Talk:Combino

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This page was listed on Wikipedia:Votes for deletion. The result of the debate was to keep. See Wikipedia:Votes for deletion/Combino for a record of the votes and discussion.

Any information on the Combino cab controls, is it true that only the Melbourne versions have dead-man's vigilance devices? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 203.214.75.127 (talkcontribsWHOIS) .

Not true, I'd say. German law requires all passenger vehicles must be provided with a vigilance system to automatically brake if the driver is incapacitated. Since Combinos are made by Siemens, I'm sure they'll be built in as standard. Dead man's handles are an old fashioned form of this, and a quick google suggests the Aussies are looking into enhanced driver vigilance systems after a train crash showed the dead man's handle was insufficient. Average Earthman 10:08, 15 December 2005 (UTC)

"German law requires all passenger vehicles must be provided with a vigilance system to automatically brake if the driver is incapacitated. Since Combinos are made by Siemens, I'm sure they'll be built in as standard...." Originaly the Melbourne Combinos did have a simple deadman's device, a sprung upward trigger on the (traction-braking) controller (I believe that overseas Combinos have ones that drivers must hold straight). The tram cannot move until the trigger is held down. Orignaly, if drivers released this, a buzzer would sound five times within 2.5 seconds followed by track brake application. It it were held down for a minimum of four minutes and the tram stopped, a buzzer would sound contiuously and the tram would remain immobilised until it was released. However, there was also an alterative system in the form of a button on the side of the armrest. Drivers discovered this and often dropped the armrest and have the side of the seat hold it down. You still had to release it every four minutes when coming to a stop. But the management discovered the same thing that their reaction was "vigilance control." Drivers were given drie warnings.

I can believe that German law requires V/C on trains, I'm not so sure about trams.

"...Dead man's handles are an old fashioned form of this, and a quick google suggests the Aussies are looking into enhanced driver vigilance systems after a train crash showed the dead man's handle was insufficient." Tramcars are quite different from trains and dead man's handles were traditionaly quite rare on the former but quite common on that latter. The results of a collisions and derailments are much less serious on trams than is the case on trains. Many enthusiasts do not see much point of V/Cs on trams and pity that fact that corperate suits, not engerneers untimatly determin regulations and specifiations.203.214.75.127January 2006 (UTC)

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[edit] New info

I have noticed that the Dutch version of this article is more informative than the Anglophone version, escpecially on technical side. The Anglophone version still does not explain the origin of the name but the Dutch version does. Could anyone translate the following text: De naam "Combino" is afgeleid van het werkwoord "combineren" Myrtone

[edit] Tram/car/carbody/module/section/trainset

A few days ago I corrected the usage of "car" for a multiple module tram - "car", "carbody" refers to a single module (sometimes section). Then my usage of "trainset" for a fixed consist of multiple modules has been edited as illicit usage. I looked for examples of usage, and found it is used (more often in the USA), though rarely - Bombardier or Alstom just prefers "tram" in their publications. It may be that usage changed with the appearance of trams with more than two-three sections. In the end I accept the change, but would welcome some (semi-official) source for a terminology definition making this distinction. 62.201.85.135 16:29, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Record length

I just noticed that the article lists 43 meters as a world record for the Combinos that run in Basel, while the Budapest ones are listed at 54 meters also as a world record. Is 43 meters outdated or is 54 meters not correct?


The Combino trams in Budapest are not yet fully operational 

(there were some malfunctions occurring in the first days of the public run), and only a few of these trams are running currently on the line 4-6. Still, they are 53.99 metres in length, which makes them the longest trams available for regular public transport ever. During peak hours this line serves a number of passengers equal to a metropolitan subway, thus the need for a tram as long as this.

[edit] Combino-trouble in Budapest


Today in an interview the mayor of Budapest said, that he wants to send back the crappy Combinos to Siemens. :)) For good...