UK: West Midlands Metro commissioned depot equipment specialist Mechan to produce three bespoke accommodation bogies to enable its trams to be stored outdoors while their bogies are refurbished.
Following the operator’s initial enquiry, Mechan engineers visited Wednesbury depot to measure the CAF Urbos 3 trams and ensure that the working bogies were replicated as closely as possible.
Mechan has produced accommodation bogies to replace two power end bogies and the central trailer bogie for an articulated tram. These have a 13 tonne safe working load and are suitable for outdoor use and storage. The wheel centres match those of the working bogies, ensuring that they can traverse the curvature on the track leading into the depot.
‘Accuracy was key to the success of this project, as the mounting points and bump stop positions are critical to how accommodation bogies perform’, explained Mechan’s Sales Manager Lindsey Mills. ‘Our engineers took our tried and tested design and adapted it perfectly to the needs of West Midlands Metro. The three units are now in service and are enabling this busy depot to operate a slicker, safer bogie refurbishment programme.’
