04.12.09
BLT orders main series of Tango tram
Baselland Transport AG (BLT) is to order a further 15 Tango trams from Stadler Rail, exercising the first of the agreed options. The order has a volume of around CHF 74 million and will be processed at the Stadler site in Altenrhein. The Tango meets the high demands of the tram network in the city of Basel with an 8-percent gradient, curve radii of as little as 11.8 metres and pronounced crests and hollows. At the same time, the tram is also ideally suited to BLT’s interurban routes, reaches a maximum speed of 80 km/h and offers a high level of comfort thanks to its air-sprung bogies.
In 2006, BLT and Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe (BVB) signed a framework agreement with Stadler Rail regarding supply of up to 60 trams, with the Tangos scheduled to be built within 10 years. BLT’s Board of Directors released the order batch for 15 Tango trams in November 2009, and they are due for delivery in 2011 and 2012.
Intensive testing programme with passenger surveys
Around one year ago BLT launched the first four of the newly-developed Tangos and has since subjected them to an intensive testing programme, with adjustments being made on the basis of the results. As a part of the intensive testing programme of the four prototypes, passenger surveys were also carried out by BLT and BVB and resulted in the interior space being optimised ahead of series production. This included a warmer light colour, more seating and better handholds. Access to the seating area via the carrying bogie was also improved. Andreas Büttiker, BLT’s Director, concluded that: “We have subjected the four prototypes to an endurance test over the last 14 months, and all the essential criteria defined in the functional specification have been met. We are completely convinced by the Tango tram, and a few small optimisations will turn this already excellent tram into an outstanding product.”
First tram order from Switzerland
Peter Spuhler, owner and CEO of the Stadler Rail Group, is enthusiastic: “I am proud that we have succeeded in meeting the high demands of the Basel tram network. The framework agreement in 2006 was our first successful tender for a tram order in Switzerland.” The Tango tram also meets high demands with regard to comfort, distinguishing itself from other models with its air-sprung bogies, resulting in significantly improved running performance and providing a high level of comfort. The trams have air conditioning and a total of eight doors, enabling passengers to enter and exit on the same level. The Tango is a metre-gauge light rail vehicle with 75 percent low-floor space. It is 45 metres in length and is a one-way vehicle consisting of six modules.
BLT’s tram utilisation concept
The new Tango trams will gradually be introduced to tram lines 10 and 11 between 2011 and 2016, replacing the existing 40-year-old models. On lines 17 and E11 the tried-and-tested Schindler trams with the low-floor sections will remain in use until approximately 2030. The total lifespan of these trams is to be extended to 50 years. The tram carriages and the Düwag trams taken on by BVB will be taken out of circulation in 2012, and all (round) Series 100 Schindler trams will be phased out in 2017.
Stadler Rail Group
Stadler Rail Group, system supplier of customer-specific solutions for rail vehicle construction, has locations in Switzerland (Altenrhein, Bussnang and Winterthur), in Germany (Berlin-Pankow and Velten), in Poland (Siedlce), in Hungary (Budapest, Pusztaszabolcs and Szolnok) and in Algeria (Algiers). The Group has a workforce of over 2,400 people around the world. The best-known vehicle series from the Stadler Rail Group are the articulated multiple-unit trains GTW (495 trains sold), the Regio Shuttle RS1 (402 trains sold), the FLIRT (547 trains sold), the double-decker DOSTO (57 trains sold) in the railway segment, and the Variobahn (264 trains sold) and the newly-developed Tango (90 trains sold) in the tram segment. Furthermore Stadler Rail manufactures passenger carriages and two-axle locomotives and is the world’s leading manufacturer of rack-and-pinion rail vehicles.
For further information please contact:
BLT Baselland Transport AG
Andreas Büttiker, Director
Telephone: +41 (0)61 406 11 11
Fax: +41 (0)61 406 11 22
andreas.buettiker@blt.ch
www.blt.ch
Stadler Rail Group
Tim Büchele, Media Spokesman
Telephone: +41 (0)71 626 31 57
Mobile: +41 (0)79 765 49 31
tim.buechele@stadlerrail.ch
