SWITZERLAND: Ferrovie Luganesi has taken delivery of the first of nine Stadler Tramlink tram-trains ordered in 2018 at cost of SFr47m for use around Lugano.
The manufacturer has appointed Van Der Vlist to deliver the vehicles from its factory in Valencia. The 45·5 m long 2 400 mm wide seven-section LRVs are being split into three sections for delivery, with Van Der Vlist using very low trailers because of the need to negotiate low tunnels and bridges as well as narrow streets in Switzerland. Offloading is undertaken at night directly from the trailers to street-level rails using special ramps.
The first of the Tramlink LRVs is expected to enter service in June or July, with all nine to be in use by the end of November.
They will initially operate on the 12 km metre gauge 1·2 kV DC Line S60 between Lugano and Ponte Tresa, replacing the current fleet of Be4/12 trainsets dating from 1978.
In the future they will work on a planned 4 km cut-off which would provide a more direct route between Lugano and Molinazzo, with a 2·3 km tunnel to a stop under the main line platforms at Lugano Centro and a 250 m street-running extension to a new city terminus.
