SWEDEN: Göteborg transport operator Göteborgs Spårvägar has returned to service the first of 79 Type M31 trams dating from the 1980s. The fleet is being modernised by Škoda Group to provide a further 15 years of service life.
The modernisation programme being undertaken under a 80m contract awarded in 2022 includes a complete exterior and interior refurbishment, with a refreshed design aligned with the look of more recent trams. There is enhanced lighting, upgraded heating and air-conditioning and a re-engineered boarding ramp to improve accessibility.
There is a new electro-hydraulic braking system and new door drives replacing older pneumatic units. The driver’s cab has been redesigned with a more ergonomic layout, improved visibility and modern controls, bringing working conditions up to contemporary standards.
‘We are delivering higher comfort, extended lifespan and greater reliability for passengers’, said Martin Bednarz, Production Site Director at Škoda Group which is undertaking the work at its Ostrava site in the Czech Republic.
’The refreshed design, improved comfort and a modern driver’s cab mean these beloved trams can keep serving the city for many years to come’, said Sara Ihrlund, Head of Rail Services & Delivery at regional transport authority Västtrafik.
- In November the Västra Götaland region authorised Västtrafik to exercise an option for Alstom to supply a further 35 Avelia Stream Nordic X80 EMUs for SKr4bn, as an option on a previous order for 45. This will support a projected increase in ridership on the region’s train services from 65 000 to 100 000 journeys per day in the 2030s, and also enable the replacement of older rolling stock.
