CR4000
Encyclopedia
The CR4000 is a 76% low floor model of Flexity Swift
tram
built by Bombardier Transportation
in Bautzen
and Vienna
between 1998 and 2000 and operated by London Tramlink
.
). Each tram has an integral traction braking controller with deadman's handle. While stationary, the tram is immobilised until the driver's hand is on the controller: if the driver's hand is removed from the controller while moving, an alarm sounds immediately and the driver's hand must return to the controller to disarm it. If a three-second countdown passes and it is not disarmed, the track brake
s are applied. Between the outer door and each car end is a higher-floor section, accessed up a step and situated over the car's two power bogies. The low-floor section is 40 cm (15.7 in) above rail-level, sloping down to 35 cm (13.8 in) in the doorways, a height that matches the platforms at tram stops, and each car has two wheelchair
positions. The trams are 30.1 m (98.8 ft) long and 2.65 m (8.7 ft) wide, with 70 seats and a total capacity of just over 200 passengers. They operate from an overhead power supply at 750 V DC
, and have a maximum speed of 80 km/h (49.7 mph). They are based on the very similar class K-4000 built for use on Cologne's
low-platform routes. The fleet is maintained at Therapia Lane depot
.
The trams are numbered beginning at 2530, continuing from the highest-numbered tram, number 2529 on London's former tram network
, which closed in 1952.
Trams were originally fitted with destination blinds, which showed the route number, ultimate destination and intermediate points. These were replaced during 2006 with electronic destination indicators which show only the final destination of the tram.
2535 was named Stephen Parascandolo 1980-2007 at a special ceremony at Beckenham Junction on Saturday 21 October 2007. It is named after the webmaster of the Unofficial Croydon Tramlink website who died at the age 26 following a road accident. All trams have now been refurbished, including a repaint into a new lime green, blue and white livery.
vehicles will be manufactured by CAF
of Spain. To accommodate the extra capacity, some sections of single-track line may be doubled.
In January 2011 tendering began for the supply of an additional 10 new or second-hand trams to be supplied to Tramlink from the end of summer 2011.
Flexity Swift
The Flexity Swift tram is a family of urban and inter-urban light-rail vehicles manufactured by Bombardier Transportation for a wide number of customers across Europe...
tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
built by Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
in Bautzen
Bautzen
Bautzen is a hill-top town in eastern Saxony, Germany, and administrative centre of the eponymous district. It is located on the Spree River. As of 2008, its population is 41,161...
and Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
between 1998 and 2000 and operated by London Tramlink
London Tramlink
London Tramlink is an arm of Transport for London, which manages the second generation of tram services within London, UK. Current and planned tram systems are:*Tramlink operates a three-route system in the area of South London around Croydon...
.
The CR4000
The trams are six-axle single-articulated double-ended cars, with four doors on each side. The low floor section stretches between both the outer doors through the articulation (which rests on an unpowered bogieBogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
). Each tram has an integral traction braking controller with deadman's handle. While stationary, the tram is immobilised until the driver's hand is on the controller: if the driver's hand is removed from the controller while moving, an alarm sounds immediately and the driver's hand must return to the controller to disarm it. If a three-second countdown passes and it is not disarmed, the track brake
Track brake
Track brakes are a form of brakes unique to railborne vehicles. The braking force derives from the friction resulting from the application of wood or metal braking shoes directly to the tracks...
s are applied. Between the outer door and each car end is a higher-floor section, accessed up a step and situated over the car's two power bogies. The low-floor section is 40 cm (15.7 in) above rail-level, sloping down to 35 cm (13.8 in) in the doorways, a height that matches the platforms at tram stops, and each car has two wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
positions. The trams are 30.1 m (98.8 ft) long and 2.65 m (8.7 ft) wide, with 70 seats and a total capacity of just over 200 passengers. They operate from an overhead power supply at 750 V DC
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
, and have a maximum speed of 80 km/h (49.7 mph). They are based on the very similar class K-4000 built for use on Cologne's
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
low-platform routes. The fleet is maintained at Therapia Lane depot
Therapia Lane depot
Therapia Lane depot is a tram depot, situated in the London Borough of Sutton, just south of Tramlink's Wimbledon branch, between Therapia Lane and Beddington Lane. All tram maintenance, repairs and control functions are based in a purpose built building, erected in 1998....
.
The trams are numbered beginning at 2530, continuing from the highest-numbered tram, number 2529 on London's former tram network
Trams in London
There have been two separate generations of trams in London, from 1860 to 1952 and from 2000. Between 1952 and 2000, no trams ran at all in London.- Horse trams :...
, which closed in 1952.
Trams were originally fitted with destination blinds, which showed the route number, ultimate destination and intermediate points. These were replaced during 2006 with electronic destination indicators which show only the final destination of the tram.
2535 was named Stephen Parascandolo 1980-2007 at a special ceremony at Beckenham Junction on Saturday 21 October 2007. It is named after the webmaster of the Unofficial Croydon Tramlink website who died at the age 26 following a road accident. All trams have now been refurbished, including a repaint into a new lime green, blue and white livery.
Future
, the Tramlink fleet is 24 strong, with four more trams planned. To avoid the extra costs of a short production run, Tramlink is seeking to lease these from Edinburgh Trams, where the construction of new track and depot is facing long delays, but the rolling stock is due for delivery from early in 2010. The Edinburgh TramEdinburgh Tram (vehicle)
The Edinburgh Tram is a bespoke fleet of 27 trams built by Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, better known as CAF of Beasain, in the Basque country of Spain between 2009 and 2011 for use on the future Edinburgh Tram line in Edinburgh, Scotland....
vehicles will be manufactured by CAF
Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles
Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles is a rail equipment manufacturer based in Beasain in the Basque Country, Spain. Equipment manufactured by CAF includes light rail vehicles, rapid transit trains, railroad cars and locomotives, as well as variable gauge axles that can be fitted on any...
of Spain. To accommodate the extra capacity, some sections of single-track line may be doubled.
In January 2011 tendering began for the supply of an additional 10 new or second-hand trams to be supplied to Tramlink from the end of summer 2011.
External links
- CR4000 tram spec sheet Bombadier