Alstom and local transport authority Magdeburger Verkehrsbetriebe (MVB) have signed a contract for the delivery of new Flexity trams and their accompanying spare part supply.
These are for use in Magdeburg, the capital of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt.
The first call for 35 vehicles and 24 years of parts supply is valued at approximately 190m euros (225.45m USD), while the contract includes options for a total of 28 additional vehicles. The state is supporting the new vehicle procurement with almost 60m euros (71.19m USD) in funding.
“The new trams are barrier-free and offer more space for passengers. MVB is therefore making a sustainable investment in attractive public transport for the people of this city. As a state, we’re supporting this major project with funding, as we’re certain that the transformation of transport can only succeed if we work together.”
The new trams are scheduled for delivery starting in 2023 and are expected to enter passenger service in 2024. They will replace old TATRA vehicles and then successively replace the city’s first low-floor trams, originally delivered in the 1990s.
In view of increasing passenger numbers and route extensions related to the 2nd North-South Link construction project, the tram fleet will also be expanded by ten vehicles.
At 38m, the four-car Flexity trams are eight metres longer than the vehicles currently in use with MVB, and each of the trams can transport up to 241 passengers.
The vehicles will be equipped with the state-of-the-art driver assistance system ODAS which assists the driver in detecting obstacles during operation. In addition, the newly designed and ergonomically optimised driver’s stand and the driver’s large vision field contribute to increased safety.
MVB now plans to have a life-size model of part of the vehicle produced so that passengers and interest groups, such as the MVB Passenger Advisory Council, can contribute their suggestions, criticisms and ideas. These will then be taken into account during the manufacturing process.
