This family of trams debuted on the Blackpool Tramway, England.[1]

Introduction

The Flexity 2 is an evolution of Bombardier's successful Flexity family of LRVs and is designed to be highly customisable. It incorporates a number of significant advances over its predecessor including improved corrosion resistance, enhanced safety through a redesigned cab with improved impact protection, improved energy efficiency through the inclusion of cells to store energy temporarily after braking which achieves double the energy saving of feeding it back through the wires, reduced mass, optional support for its Primove under track power transmission system and the new Flexx Urban 3000 bogie which allows the LRV to run on more conventional wheelsets. The vehicle also features improved air-conditioning and a wider more spacious interior via the reduction in the width of its sidewalls allowing more seating or other uses. These changes have resulted in a very slight increase in axle load, although Bombardier says this does not limit the operational capabilities of the vehicle.[citation needed]

The launch customer was Blackpool Transport which ordered 16 units in July 2009[2] to replace its tourist-focused and high-maintenance heritage fleet with a new vehicle suitable for daily commuters. The worldwide launch of the tram, including showing the first new tram occurred on 8 September 2011, at the new Starr Gate depot in Blackpool.[3]

Additional orders came from G:link ordering 23 for operation on the Gold Coast, Australia, Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe ordering 60 for Basel, Switzerland, De Lijn ordering in total 88 for Antwerp and Ghent, Belgium, and SND ordering 18 for Suzhou New District, Suzhou, China (which were built by CRRC Nanjing Puzhen under a Bombardier technology licence agreement).

Technical specifications

City Operator Type designation Built in Number of vehicles Articulated Sections Track gauge Length Width Height Maximum power Catenary line voltage
Blackpool, England Blackpool Transport Flexity 2 (Blackpool) 2010–2012, 2017 18 5 Standard (1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)) 32.23 m (105 ft 8+7⁄8 in) 2.65 m (8 ft 8+3⁄8 in) 3.42 m (11 ft 2+5⁄8 in) 480 kW (640 hp) 600 V DC [2]
Gold Coast, Australia G:link 2013–2014 18 (+5)[4] 7 43.5 m (142 ft 8+5⁄8 in) 750 V DC [5][6]
Basel, Switzerland Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe 2014-2017 60 5/7 Metre (1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)) 31.8 m (104 ft 4 in)/43.2 m (141 ft 8+3⁄4 in) 2.3 m (7 ft 6+1⁄2 in) 650 V DC [7]
Antwerp and Ghent, Belgium De Lijn 2014–2016 38 five section, 50 seven section 31.4 m (103 ft 1⁄4 in)/42.7 m (140 ft 1+1⁄8 in) 600 V DC [8][9]
Suzhou New District, Suzhou, China Suzhou Tram 2015 18 5 Standard (1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)) 31.8 m (104 ft 4 in) 2.65 m (8 ft 8+3⁄8 in) 3.42 m (11 ft 2+5⁄8 in) — 750 V DC [10][11]
Melbourne, Australia Yarra Trams G 2022– 100 3[12] TBA 600 V DC [13][14][15]
  • One of the 88 Flexity 2 trams ordered by De Lijn.
    One of the 88 Flexity 2 trams ordered by De Lijn.
  • Blackpool Transport Flexity 2 in June 2013.
    Blackpool Transport Flexity 2 in June 2013.
  • Flexity 2 tram from Basel in Saint-Louis, France.
    Flexity 2 tram from Basel in Saint-Louis, France.

References

  1. ^ "Tram order for Blackpool". Modern Railways (731): 10. August 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Blackpool tram spec sheet" (PDF). Bombardier. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  3. ^ Blackpool supertram is here! Blackpool Gazette 8 September 2011
  4. ^ "Record of Proceedings (proof) First Session of the Fifty-fifth Parliament Thursday, 12 November 2015" (PDF). Queensland Parliament. 12 November 2015. p. 2826.
  5. ^ Bombardier to supply LRVs for Gold Coast Rapid Transit Archived 18 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine Rail Express 15 June 2011
  6. ^ Gold Coast takes delivery of more new trams Global Rail News 12 November 2013
  7. ^ BVB buy 60 "Flexity Basel" Bombardier Archived 5 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine gahnonline.ch 15 October 2012
  8. ^ De Lijn orders Flexity 2 trams for Antwerpen and Gent Archived 25 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine Railway Gazette International 7 August 2012
  9. ^ Bombardier to Supply 40 Additional FLEXITY 2 Trams to Belgian Transport Agency De Lijn Bombardier 2 June 2015
  10. ^ Bombardier Partner CSR Puzhen Wins Order for Low-Floor Trams in China Archived 3 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine Bombardier Transportation 10 January 2013
  11. ^ Work starts on China's first modern tram line in Suzhou Archived 21 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine City of Suzhou 13 September 2012
  12. ^ "Next Generation Trams". transport.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  13. ^ "Boost For Jobs As Biggest Tram Project Gets Underway | Premier of Victoria". www.premier.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  14. ^ "Largest light rail contract in Australia". Rail Express. 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  15. ^ Victorian Department of Transport (April 2022). "Next Generation Trams".