Karlsruhe’s public transport operator VBK and its associated local railway AVG have taken delivery of the first of 21 low-floor eight-axle dual-system LRVs (right). Unlike the earlier dual-system cars (left) which have a high floor throughout, the vehicles have lowered areas in the two end sections. Floor heights are 880mm in the centre section and over the end bogies, and 630mm in the wells where the doors are located.
The car bodies and interiors are being built by Duewag in Düsseldorf, and the bogies are coming from Adtranz Siegen. Siemens VT is contributing the 15 kV transformer, rectifier and voltage selector, which are identical to those used in the first series. Other electrical equipment is from Adtranz, with the 750V traction drives identical to 20 low-floor LRVs in use on VBK’s DC network. Four 125 kW three-phase motors are driven by four bipolar transistor inverters; regenerative braking is only possible in DC operation. Top speed is 100 km/h.
- Kassel’s KVG has ordered the first low-floor tramcars in Germany designed specifically for operation on EBO-regulated private railways. A batch of 12 cars from DWA Bautzen and Kiepe will run on the city’s tramways and on the 22 km Lossetalbahn, which is to be electrified at 750V DC. Due for delivery in mid-1999, the 28·8m long welded steel cars will have 70% of the floor at 354mm above rail and the rest at 560mm. The centre section will be carried on bogies with 590mm diameter independent wheels. Each unidirectional car will carry 90 seated and 98 standing passengers, and will be powered by four 100 kW motors controlled by four IGBT inverters. The cars must withstand end buffing loads of 300 kN at 5 km/h and will have Indusi and Sifa train protection. o
