Bombardier Flexity 2 (Blackpool)

Flexity 2 (Blackpool)
Flexity 2 tram, No. 011, at Tower tram stop
Interior
Manufacturer Bombardier Transportation
Built at Bautzen, Germany and Vienna, Austria
Family name Flexity 2
Constructed 2010–2012
2016–2017[1]
Entered service April 2012
Number built 18
Number in service 18
Formation 5 body sections per tram
Fleet numbers 001–018
Capacity 74 seats + 148 standing spaces
Operator(s) Blackpool Transport
Depot(s) Starr Gate
Line(s) served Blackpool–Fleetwood
Specifications
Car body construction Steel side panels/Aluminium
Car length 32.23 m (105 ft 9 in)
Width 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in)
Height 3.42 m (11 ft 3 in)
Floor height 320mm
Doors 2x double width and 2x single width, each side
Articulated sections 5
Maximum speed 43.5 mph (70 km/h)
Weight 40.9 t (40.3 long tons; 45.1 short tons) per tram
Traction system Four 120 kW (160 hp) three phase AC traction motors
Acceleration 0.5 m/s2 (1.1 mph per second; 1.8 km/h per second)
Deceleration 1.2 m/s2 (2.73 emergency) (2.7 mph per second; 6.1 mph per second emergency)
Electric system(s) 600V DC Overhead
Current collection method Pantograph
Bogies FLEXX Urban 3000
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)

Blackpool Council ordered 16 Bombardier Transportation Flexity 2 trams, becoming the worldwide launch customer for the design.[2] The modern 100% low-floor trams replaced the Blackpool tramway's tourist-focused and high maintenance heritage fleet, some of which have been retained with modifications for use as a supplementary fleet alongside the Flexity 2 trams and some for tourist services on the promenade.[2] Blackpool's Flexity 2 trams are intended to be suitable for daily commuters and to provide a service competitive with other modes of transport and comply with legislation on accessibility for disabled users.[2][3]

Two further Flexity 2 units arrived on the 1 and 15 of December 2017, and both entered service on the 4th of March 2018.[4][5][6]

Background

Blackpool Council placed the £33m order for the 16 Flexity 2 trams in July 2009, with funding from the council, Department for Transport and Lancashire County Council.[7][8] The worldwide launch of the Flexity 2 family took place with the unveiling of the first Blackpool tram on 8 September 2011.[3] They entered service on 4 April 2012.[2]

Details

The Blackpool Flexity 2 trams are bi-directional five-section articulated tramcars.[8] There are four doors on each side, two single doors next to the driver cabs in the first and fifth cars and two double doors in the centre of the second and fourth cars. They can accommodate wheelchairs and pushchairs,[3] with level boarding from low platforms which were built at stops ready for the introduction of the trams.[2]

The trams have two powered FLEXX Urban 3000 bogies[8] in the centre of the first and fifth cars and an unpowered set in the centre car. The trams utilise a 600V overhead DC power supply, can negotiate a minimum curve radius of 25 m in service or 20 m at Starr Gate Depot and can tackle a maximum gradient of 6%.

Livery

The final livery unveiled at the launch consists of white sides with black window surrounds and purple cabs, with a purple criss-cross pattern extending along the lower side panels.

Maintenance

The Flexity 2 cars are maintained at a depot at Starr Gate which was purpose built by VolkerFitzpatrick,[9] with input based on experience with tram depots elsewhere in Europe.[2]

Fleet

PhotoNumberNotes
001
002

Named Alderman E.E Wynne.[10]

003Collided with a cyclist on 8 July 2013.[11] Has all-over advert livery for PrettyLittleThing.
004
005
006

Ran the first journey with passengers on the first day of operations on 4 April 2012 but derailed in Fleetwood on the first journey back to Starr Gate.[12]

007Damaged en route to Blackpool; subsequently involved in a collision with a car on 11 June 2013.[13] Named Alan Whitbread.
008
009
010
011
012
013
014Involved in a collision with a Volkswagen Polo on 22 May 2012;[14] returned to service on 26 May 2012.[15]
015
016Has all-over advert livery for PrettyLittleThing.
017
018

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Bombardier confirm Blackpool tram order". British Trams Online. British Trams Online. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Flexity 2 tram unveiled in Blackpool". Railway Gazette International. 8 September 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 "Blackpool supertram is here!". Blackpool Gazette. 8 September 2011.
  4. ↑ "Flexity 017 makes its journey to Blackpool!". British Trams Online. British Trams Online.
  5. ↑ "Flexity 018 completes Blackpool's latest tram order". British Trams Online. British Trams Online.
  6. ↑ "In Pictures: Blackpool's newest trams enter service". British Trams Online. British Trams Online.
  7. ↑ "Bombardier wins G.B. Flexity 2 order". Metro Magazine. 9 July 2009.
  8. 1 2 3 "Bombardier Wins First FLEXITY 2 Tram Order for Blackpool in the UK" (Press release). Bombardier Transportation. 8 July 2009.
  9. ↑ "Tram bogie turntable". Railway Gazette International. 25 July 2010.
  10. ↑ britishtramsonline.co.uk/news/?p=3042
  11. ↑ "Tram Incident in Blackpool". Flickr. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  12. ↑ britishtramsonline.co.uk/news/?p=587
  13. ↑ "Flexity 007 isn't so lucky after all!". britishtramsonline.co.uk. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  14. ↑ "Flexity versus motor car – Round 1!". britishtramsonline.co.uk. 25 May 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  15. ↑ "Accident damaged 014 returns to service". Blackpool Tram Blog. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
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