The Flexity Swift tram is a light-rail vehicle manufactured by Bombardier Transportation. Most models follow a 70% low-floor design in order to allow access to those in wheelchairs without requiring the construction of high platforms, though some of Cologne's fleet use a high-floor format (900 mm) with level boarding platforms instead, in order to retain compatibility with stations built for older trams.
They are bi-directional, with cabs at both ends and doors on both sides, and are articulated with three sections. The centre section is very short on most trams, but can be replaced with a longer piece in order to increase capacity, as London is considering doing for future lines.
The trams can be coupled together into trains, and can safely reach speeds of 80 km/h (50 mph) when running on dedicated lines. Systems using the Flexity Swift tram include Cologne (for which it was originally designed), south London's Tramlink, Istanbul, Rotterdam, Stockholm (lines 12 and 22), and the Minneapolis Hiawatha Line. Merseytram in Liverpool/Merseyside plan to use the same model as London if it is built.
A total of 40[1] new Flexity Swift trams have been ordered for use on Manchester Metrolink in England.
The Flexity Swift's closest competitors are Alstom's Citadis, the Siemens Combino and Avanto, Sirio from Ansaldobreda, and Bombardier's other Flexity trams.
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Technical Specifications
Low-floor versions
| City | Operator | Type designation | Built in | Number of vehicles | Length | Width | Weight (empty) | Maximum power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cologne, Germany | KVB | K4000 | 124 | 28.40 m | 2.65 m | 35.50 t | 4 x 120 kW | |
| K4500 | 69 | 28.50 m | 2.65 m | 37.40 t | 4 x 120 kW | |||
| Croydon, Greater London, United Kingdom | TfL | CR4000 | 1998 – 2000 | 24 | 30.10 m | 2.65 m | 36.30 t | 4 x 120 kW |
| Istanbul, Turkey | ITC | 55 | 29.70 m | 2.65 m | 39.20 t | 4 x 120 kW | ||
| Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA | Metro Transit | 2003 – 2005 | 30 | 28.65 m | 2.65 m | 48.50 t | ||
| Porto, Portugal | Metro do Porto | 2008? | 30 | 37.07 m | 2.65 m | |||
| Stockholm, Sweden | SL | A32 | 1999 – 2008 | 31 | 29.70 m | 2.65 m | 37.50 t | 4 x 120 kW |
| RijnGouweLijn, The Netherlands | NS | A32 | 29.70 m | 2.65 m | 37.50 t | 4 x 120 kW |
High-floor versions
| City | Operator | Type designation | Built in | Number of vehicles | Length | Width | Weight (empty) | Maximum power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonn, Germany | SWB | K5000 | 15 | 28.40 m | 2.65 m | 37.80 t | 4 x 120 kW | |
| Bursa, Turkey | Bursaray | 2010 – | 30 | 28.00 m | 2.65 m | |||
| Cologne, Germany | KVB | K5000 | 74 | 28.40 m | 2.65 m | 37.80 t | 4 x 120 kW | |
| Frankfurt am Main, Germany | VgF | U5-25 | 2008 – 2015 | 54 | 25.02 m | 2.65 m | 37.20 t | 4 x 130 kW |
| U5-50 | 2008 – 2015 | 92 | 24.764 m | 2.65 m | 36.15 t | 4 x 130 kW | ||
| İzmir, Turkey | İzmir Metro | MD | 30 | 23.50 m | 2.65 m | 32.00 t | 4 x 75 kW | |
| M | 15 | 23.50 m | 2.65 m | 4 x 75 kW | ||||
| Manchester, United Kingdom | Manchester Metrolink | M5000 | 2009 – | 40 | 28.40 m | 2.65 m | 39.70 t | 2 x 120kW |
| Rotterdam, The Netherlands | RET | MG2/1, SG2/1 | 1998 – 2002 | 81 | 30.50 m | 2.664 m | 44.20 t | 6 x 85 kW |
| RSG3 | 2008 - | 64 | 42.00 m | 2.664 m | 64.30 t | 8 x 130kW |
Gallery
 An A32 tram on the RijnGouweLijn in The Netherlands |
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 The first U5 trains, 602 and 602, in service on the Frankfurt am Main Stadtbahn. |
References
- ^ Light Rail Transport Assosciation 25th June 08.
External links
- Flexity official site
- About London's trams (unofficial)
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