ITALY: The first of 10 customised trams for the future Line T2 in Bergamo has been rolled out at Škoda Group’s Plzeň plant in the Czech Republic.
The trams are based on the Škoda ForCity Classic family, adapted to Bergamo’s needs including urban and suburban sections and operation in tunnels on the future Line T2. This route will run from Bergamo station to the village of Villa d’Almé, initially sharing the existing T1 corridor before joining the alignment of the former Valle Brembana railway which closed in 1966.
The five-section 33 m long bidirectional fully low-floor tram has 64 fixed and two folding seats and a total capacity of 281 passengers, with eight wide double doors per side for rapid passenger flows. The air-conditioned interior features LED lighting and dedicated spaces for people with reduced mobility.
The cabs are designed for driver comfort and a wide view, and anti-collision system will actively monitor the area in front of the tram to help prevent accidents. There are remote diagnostic systems for real-time monitoring, and easy access to the technical equipment to facilitate cost-effective maintenance.
| Škoda ForCity Classic 49T tram for Bergamo | |
|---|---|
| Car sections | 5 |
| Bogies | 3 (of which 2 powered) |
| Wheelbase mm | 1 800 |
| Length m | 33.5 |
| Width mm | 2 400 |
| Height of roof above platform edge mm | 3 600 |
| Height of entrance above platform edge mm | 350 |
| Low floor area | 100% |
| Door width mm | 1 300 |
| Spaces for persons with reduced mobility | 2 |
| Gauge mm | 1 435 |
| Capacity (6/m²) | 281 |
| Maximum design speed km/h | 70 |
| Power supply | 750 V DC |
The tram order was announced in July 2023 as part of a larger turnkey contract for a consortium of Impresa Milesi Geom Sergio, Generale Costruzioni Ferroviarie, Impresa Edile Stradale Artifoni and Škoda Transportation to build the 11·5 km Line T2.
The first tram is expected to arrive in Italy during March, with all to 10 to be delivered this year. Tramvie Elettriche Bergamasche plans to open T2 at the end of the summer.
The trams will complement the 14 Ansaldo Sirio trams in service on T1 which opened in 2009, with all 24 trams able to operate on both lines.
‘Italy is a growing market for public transport, and the fact that Bergamo will be another city with Škoda trams is clear proof of the high level of Czech research and development’, said Olesea Lachi, Vice-President for South & East Europe at Škoda Group, on February 17.
