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Tag: wheelchair

Stadler wins ATM’s new tram order for Milan, Italy

Stadler and Azienda Transporti Milanesi S.p.A. (ATM) have signed another framework agreement for the supply of up to 50 TRAMLINK trams for the city of Milan. In a first call-off, ATM has ordered 14 high-capacity vehicles that will be financed with the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) fund. The fourteen vehicles will be delivered before 30 June 2026.

The medium-capacity TRAMLINKs are similar to the tramways to be delivered under the framework agreement signed in 2020 and that Stadler is currently manufacturing. They have three modules and are about 25 m long. ATM has already ordered 60 out of the 80 vehicles covered by this framework agreement. The first unit arrived in Milan on 1 December 2022 and, currently, is performing tests on the city’s tram network.

The high-capacity version of the TRAMLINKs is based on the above but features five modules and a length of 35 m. They are bi-directional and have an attractive open interior equipped with two specific areas for wheelchair users. The barrier-free low floor and four doors per side allow passengers to board and alight easily and quickly thus reducing stopping time. In addition, the innovative bogies allow the trams to run smoothly in the narrow curves. This significantly reduces noise to the benefit of passengers and residents.

Particular attention has been paid to the safety of passengers, drivers and pedestrians. The ergonomically designed driver’s cab maximizes the driver’s visibility. Additionally, the TRAMLINK is equipped with an anti- collision device that can intervene when it detects a potential collision situation with pedestrians, cars or other obstacles. No blind spot cameras guarantee the security throughout the whole vehicle. The excellent dynamics as well as the high levels of safety and comfort improve the travel experience.

Stadler to Deliver up to 504 Tram Trains to German Austrian Project Consortium

Stadler has been awarded the largest contract in the company’s history with a total volume of up to four billion euros: it has won an international tender held jointly by six transport companies from Germany and Austria for up to 504 vehicles as part of the VDV Tram-Train project. In addition to vehicle production, the framework agreement also includes a maintenance contract lasting up to 32 years. Part of the framework agreement is a fixed order quantity of 246 CITYLINK vehicles representing a volume of around 1.7 billion euros. There is also an option to order up to 258 more vehicles.

The award of the contract marks the beginning of a long-standing partnership between Stadler and the project consortium, consisting of Verkehrsbetriebe Karlsruhe (VBK), Albtal-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft (AVG), Saarbahn Netz, Schiene Oberösterreich, the State of Salzburg and Zweckverband Regional-Stadtbahn Neckar-Alb. Over the next ten years, Stadler will produce 246 CITYLINK vehicles for the six operators. The first four vehicles will be delivered to the Saarbahn in 2024.

All vehicles will be supplied in a three-part design. The length of the vehicles, the number of doors, the boarding and coupling height as well as the configuration of the CITYLINK versions will vary depending on the delivery location and the customer. All the vehicles will have certain features in common: they will be fitted with an HVAC system for the passenger compartments and driver’s cab, and have spacious multi-purpose areas with two wheelchair spaces that can be flexibly configured. The tram-trains will be individually equipped to suit the place of use. For example, the vehicles for the Albtal-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft will have a toilet as well as facilities for cycle racks, while Schiene Oberösterreich has opted for luggage racks as an extra feature.

Providing one type of vehicle for six operators is unusual. “On the project team, we spent hours developing a common set of specifications. We defined a standard with up to five further versions to meet the operator- specific requirements such as boarding height, coating and place of use,” explains the overall project manager Thorsten Erlenkötter from Verkehrsbetriebe Karlsruhe.

Amtrak and California Recognize Lodi Cop Who Saved Man

The Amtrak Police Department (APD) presented a Lodi, California Police Officer with the prestigious “Life Saving Medal” for her swift and heroic actions that saved a man’s life within seconds of being hit by an oncoming freight train. The Officer, a 14-year veteran of the force, was honored at the Lodi Police Station during an award ceremony on Monday hosted by APD and California Operation Lifesaver, a non-profit railroad safety education organization.

On Aug.12, the Officer spotted a man in a wheelchair stuck on the railroad tracks near Lodi Avenue. As the crossing gates activated and were coming down, she got out of her patrol car and ran to assist. After unsuccessfully attempting to free the wheelchair, with only seconds to spare, she physically pulled the man out of the chair and the two fell backwards just a few feet away from the oncoming 250-ton freight train locomotive. The 66-year-old man is recovering from serious injuries to both of his legs as a result of the incident.   

“This incident had the makings of a double tragedy had it not been for the extraordinary courage and quick actions of the Officer,” said Amtrak Police Chief Sam Dotson. “The citizens of Lodi are very fortunate to have a public servant like this on duty in their community. The ‘Life Saving Medal’ recognizes her bravery in saving a fellow human being without hesitation for her own safety.”   

During the ceremony, Lodi Police Chief Sierra Brucia called his officer a true hero.

Presenting the “Life Saving Medal” was Captain Douglas Calcagno from the Amtrak Police Department’s Western Division. Awards were also presented to the Officer by Steve Walker a California Operation Lifesaver Board member, and Eric Walker and Joe Petito with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in California.    

The ceremony closed out Rail Safety Week 2020, observed in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Alstom to Supply 17 Additional Citadis Trams to Strasbourg

Alstom will supply 17 additional Citadis trams to the Strasbourg Transport Company (CTS) and the Eurometropole of Strasbourg for the sum of €52 million. This order will complete the fleet of 63 trams delivered by Alstom between 2003 and 2019, and confirms a partnership of almost 20 years between Alstom and CTS. The last option exercise, signed in March 2016, was for 10 Citadis trams for the extensions of lines A and D. 

These 17 new trams will reinforce the existing lines, including line D, which serves the city centre of Kehl in Germany. The Citadis tramway is the first to cross a border in France and is approved according to the BOStrab, the German federal decree on the construction and operation of trams in Germany.

“With this new order, CTS is the French customer that will own one of the largest Citadis tram fleets with a total of 80 trainsets ordered. We are very proud to be continuing this partnership initiated in 2003, proving that the Citadis range meets the evolving needs of our customers,” says Jean-Baptiste Eyméoud, Managing Director of Alstom in France. 

The Citadis trams for Strasbourg are 45 metres long and have a capacity of 288 passengers. They are fitted with LED lighting and all-glass doors to enhance comfort and safety for passengers. Complying with the latest standards, the trams are equipped with double doors accessible to PRMs (People with Reduced Mobility), wider seats and areas reserved for wheelchair and stroller users. 

These trams will be designed and manufactured mainly in France: La Rochelle (design and assembly of the trainsets), Le Creusot (bogies for the intermediate modules), Tarbes (components of the traction chain), Villeurbanne (electronic equipment) and Saint-Ouen (design). The bogies situated under the driver cabins will be manufactured at Alstom’s site in Salzgitter, Germany. 

In total, more than 2,600 Citadis trams have been sold to more than 50 cities in 20 countries.