Flexity 2
The Flexity 2 is a family of tram or light-rail vehicle manufactured by Bombardier Transportation. 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 sections. This family of trams will debut on the Blackpool Tramway, in Blackpool, Lancashire, England.[1]
Introduction
The Flexity 2 is a development 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 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.
The launch customer of the family are Blackpool Council and Lancashire County Council which ordered 16 Flexity 2 (Blackpool) 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 the 8th September 2011, at the new Starr Gate depot in Blackpool.[3]
Technical specifications
Low-floor versions
| City |
Operator |
Type designation |
Built in |
Number of vehicles |
Articulated Sections |
Length |
Width |
Height |
Weight (empty) |
Maximum power |
Electrification |
| Blackpool, United Kingdom |
Blackpool Transport |
Flexity 2 (Blackpool) |
2010–2012 |
16 |
5 |
32.23 m (105 ft 9 in) |
2.65 m (8 ft 8 in) |
3.42 m (11 ft 3 in) |
40.9 t (40.3 long tons; 45.1 short tons) |
4 x 120 kW (160 hp) |
600 V DC Overhead [2] |
| Gold Coast, Australia |
Gold Coast Rapid Transit |
|
2014 |
14 |
7 |
45 m (147 ft 8 in) |
|
Standard Gauge |
|
|
750 V DC Overhead [4] [5] |
References
External links
Flexity 2