Croydon Variobahn

Croydon Variobahn

A Variobahn tram calls at Therapia Lane
In service 2012–Present
Manufacturer Stadler Rail
Built at Berlin, Germany - Assembly and testing
Chemnitz, Saxony - On street testing
Family name Variotram
Constructed 2011-2012
Entered service 30 March 2012
Number built 6 (8 more on option)[1]
Number in service 6
Formation 5 section, articulated
Fleet numbers 2554-2559
Capacity 72 seats, 134 standing per tram
Operator London Tramlink (Tramlink) part of TfL
Depot(s) Therapia Lane, Croydon
Line(s) served 4 routes
Specifications
Car body construction Aluminium
Train length 32.37 m (106 ft 2 in)
Width 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in)
Height 3.535 m (11 ft 7.2 in)
Floor height 385 mm (15.2 in)
Platform height 385 mm (15.2 in)
Entry 385 mm (15.2 in)
Doors 4 'plug doors' per set
Articulated sections 5
Maximum speed 80 km/h (50 mph)
Weight 41.5 tonnes (40.8 long tons; 45.7 short tons) per tram
Traction system 8x 45 kW (60 hp) Three-phase AC traction motors
Electric system(s) 750 V DC Overhead
Current collection method Pantograph
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The Variobahn is an articulated low-floor tram designed by Stadler Rail. Six vehicles are being supplied to London Tramlink.[2] The first vehicles entered service during 2012.

Design

The Variobahn (also known as Variotram) tram family was launched in 1993, and has been built variously by ABB, Adtranz, Bombardier Transportation and since 2001 by Stadler Rail.

Croydon

The Variobahn trams for Tramlink were ordered by Transport for London in August 2011 at a cost of £16.3 million.[3] The London Borough of Croydon council made a £3m contribution to the cost.[1] TfL has an option for up to 8 more trams.[1] The trams are being constructed at Stadler's Pankow plant in the suburbs of Berlin and the Stadler facility at Velten north of Berlin.

Three of the Croydon trams were diverted from a batch of five which were ordered for the Bybanen line in Bergen, Norway.[3] Stadler built these earlier than the contractual delivery date to make use of free capacity at its factory. Three more trams were built directly for Croydon, plus three trams for Bergen to replace the ones which went to Croydon.[3]

Initial testing was carried out in Chemnitz, Saxony.[4] The first tram, 2554, was delivered to Croydon on 24 January 2012.[5]

2554 carried its first passengers on 30 March 2012.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stadler Variobahn (London).