From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
| D1 class tram at the Arts Centre |
| D1 class |
| Service |
| Entered service |
December 19, 2002 |
| Built by |
Siemens TS |
| Built / In service |
38 / 37 |
| Fleet numbers |
3501 - 3538 |
| Depots |
Malvern |
| Weight |
| Tare |
25.8 t |
| Dimensions |
| Length |
20.04 m |
| Width |
2.65 m |
| Height |
3.65 m |
| Power |
| Motors |
4 x 100 kW |
|
| D2 class tram |
| D2 class |
| Service |
| Entered service |
March 3, 2004 |
| Built by |
Siemens TS |
| Built / In service |
21 / 21 |
| Fleet numbers |
5001 - 5021 |
| Depots |
Malvern
Southbank
|
| Weight |
| Tare |
35.3 t |
| Dimensions |
| Length |
29.85 m |
| Width |
2.65 m
5 Articulated sections
|
| Height |
3.53 m |
| Power |
| Motors |
4 x 100 kW |
The D class, or Combino is an electric tram operates in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It was built by Siemens, and the first unit was delivered to the city in 2002. The trams were initially operated by M>Tram, but are now operated by Yarra Trams. The class come in 2 variants: the D1 class which is a 3 unit tram, and the larger D2 class five unit tram. The trams feature plug-type doors, next-stop display, and several other features. The trams are built '100% low-floor.'
The D1 class can be found on Melbourne's southeastern and inner tram routes and are based at Malvern, Victoria tram depot. The first D2 class unit were delivered to the city in 2004, with the last units entering service in November 2004.
[edit] Cab controls
All D class trams have a traction braking controller with an integral deadman's trigger that the driver must release and reapply every minute. If an alarm sounds they must release and reapply the trigger immediately; otherwise, magnetic track brakes are applied at full force.
Originally the driver could hold it down continuously while the tram was moving, if the driver took their hand off, an alarm would sound, followed soon by track brake application. If after four minutes it had been held-down continuously and the tram stopped, the driver would get an audible warning and the tram would not move until the driver had released it. There was also an alternative deadman's button on the side of the armrest. Drivers discovered that if the armrest were dropped low enough, this button would stay pressed without the driver applying any pressure, they still had to be released every four minutes when coming to a stop. But as soon as the management discovered this, their reaction was "vigilance control," actually a dead-man's vigilance device, and hence the notice in the cab "Vigilance control now fitted, release and reapply every 1 minute, if an alarm sounds, release and reapply immediately."
[edit] External links
D2 class tram on Spencer Street
The interior of a D1 Combino tram.
