London Trams

[RBRJ]

Originally Posted by Bottlefall

Edinburgh got involved because London might buy some trams from them.

I know. What I was trying to do was stop threaders going of on tangents re Edinburgh and its problems. Reining it back a bit.

[Bottlefall]

STADLER FOR EXTRA CROYDON TRAMS?
London Tramlink – Sunday 14th August 2011

It would appear that the extra trams for the London Tramlink network will be provided by Stadler following reports in the Edinburgh Evening News that the City of Edinburgh Council have been informed their bid has been turned down. Pesa – the other firm on the original shortlist – also seem to have been ruled out as a recent TfL document did not mention them in connection with providing the vehicles.

tie had hoped they would be able to lease up to ten trams to TfL for use on Tramlink to rise some extra funds to complete the section of line which is still due to be constructed. It is believed that up to 20 of the 27 trams ordered from CAF could be surplus and it had been hoped they could be leased but the option of leasing them to Tramlink now seems to be over, although it hasn’t been ruled out some could be leased elsewhere in Europe.

Cllr Gordon Mackenzie, City of Edinburgh Council transport convener, said: “Part of what we're looking at now is how realistic the figures are that we have for selling or leasing the trams. We will be looking at what's coming up in the next few years where other cities are extending or building new tram lines.”

A spokesman from the tram project added: “To date, we can confirm that the bid for leasing Edinburgh's trams has not been accepted. Whilst we would not rule out exploring future opportunities to lease vehicles, we do look forward to achieving good use of the full fleet of trams on our own tram system."

TfL have yet to confirm which firm will be supplying the extra trams for the London Tramlink network but considering the information which has been released in recent weeks it is now pointing towards Stadler.

The most likely vehicle the German firm would offer would be the Variobahn which was first introduced in 1993 (although has been through several different manufacturers including Bombardier in that time). Other places who have had Variobahn’s have included Helsinki, Sydney, Nuremberg, Munich, Bergen, Graz and Potsdam.

It has originally been hoped any extra vehicles for Tramlink would be ready for service by the end of the year but it is not yet known when the trams will be delivered and enter service.

Source: The Scotsman & Stadler Rail

From: http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/

[WatcherZero]

Hope their more reliable than the Helsinki ones...

[Bottlefall]

No idea why they are going for the Variotrams instead of the Tangos. Clearly the later ones suit London's tram network better.

[csk]

Great news people, we're getting 6 brand new shiny trams!!!

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/medi...tre/20777.aspx

They should be in service at the start of 2012, and the first one will be delivered for testing this autumn, they are based on the Bergen trams below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:By...3.juni2010.jpg

These look pretty smart, plus the new trams will also be air-conditioned, looking forward to seeing these on Croydon's streets!

[WatcherZero]

Basically they chose the most Bombardier like model tendered (infact Stadlers Variotram was a part of Bombardier but had to be divested on competition grounds) while Edinburgh made the mistake of only offering a 5 year lease. I will say again, pray these are more reliable than the Helsinki ones (look it up) and the Bergen ones were delivered several months late too.

[csk]

Image released of new Croydon trams!

[Irish Blood English Heart]

Look quite smart. How much are they costing per unit?

[WatcherZero]

Just over £2m each

Edit: Do my eyes decieve me or based on the reflections and shadows is this the source image for the above?

http://www.tramways-monthly.com/imag...010[1].jpg

[future.architect]

Originally Posted by WatcherZero

Just over £2m each

Edit: Do my eyes decieve me or based on the reflections and shadows is this the source image for the above?

http://www.tramways-monthly.com/imag...010[1].jpg

Well spotted. Clearly a rather rushed job on photoshop.

[WatcherZero]

Lol indeed, just noticed you can see the window on the street on the far side of the tram through the cab which they replaced with trees. Also the headlight, airbrushed the edges white bit they are still obviously set into a black frontage.

[Malcolm of Kent]

Originally Posted by WatcherZero

Lol ...

And the pantograph seems to be in contact with the wire on the other side of the support post! There's going to be tears before bedtime...

[csk]

Good news people, the first of our new trams arrived early this morning in Croydon, it looks very sleek! Follow the links below to somebody's photos I have found on flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/londons...n/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/londons...n/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/londons...n/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewg...n/photostream/

Interestingly it appears as though these trams are blue, green and silver, as opposed to the blue, green and white of the current stock!

[RBRJ]

Interesting article appearing on London Reconnections on Crystal Palace High Level with photos of tunnels. In the comments to the article mention is made of reusing these tunnels for a prospective extention of Croydon Tramlink beyond Crystal Palace (if and when this ever built) and how via these tunnels and other remanent lines could work its way to Waterloo.

[Irish Blood English Heart]

Originally Posted by RBRJ

Interesting article appearing on London Reconnections on Crystal Palace High Level with photos of tunnels. In the comments to the article mention is made of reusing these tunnels for a prospective extention of Croydon Tramlink beyond Crystal Palace (if and when this ever built) and how via these tunnels and other remanent lines could work its way to Waterloo.

link?

[tripleseis]

http://www.londonreconnections.com/2...ce-high-level/

Although I cannot see anything mentioned about trams.

[CD.]

Originally Posted by tripleseis

http://www.londonreconnections.com/2...ce-high-level/

Although I cannot see anything mentioned about trams.

It's in the comments.

[aarhusforever]

I think they look great.

[citybus]

So with the prospect of the Watford/St Albans line being converted to trams and the Croydon network largely once being heavy rail, I'm looking to know more about why certain train lines are suitable for conversion to light rail. Are there any good articles on t'interweb that gives the lowdown on that sort of stuff.

[Coccodrillo]

Originally Posted by csk

Image released of new Croydon trams!

Croydon's livrery looks like the one of Lugano (Switzerland), in use since 2001.