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Without having to change: the train-tram

As leading supplier in the Valencian Community, Vossloh Rail Vehicles has designed Spain’s first train-tram, a new type of public transport vehicle that is cleaner, greener, faster and more efficient.

The train-tram is a light articulated vehicle that functions as a train in suburban and as a tram in urban areas. It is bidirectional, electric and capable of surface and underground travel. Uptown-downtown journeying (from outside a city to its interior) without having to change mode of transportation is the great advantage of this versatile vehicle, making it possible to achieve travel times that are very competitive by comparison to other means of haulage.

With its smart and stylish looks and a design that is attractive and practical, the comfortable train-tram is another solution from Vossloh Rail Vehicles for increasing sustainability and promoting the use of mass transit.

With a minimum turning radius of 30 meters and up to 6-percent climbing ability, the train-tram comfortably negotiates the challenging bends and gradients that are frequently encountered in urban traffic conditions.

In its “train” mode the vehicle reaches speeds of up to 100 km/h, as a tram it develops plenty of acceleration (1.2 m2/sec) to a maximum speed of 70 km/h besides displaying ample braking force.

Each train-tram has three articulated cars with four bogies. There is a motor bogie at each end of the train-tram and two, one motor and one nonmotor, for the center car. Each motor bogie has two separate motors located in each of the two axles. The front and rear vehicles have a low floor along about 60 percent of their lengths, 36 cm above the ground. The vehicles’ interior is bright and airy. A broad aisle leads from one car to the next to create abundant passenger space.

The train-trams have air-conditioning, pneumatic suspension, a low-floor platform, very many seats, space for persons with reduced mobility, extra room and racks for bicycles. Noise and vibration levels are low, visibility is good, the windows are large and the lower sides and ceilings are of streamlined design.


Traction
The train-tram is powered by six asynchronous, four-pole, three-phase AC motors for continuous power and torque output. They are completely encapsulated and self-ventilated. Mounted on the roof in each case is the Onix traction system for the motors installed in pairs in the bogies.

The inverter control system comprises the Agate units fitted with 32-bit microprocessors for pulse width modulation signals sent out by the setpoint emitters.





The traction system is part of the high-voltage system that also serves to pick up the electricity from the overhead line and the auxiliary inverters. The pick-up unit is mounted on the roof of the center car and consists of the pantograph, the excess voltage safety device, and two high-speed circuit breakers. The safety device prevents voltages above a certain level and under normal operating conditions is static and requires no adjustment or maintenance.
The auxiliary inverters are static, two installed in each train-tram unit for redundancy. Fed with 750 V directly from the overhead line, they are designed to supply continuous output for such functions as battery charging, lighting, display panels, etc. Consisting of a three-phase current inverter and a battery charger they are amply dimensioned to allow, in the case of emergencies, the doors to be opened and emergency fluorescent lighting to be switched on.
Further information