Alstom has supplied its ground-charging technology for tramsways to the Eminonu-Alibeykoy line in Istanbul, Turkey.
Alstom’s APS system will now provide power for the trams running on the 10.1km Eminonu-Alibeykoy tramway. The tramway, which features 14 stations in total, opened the 9km stretch between Balat and Alibeykoy on 1 January 2021. The ground-charging technology means there is no need for overhead line equipment in the city, which can be unsightly in an urban environment.
This is the first time such technology has been deployed in Turkey. The power is supplied to the tram via a segmented street-level power rail. These conductive segments are only activated when fully covered by a tram. This means it is entirely safe for pedestrians and other road users to come into contact with them. A contact shoe on the underside of the tram (on the tram’s central bogie) picks up the power.
“We are quite happy to see our innovative and sustainable solutions being part of Istanbul’s city landscape. In addition to the ground APS system, we are providing the associated on-board equipment for 30 tramway vehicles manufactured by a local company for the Eminonu- Alibeykoy tramway line. This is an indication of how adaptable our system is. The system will be a unique signature of Istanbul railway network in terms of innovation, environmental, aesthetic and historical values.”
Trams that use ground-charging can also be equipped with current collectors and/or traction batteries, expanding the sources from which they can draw power. For example, tram lines that run out of central areas might switch to overhead lines.
Alstom delivered the world’s first 100 percent catenary-free tramway system in Dubai in 2014.
