The KVB will soon be using its new high-floor trams on all tram lines in Cologne.
Cologne – KVB had already ordered new so-called high-floor trams in 2020.
This type of train is a vehicle that has a continuous floor over the wheels and can fold out small stairs at low platforms.
An example of this in Cologne is the KVB line 3, which according to the transport company is a "purely high-floor line".
The Cologne portal 24RHEIN reports that these new trains from the 5300 series will soon be running on almost all KVB lines in the city area.
KVB will soon be using new trams throughout Cologne - the problem with the steps has been resolved
"The first two vehicles from the manufacturer Alstom (formerly Bombardier) have so far only been on the purely high-floor Line 3 due to problems with the steps.
From the third vehicle onwards, all trams are equipped with the latest software, which among other things also solves the problem with steps," explains the KVB itself. The technical supervisory authority has now confirmed this, which is why the vehicles are now also used on other lines possible.
"In the meantime, a total of seven vehicles have been delivered," it continues.
The other vehicles are expected to be delivered to Cologne every two to three weeks until the summer of 2023.
High-floor railway vs. low-floor railway – what is the difference?
A
high-floor
railway is similar to a railway.
It has a continuous floor above the wheels at a height of between 76 cm and one meter.
For barrier-free entry and exit, this requires a correspondingly high platform with long ramps in order to reach such a height barrier-free.
Alternatively - but not barrier-free - stairs can also be folded out on lower platforms.
A
low-floor tram
should enable barrier-free access from low platforms (approx. 20 to 35 cm), which means that the floor in the train is correspondingly deeper.
As a result, the cavity under the train is also reduced and the train runs much more quietly.
There are trams with independent suspension, which allows the entire floor to be at the same height.
In Cologne, due to the flexible choice of models, many spare parts can be used both for the high-floor tram and for the low-floor tram.
Additional high-floor trams ordered for Cologne
"In addition to the 27 high-floor vehicles originally ordered, the KVB has now ordered two more to replace two trams that were damaged in the heavy rain in summer 2021," said the KVB.
According to the Cologne-based company, the vehicles previously used in passenger service ran “very stably and did not show any significant failures.
The vehicles have proven to be reliable” – and because of their spacious, modern design, they are also well received by the passengers.
(mo)
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