Socimi Eurotram
{{Short description|Electric light rail vehicles}}{{Infobox locomotive
| name = Socimi Eurotram
| image = File:Tramways Strasbourg 06.JPG
|caption = Eurotram in Strasbourg
| powertype =
| builder = Socimi/ABB/Adtrans/Bombardier
| builddate = 1994-
| totalproduction = 36 / 17 / 26 / 72
| whytetype =
| uicclass = Bo+Bo+Bo+2 / Bo+Bo+Bo+2+Bo
| gauge =
| length = 33.100 / 43.050 / 34,100 / 34,100 m
| width = 2.4 m
| height = 3.0 m
| emptyweight = 40.000 / 50.800 kg
| maxspeed = 70 km/h
}}
The Socimi Eurotram (later sold as the Bombardier Flexity Outlook (E)) is an electric tramcar originally designed for the tram system of Compagnie de Transports Strasbourgeois (CTS). Initially produced by Socimi, after the company became bankrupt Eurotrams were manufactured first by ABB Group's transportation division, then by Adtranz and finally by Bombardier Transportation, who marketed the tram as part of their Flexity Outlook range.
Eurotrams have been used on the Strasbourg tramway (France), the Azienda Trasporti Milanesi (Italy), and on the Porto Metro (Portugal).
History and design
The Eurotram light rail vehicles was originally designed for the Compagnie des Transports Strasbourgeois (CTS) specifically for use on the Strasbourg tramway; design requirements included a 100% low floor design, airconditioning, and a higher than usual power to weight ratio for the 8% gradients in the tunnel under Strasbourg's main station. The appearance was stylised by Belgian designer Philippe Neerman.{{sfn|Wansbeek|2003}}
Tenders for manufacture of the tram led to contracts with ABB Group and Socimi (Milan, Italy); Socimi subsequently went bankrupt and ABB completed production alone, on the basis of Socimi's prototypes; the trams were manufactured at ABB's York Carriage Works and Derby Litchurch Lane Works in England, with some parts from ABB Trazione (Italy).{{sfn|Wansbeek|2003}}{{sfn|Darter|Hall|1995}}
The tram design was modular, consisting {{convert|2.575|m|ftin|adj=on|frac=8}} cabs, {{convert|7.550|m|ftin|adj=on|frac=8}} passenger units, and {{convert|2.350|m|ftin|adj=on|frac=8}} articulation sections. The initial Strasbourg vehicles used seven modules: two cabs, three passenger units and two articulation sections, for a train length of {{convert|33.1|m|ftin|frac=8}} Each train has a mixture of powered and unpowered bogies;{{sfn|Darter|Hall|1995|p=28}} the bogie design used independently rotating wheels, each on a stub axle,{{sfn|Darter|Hall|1995|p=31}} the primary suspension was of the radial arm type, and the secondary suspension air spring type.{{sfn|Darter|Hall|1995|pp=28, 41}} Each wheel of a powered bogie was separately powered by bogie mounted three phase asynchronous motors, connected via a gearbox, with the wheel and motor axises of rotation parallel.{{sfn|Darter|Hall|1995|p=42}}
The maximum capacity of the Strasbourg seven module trams was 285 with 66 seated, the nine-module trams had an increased capacity of 370 passengers, with 92 seated. Total installed traction power was {{convert|324|and|416|kW}} for the seven and nine module trams.{{cite web|title=Fiche Technique Eurotram de Strasbourg|url=http://florent.brisou.pagesperso-orange.fr/Fiche%20Eurotram.htm|accessdate=17 April 2012|language=French}}
After the acquisition of Adtranz (ABB transportation group's successor) by Bombardier the design was marketed as part of the Flexity Outlook family.
The Eurotram design was planned to be used on the Nottingham Express Transit system which was under development in 1998.{{citation|url=http://www.lrta.org/nottingham2.html|title=Nottingham Express Transit|date=August 1998|journal=Tramways & Urban Transit|first=Pat|last=Armstrong}} However safety regulations relating to door closing, coupled with the relatively slow motion of the Eurotram's single leaf door meant that the tram would be delayed at stops; an alternative design was chosen, the double leaf doored Incentro tram.{{citation|url=http://www.lrta.org/news/00/news0016.html|publisher=Light Rail Transit Association|title=INCENTRO for Nottingham|date=10 April 2000}}{{citation|url=http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/nottingham/|title=Nottingham Express Transit, United Kingdom|work=www.railway-technology.com}}
In December 2002 Porto tram number 018 was taken to Australia, five sections being placed on static display outside Customs House, Sydney for two weeks before being taken to Melbourne where it operated on the local tram network until March 2003 as a seven section tram.A Portuguese Tram in Australia Trolley Wire issue 292 February 2003 pages 20-23Eurotram at Circular Quay Transit Australia February 2003 page 56Oporto Eurotram Runs in Melbourne Transit Australia April 2003 pages 97-99
Orders
Twenty-six 33.1m (7 module) Eurotrams were delivered to (Strasbourg tramway) CTS for service on Strasbourg's line A between 1994 and 1995. CTS placed a second order in 1996 for twenty-seven units, nine of which were 7 module trains, and eighteen were 9 module trains.{{citation|url=http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/strasbourg/|title=Strasbourg Light Rail, France|work=www.railway-technology.com}}
The Milan tram system (Azienda Trasporti Milanesi) acquired 20 units from Adtranz.{{citation|url=http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/milano/|title=Milano Metro, Italy|work=www.railway-technology.com}}
72 units were built for the Porto tram network (Porto Metro) were constructed from 2001 at Bombardier's factory in Amadora Portugal.{{cite web|url=http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/metro_porto/|title=Metro do Porto Light Rail, Portugal|work=www.railway-technology.com|at=Rolling Stock}} (see Sorefame.)
Over 150 units were built between 1994 and 2004.{{citation|title=Traction Ferroviaire: Les Tramways; Caracteristiques de Materiels Roulants|first=Georges|last=Muller|publisher=Ed. Techniques Ingénieur|pages=7–8}}
| class="wikitable"
!City !Network !Number !Unit-Numbers !Built by !UnitType !Year Built !Other |
| Straßburg, France
|26 |1001–1026 |8-axled |1994–1995 | |
| Milano, Italien
|Milano Tram |26 |7001–7026 |Adtranz |8-axled |1999–2000 |Unidirectional |
| Porto, Portugal
|72 |MP-001–MP-072 |8-axled |2001–2006 |Units can be coupled |
{{gallery
|File:Milano tram via Larga.jpg|ATM 7005, Milan (2009)
|File:Metro do Porto - Material circulante (8253958770).jpg|Porto Eurotram (2012)
|File:Metro do Porto - Material circulante (8252880593).jpg|Porto Eurotram interior (2012)
|File:Eurotram 33m & 43m Strasbourg vues d'en haut - Elsau.jpg|33m and 43m Strasbourg Eurotrams (2006)
|File:Bombardier_Eurotram_interior_non_refurbished.jpg|Interior of an Eurotram in Strasbourg, in a non-refurbished version
|File:Bombardier_Eurotram_interior_-_refurbished.jpg|Interior of an Eurotram in Strasbourg, after their refurbishement in 2019
}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
=Sources=
- {{citation|last=Wansbeek|first=C.J.|title=Strasbourg: Interurban tram strategy strengthens city system|journal=Tramways & Urban Transit|date=March 2003|url=http://www.lrta.info/articles/art0303.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720114224/http://lrta.info/articles/art0303.html|archivedate=20 July 2011}}
- {{citation|title=Applicability of low-floor light rail vehicles in North America|work=Transit Cooperative Research Program Report|number=2|publisher=National Research Council (U.S.). Transportation Research Board|year=1995|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aJnm7jjYd9sC|isbn=0309053730|first=Michael I.|last=Darter|first2=Kathleen Theresa|last2=Hall }}
External links
{{Commons category|Bombardier Flexity Outlook Eurotram}}
Category:Adtranz multiple units
Category:Bombardier Transportation tram vehicles
Category:Tram vehicles of France
Category:Tram vehicles of Italy
Category:Tram vehicles of Portugal