E-class Melbourne tram

E-class (Flexity Swift)
E 6001 and 6002 on route 96 in Bourke St, December 2013
Manufacturer	Bombardier
Assembly	Dandenong, Victoria
Constructed	From 2011
Number built	50 ordered
Number in service	5
Fleet numbers	6001–6050
Depots	Southbank

The E-class trams are three-section, four-bogie articulated trams that were introduced to the Melbourne tram network from 2013. They are being built by Bombardier Transportation in their Dandenong factory, with the propulsion systems and bogies coming from Bombardier’s factories in Germany.

A $303 million order for 50 trams, with maintenance to 2017 and an option for a further 100 vehicles was announced on 29 September 2010. The trams are 33 metres long, with three articulated units and four bogies, and a passenger capacity of 210.

The E-class is part of the Tram Procurement Program, a Public Transport Victoria project aimed at increasing capacity and reliability of the tram network through the introduction of new trams, creation of new depot space, and upgrades to existing infrastructure.

The first tram was delivered in June 2013 and after testing the first two entered service on route 96 on 4 November 2013. The third entered service on 5 December 2013. Five were in service by January 2014 with all 50 scheduled to be in service by 2018.

History

Interior of an E-class, 2013

In July 2009 the Victorian Government called for expressions of interest for the construction of 50 new trams. The expression of interest stipulated that the trams be low floor to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act, that 40% of the total contract was to be local content and that the first were to enter service in 2012.^[1]

In October 2009 Alstom and Bombardier were shortlisted to bid for the contract. The invitation to tender stated the contract had been declared a strategic project, requiring a minimum 25% local manufacturing content, and 50% local content over the life of the contract, with 150 jobs expected to be created.^[2]

Bombardier were awarded a $303 million contract for 50 Flexity Swift low floor trams, with maintenance to 2017 on 29 September 2010; the contract includes an option for a further 100 vehicles. They are being built at Bombardier's Dandenong factory with local design input, with propulsion systems and bogies coming from Bombardier’s German factories in Mannheim and Siegen respectively.^[3][4][5] They are the first trams built in Australia in 12 years,^[5] and the first locally built Melbourne trams since the last B-class was delivered in 1994.^[6]

E 6001 at Preston Workshops on the test track before entering passenger service, September 2013

The trams are 33 metres long, 2.65 metres wide with three articulated units and four bogies, they are low-floor with anti-slip flooring, air-conditioned, have automatic audio visual announcements, and a passenger capacity of 210. A two-thirds mock up was produced for design input and unveiled on 24 August 2011; it was displayed at the 2011 Royal Melbourne Show.^[6][7][8][9] A seven month delay in delivery was announced in August 2012, with Bombardier stating that design complexity had slowed down construction, and the E-class would be operating from July 2013, and the last delivered in 2018.^[10]

The first E-class tram arrived at Yarra Trams' Preston Workshops on 28 June 2013 to begin final testing, and was publicly unveiled on 1 July 2013.^[11][12] Testing started in mid July 2013,^[13] and by September 2013 there were two E-class trams at Preston Workshops undergoing non-passenger testing in preparation for introduction to service in late 2013.^[14][15] Two E-class trams entered service on route 96 on 4 November 2013 after an unveiling at Southbank Depot, with a further three in service by January 2014.^[16][17][18] The third, 6003, entered service on the afternoon of 5 December,^[19] with five in service in January 2014.^[20]

Specifications

Class	E
Image
Constructed	From 2011[21]
Number built	50 ordered[21]
Introduced	From 2013[21]
Number in service	5[20]
Fleet numbers	6001–6050[21]
Length	33.45 m (109 ft 9 in)[21]
Width	2.65 m (8 ft 8 in)[21]
Height	3.65 m (12 ft 0 in)[21]
Maximum speed	80 km/h (50 mph)[21]
Low Floor	100%[21]
Acceleration	1.3 m/s (4 ft/s)[21]
Sections	3 (two articulations)[21]
Seats	64[21]
Capacity	210[17]
Doors	10 (five per side)[21]
Bogies	4 (B'B'2'B) (3 powered, 1 unpowered)[21]
Electric System	600 V DC Catenary (Pantograph)

Associated works

A package of works – the Tram Procurement Program – is being delivered by Public Transport Victoria to increase the capacity and reliability of Melbourne's tram network. This includes: the order of 50 trams; upgrades to route 96; upgrading the power system; improving accessibility on other low-floor routes; and the redevelopment of Preston Workshops and upgrades to Southbank depot to store and maintain E-class trams. Over $807.6 million has been allocated to this project by the Victorian Government.^[22]

In anticipation of the E-class trams, a $24 million project to upgrade Southbank Depot was announced on 25 January 2012. It was delivered by Leighton Contractors and upgraded the maintenance and office facilities.^[22][23] Route 96 is being upgraded for the E-class trams, accessible stops will be constructed, along with further segregation of trams from cars, and increased priority at intersections.^[22][24]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to E-class Melbourne tram.

• Yarra Trams
• Yarra Trams - E-Class