GERMANY: The first of 13 Vossloh Tramlink 6N2 trams equipped with roof-mounted supercapacitor energy storage units entered regular service in Rostock on July 30. All 13 are expected to be in service by the end of the year, replacing older Tatra T6 vehicles.
The five-section 100% low-floor trams are 32 m long and 2 650 mm wide, narrowing to 2 300 mm at platform height. They have space for pushchairs and bicycles, and a total capacity of 71 seated passengers and 139 standing at 4 persons/m². They have four 100 kW traction motors giving a maximum speed of 70 km/h, although will be limited to 60 km/h in service, and are suitable for use on the underground sections of the tram network. Döllmann Design + Architektur was responsible for styling.
In addition to the supercapacitor units, the trams are fitted with a low energy air-conditioning system and feature thermal insulation between the body and bogies.
The order for the trams was placed in April 2011, with the Land of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern contributing €19m towards the €37·6m cost.
- Vossloh will be exhibiting one of the Rostock trams at InnoTrans 2014.
