Variobahn on London's Tramlink network

The Stadler Variobahn (formerly sold as the ABB Variotram, Adtranz Variotram and Bombardier Variotram) is a German-designed model of articulated low-floor tram and light rail vehicle. Since its introduction in 1993, the Variobahn has been manufactured variously by ABB, Adtranz, Bombardier Transportation, and since 2001 by Stadler Rail.[1] As of 2009, 254 trams have been ordered, with an additional 110 on option. A unit costs about €2.5 million.[2][3]

Operators include the Graz Holding, the Bergen Light Rail, the Chemnitz Tramway, Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr, the Rhine Neckar Area Tramway and London Tramlink.

History

Variotram in Nuremberg, Germany

Prototypes and early deliveries

The Variotram was first developed by ABB (ASEA Brown Boveri) at Henschel and a prototype was launched in 1993 for the Chemnitz tramway in Germany, operated by Chemnitzer Verkehrs-Aktiengesellschaft (CVAG). The serial delivery, with minor modifications, was made between 1998 and 2001—bringing the total number of units for Chemnitz to thirty. Of these, twenty-four were operated by CVAG and six by City-Bahn Chemnitz. In 1995, ABB's train division merged to become Adtranz. One prototype the following year sold to the Duisburg Stadtbahn, but serial production was never initiated for Duisburg.[2][4] The Duisburg prototype is now privately owned and stored in Norway.

In 1996, six trams were delivered to serve on the light rail between Mannheim, Heidelberg and Weinheim, Germany, operated by Oberrheinischen Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft. From 2001 to 2007, it ordered additional 20 trams. These were supplemented in 2002 by eight trams for the Heidelberg Tramway, and in 2001–07 by 16 trams for the Mannheim Tramway.[2] In 1996, the Sydney light rail system, in Australia, took delivery of seven trams, which were built in Dandenong, Australia. All were withdrawn by mid-2015 and the remaining six put up for sale.[5] Five were scrapped in early 2018, and the last built, number 2107 was transferred to the Sydney Tramway Museum in October 2018 for preservation.[6]

Helsinki

Variotram in Helsinki, Finland

Forty Variotrams were delivered to Helsinki City Transport (HKL), Finland, between 1998 and 2003 for use on the Helsinki tramway, at a cost of €76 million.[7] These trams were built by Transtech (who later produced the newer Artic models) in Otanmäki under a technology transfer agreement with Adtranz. During this time the company was acquired by Bombardier, who inherited the design in 2000, making the Helsinki trams the only Variotrams to be produced under the Bombardier name.

In service, the Variotrams were found to be ill-suited for Helsinki's tram network, having suffered from numerous technical problems, including cracks in the bogies and vehicle body shells. Before 2009 often less than half of the trams have been in working condition.[8][9] HKL considered returning the trams to Bombardier as unsatisfactory, but after a long series of negotiations a compromise was reached in May 2007, when the responsibility for maintaining the trams was transferred to Bombardier.[9] The contract agreed in May 2007 states that, from May 2008 onwards, if more than four Variotrams in Helsinki are not in operational condition, Bombardier must pay a daily fine to the HKL for every non-operational tram. If more than eight trams are in non-operational condition, HKL has the right to cancel the contract and return the trams to Bombardier, who are obliged to return the €76 million that HKL paid for the trams.[9] In order to cope with the requirements of the agreement, Bombardier established its own maintenance workshop in Helsinki in mid-2008, located in the premises of the former VR Group electric locomotive workshop in Pasilan Konepaja.[10]

In August 2017 a contract was agreed after long negotiations between HKL and Bombardier to cancel the purchase of the Variotrams. Bombardier will pay HKL 33 million euros in compensation for the shorter than originally contractually agreed 40 year lifetime of the trams. HKL will return the trams to Bombardier from 2018 on.[11]

Stadler

Stadler built Variobahn for the Bergen Light Rail

To concentrate on its own Flexity family of vehicles, Bombardier reached an agreement with the European Commission where Bombardier would divest the Variotram division to Stadler Rail of Switzerland.[12]

Stadler subsequently renamed the tram as Variobahn and has since secured several contracts,[2] delivering:

As of 2009, a total of 254 Variobahn trams have been ordered, with an additional 110 on option. A unit costs about €2.5 million.[2] Stadler builds its trams at their Pankow plant in the northern suburbs of Berlin and the Stadler facility at Velten north of Berlin.

Problems in Munich

In December 2014, MVG took seven of its Variobahns out of service due to cracks in vehicle bodies. By January 2015, all Variobahns had to be withdrawn for repairs. MVG chose not to exercise options to buy any more Variobahns, and turned to Siemens to supply its next generation of trams.

Variobahn tram at Therapia Lane

Six units were ordered for Tramlink by Transport for London in August 2011 at a cost of £16.3 million[16] with an option for up to eight more.[14]

Three of the Croydon trams were diverted from a batch of five which were ordered for the Bybanen line in Bergen, Norway.[16] Stadler built these earlier than the contractual delivery date to make use of free capacity at its factory. Three more trams were built directly for Croydon, plus three trams for Bergen to replace the ones which went to Croydon.[16]

Initial testing was carried out in Chemnitz, Saxony.[17] The first tram, 2554, was delivered to Croydon on 24 January 2012[18] and carried its first passengers on 30 March 2012.

Specifications

Variobahn in Mannheim, Germany

The Variotram is a low-floor light rail tram designed for city center operation. Since customers consist of both existing and new systems, and their specifications vary, the Variotram has flexibility in specifications. It can be built as uni- or bi-directional, with 70 or 100% low floor. Rail gauge can be 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge or 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge. Width options include 2.3 metres (7 ft 6+1⁄2 in), 2.4 metres (7 ft 10+1⁄2 in), 2.5 metres (8 ft 2+3⁄8 in) and 2.65 metres (8 ft 8+3⁄8 in). The length varies with either three, four, five or seven articulated modules. The floor height is 350 millimetres (14 in) over the rail. The seating and standing arrangements are flexible, and the trams feature 1,350 millimetres (53 in) wide doors. The tram has hub motors on all wheels, thus eliminating the need for axles and bogies. These compact motors are the key to the low-floor concept, since they can be placed under the seating. This allows the full length of the tram to be step-free accessible from the platforms.[19]

Several of the configurations of the trams are customizable to fit each tramway. In addition to the four possible widths and choice of gauge, the trams can be custom-built for the necessary length.[2] Trams are built modally, so that they can later be rebuilt or extended.[20] All trams built so far have five modules and twelve wheels. The trams are available with four motor settings: four or six wheels powered with 95-kilowatt (127 hp) motors, or eight or twelve wheels with 45-kilowatt (60 hp) motors. Of the models built so far, the length has varied from 24.4 to 42.8 metres (80 to 140 ft) (Helsinki and Mannheim, respectively). Similarly, tare weight varies from 35 to 50 tonnes (34 to 49 long tons; 39 to 55 short tons). Seating capacity varies between 38 (Graz) and 100 (Heidelberg), while standing capacity peaks at 193 for the Duisburg version.[2]

Production

SystemOwnerQuantityDeliveryLengthWidthGaugeOperationSeatsStandingMaximum power
kW		Ref
Chemnitz StadtbahnChemnitzer Verkehrs-Aktiengesellschaft141993-200031.4 m (103 ft 1⁄4 in)2.65 m (8 ft 8+3⁄8 in)1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gaugeUni891238 x 45 kW[21][22]
102000Bi74124
City-Bahn ChemnitzCity-Bahn Chemnitz62001
Mannheim TramwayMVV Verkehr6199632.2 m (105 ft 7+3⁄4 in)2.5 m (8 ft 2+3⁄8 in)1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge901004 x 95 kW[2]
162002–0742.7 m (140 ft 1+1⁄8 in)2.4 m (7 ft 10+1⁄2 in)Uni1291306 x 95 kW
2030.5 m (100 ft 3⁄4 in)Bi80904 x 95 kW
Duisburg StadtbahnDuisburger Verkehrsgesellschaft1199633.8 m (110 ft 10+3⁄4 in)2.3 m (7 ft 6+1⁄2 in)1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)381938 x 45 KW[23][24]
Inner West Light Rail (Sydney)Transport for NSW71997-9828.0 m (91 ft 10+3⁄8 in)2.65 m (8 ft 8+3⁄8 in)74143[5]
Helsinki TramwayHelsinki City Transport401998-200424.4 m (80 ft 5⁄8 in)2.3 m (7 ft 6+1⁄2 in)1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)Uni558012 x 45 kW[7]
Heidelberg TramwayHeidelberger Straßen- und Bergbahn8200239.4 m (129 ft 3+1⁄8 in)2.4 m (7 ft 10+1⁄2 in)Bi1001306 x 95 kW[23][24]
Ludwigshafen TramwayVerkehrsbetriebe Ludwigshafen am Rhein8200330.5 m (100 ft 3⁄4 in)Uni88904 x 95 kW[2]
Bochum–Gelsenkirchen TramwayBochum-Gelsenkirchener Straßenbahnen302007-1129.6 m (97 ft 1+3⁄8 in)2.3 m (7 ft 6+1⁄2 in)Bi681208 x 45 kW[25]
Nuremberg TramwayVerkehrs-Aktiengesellschaft Nürnberg8200733.8 m (110 ft 10+3⁄4 in)1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)Uni87147[2]
Munich tramwayMünchner Verkehrsgesellschaft142008-11[13][26]
Bergen Light RailHordaland County Municipality282009-1742.2 m (138 ft 5+3⁄8 in)2.65 m (8 ft 8+3⁄8 in)Bi98182[20][27]
Vestland County Municipality62022[20][28]
Graz TramwayGraz AG Verkehrsbetriebe452009–27.0 m (88 ft 7 in)2.3 m (7 ft 6+1⁄2 in)Uni38113[29]
Potsdam TramwayVerkehrsbetrieb Potsdam182010–32.2 m (105 ft 8 in)57118[3][30][31]
London TramsTransport for London62011–1232 m (104 ft 11+7⁄8 in)2.65 m (8 ft 8+3⁄8 in)Bi72134[32]
62014–16
Aarhus LetbaneAarhus Letbane142016–1732.56 m (106 ft 9+7⁄8 in)841328 x 45 kW[33][34][35]
Odense LetbaneOdense Letbane162020–2132 m (104 ft 11+7⁄8 in)70130[36][37]

References

  1. ↑ ABB unveils Variotram International Railway Journal January 1992 page 50
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Stadler Rail. "Referenzliste Variobahn" (PDF). Retrieved 3 April 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 "Der ViP will die Variobahn". Potsdamer Neueste Nachrichten (in German). 11 October 2008. Archived from the original on 9 June 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2009.
  4. ↑ Fender, Keith (March 2014). "Chemnitz – Germany's latest tram-train network". Today's Railways Europe. No. 219. Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing. pp. 20–29.
  5. 1 2 "Sydney Light Rail Construction and Extension". Railway Technology. Retrieved 3 April 2009.
  6. ↑ "Sydney Variotram 2107 arrives at Loftus – Ride a tram in Sydney Tramway Museum". sydneytramwaymuseum.com.au. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  7. 1 2 "HKL: Motor trams 201 – 240 Variotram". Finnish Tramway Society. 27 March 2008. Archived from the original on 14 October 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2008.
  8. ↑ Alku, Antero (6 May 2007). "Variobahn". Kaupunkiliikenne.net (in Finnish). Retrieved 27 June 2008.
  9. 1 2 3 Salonen, Juha (24 August 2007). "Vikojen vaivaamat raitiovaunut pysyvät Helsingin liikenteessä". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 27 June 2008.
  10. ↑ Finnish Tramway Society. "Tram repair shop: Bombardier Transportation" (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 2 October 2008. Retrieved 29 August 2008.
  11. ↑ Salomaa, Marja (22 August 2017). "HKL hankkiutuu eroon vanhoista matalalalattiaraitiovaunuista – Bombardier maksaa korvauksia 33 miljoonaa euroa". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  12. ↑ "Bombardier acquisition of Adtranz approved". Metro Magazine. 1 April 2001.
  13. 1 2 "Variobahn – eine neue Tram für München". Oekonews (in German). 2 April 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2009.
  14. 1 2 "London Tramlink prepares to put new trams into service". Railway Gazette International. 15 February 2012.
  15. ↑ "British Trams Online – London Tramlink Fleet List". britishtramsonline.co.uk. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  16. 1 2 3 "Stadler wins London Tramlink tram order". Railway Gazette International. 18 August 2011.
  17. ↑ "Croydon tram on test in Chemnitz". Railway Gazette International. 4 January 2012.
  18. ↑ "Croydon Tramlink takes delivery of cars". Railway Gazette International. 24 January 2012.
  19. ↑ Stadler. "Variobahn" (in German). Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  20. 1 2 3 Schmincke, Jimmy (2007). "Nye sporvogner til Bergen". På Sporet (in Norwegian). 132: 4–10.
  21. ↑ City-Bahn Chemnitz. "Die Variobahn NGT6-LDZ" (in German). Archived from the original on 9 June 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2009.
  22. ↑ Stadler Rail. "Chemnitzer Verkehrs-AG (CVAG), Deutschland" (in German). Retrieved 3 April 2009.
  23. 1 2 Metro Transport Sydney. "Technical Details and All That Stuff..." (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2009.
  24. 1 2 Stadler Rail. "Stadtbahn Duisburg (DVG), Deutschland" (in German). Retrieved 3 April 2009.
  25. ↑ Stadler Rail. "Niederflur Straßenbahn Typ Variobahn" (PDF) (in German). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2009.
  26. ↑ Stadler Rail. "Niederflurstraßenbahn Typ Variobahn für die Stadtwerke München GmbH (SWM)" (PDF) (in German). Retrieved 3 April 2009.
  27. ↑ Stadler Rail. "Low-floor light rail vehicle, type Variobahn for Bybanen, Norway" (PDF). Retrieved 3 April 2009.
  28. ↑ Stadler Rail. "Low-floor light rail vehicle, type Variobahn for Bybanen, Norway" (PDF). Retrieved 3 April 2009.
  29. ↑ Stadler Rail. "Low-floor tramway, type Variobahn for the Graz AG, Austria" (PDF) (in German). Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  30. ↑ "Potsdam bestellt 19 Straßenbahnen bei Stadler". Potsdamer Neueste Nachrichten (in German). Retrieved 3 April 2009.
  31. ↑ "Variobahn Potsdam". Stadler GmbH (in German). Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  32. ↑ "Stadler wins London Tramlink tram order". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  33. ↑ "Aarhus køber samme letbanetog som Bergen" (in Danish). Aarhus Letbane. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  34. ↑ "German-Italian consortium signs contract for the first LRT-system in Denmark" (in Danish and English). Aarhus Letbane. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  35. ↑ "Variobahn low-floor Light Rail Vehicle – Letbanen I/S in the city of Aarhus, Denmark" (PDF). Stadler. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  36. ↑ "STADLER SECURES CONTRACT IN DENMARK - ODENSE LETBANE ORDERS 16 TRAMS". Stadler. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  37. ↑ "The journey with the light rail" (in Danish). Odense Letbane. Retrieved 18 January 2023.

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