WIENER Linien is to fit its fleet of Siemens ULF trams and all future vehicles with an electronically-controlled sanding system.
Manufacturer Knorr-Bremse says field tests have demonstrated a 50% saving in the volume of sand used in braking, cutting dust pollution as well as lowering costs.
The controls deliver an optimised amount of sand to suit the local conditions, determined by the vehicle speed, wheel slide protection system and, if necessary, the driver.
By 2014 two-thirds of the trams in the Austrian capital will be equipped with the system, which is also being deployed on trams in Warszawa and Berlin.
Knorr-Bremse, Germany
