Creating a New Transport System for a Modern City

Cities are not just concentrations of people, they are also centres of economic activity and decision-making. Many European cities now face a transportation crisis. The popularity of the car has caused widespread congestion and for many, serious atmospheric pollution poses a serious threat to health.

This case study outlines the way in which Adtranz is Creating a New Transport System for a Modern City, the EUROTRAM, for Strasbourg – the European city lying at the hub of the European Union. The EUROTRAM will be at the centre of the Strasbourg transport policy into the next millennium.

Adtranz is a major force in the railway industry, with a new name and a new identity. The Group was legally formed in January 1996, as a result of a 50/50 merger of the transportation activities of the electrical engineering group ABB Ltd, Zurich, Switzerland and Daimler-Benz AG, Stuttgart, Germany.

The Adtranz group is an international railway company with a strong local presence. It is the world’s most complete provider of railway systems for local, urban, regional and interurban passenger and freight transport. The Group employs over 22,000 people worldwide. Adtranz UK & Ireland employs around 4,500 people at 14 sites.

Strasbourg is one of the most prestigious European cities and has recently grown in eminence because it houses the European Parliament. It is a vibrant and growing city and a pivotal communications centre with the rest of the European Union. It is not surprising, therefore, that Strasbourg has opted for one of the most advanced internal transport systems in the world today – the EUROTRAM.

If you were asked to design a new tram system for a modern European city, what would be your prime considerations? Features might include – style and sophistication, reliability and accessibility, ease of entry and exit to trams, good value for money and, of course, harmony with the environment. This case study focuses on how Adtranz developed a product that would meet Strasbourg’s needs.

Strasbourg and trams

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, the tram was an elegant feature in many European towns and cities.

At a time when there was little traffic on the roads, trams provided a stylish and pleasant form of municipal transport. The tram reigned supreme for much of the first half of this century, before going into rapid decline in the 1950s and 60s. It was during this period that Strasbourg replaced its tram system with engine powered motor buses. Motor buses seemed to represent more flexibility in an era in which urban centres were increasingly becoming congested with traffic.

Today, however, many town planners have come to realise that trams actually provide for the future rather than the past. Increasingly, we are seeing a growing interest in the development of tramways and light metro systems. The 21st century is likely to be ‘the age of the tram.’

We can see the increasing interest in trams by studying the chart which identifies a variety of new tramway projects, particularly in the United Kingdom.

Environmental considerations

Today, environmental concerns are at the forefront of any new development. Modern forms of transport, such as the motor car driven by petrocarbons, have tremendous potential to create unacceptable levels of pollution. However, we can change by planning
in favour of sustainable “green” city
environments. Strasbourg, in choosing
the EUROTRAM has gone for the
“green” solution.

Strasbourg was one of the first European cities to recognise the dangers of pollution resulting from car and lorry exhaust emissions. By 1962, the public network system in Strasbourg was based entirely on diesel buses which were very noisy and gave off unpleasant fumes. In 1972, la Communaute Urbaine de Strasbourg (CUS – the local government authority in Strasbourg) officially recognised the dangers of pollution that were leading to the asphyxiation of the city centre. Official studies were carried out to find out the best ways of relieving the city centre from traffic congestion and pollution. Initially, a new reserved-track tramway system was considered as a solution to these transport problems. However, this project was shelved in the 1980s in favour of a new ambitious project for a metro system (similar to the London Underground).

While this project was favoured in some quarters, it would have been very expensive to put in place and would have caused enormous disruption. The tramway idea began to find favour again and its supporters pointed to the impressive return of tramways in Nantes in 1985 and Grenoble in 1987. The case for trams was gaining momentum! However, it was not until 1990 that the CUS in Strasbourg provided detailed approval for a new tram system. On 17 June 1991, the then French Prime Minister, Edith Cresson, confirmed the scheme’s Declaration of Public Interest, allowing civil engineering work to begin and contracts for the track work and rolling stock to be placed. In effect, this gave the go ahead to the project.

The benefits of the tramway

As well as improving public transport, the light rail system is intended to act as the catalyst for change to the entire city centre. The associated pedestrianisation work, together with better transport links, is expected to reduce the use of private cars. The use of electric traction on the LRVs (Light Railway Vehicles) will also remove noise and pollution from the city centre. In essence, Strasbourg was keen to create an integrated transport system linking together the various ingredients of a modern transport system – i.e. a modern rail and road system to bring passengers into and out of the city, combined with a modern tram system to move people around the city and an extensive pedestrian system in the city centre. The name of the game was integration.

The arguments put forward for the tram system were:

• it provided the opportunity to restructure the urban environment and would make the city a more pleasant place to live
• its introduction would reduce the use of private cars in the city centre and raise public transport patronage
• the operation of quiet, electrically powered vehicles in the city centre, especially in pedestrianised areas, would significantly reduce pollution levels.

The chosen route

The route chosen for the first line was to be a 12.65km double-track tramway with 24 stops, entirely on reserved tracks or in pedestrianised areas. The track would link important suburbs of the city, the hospital area, key communities and the city centre. Trees were planted along the route and the track area was turfed to make it attractive.

Choice of vehicles

Civic leaders recognise that any city needs a reliable and accessible public transport system. Strasbourg needed a form of transport that would enhance its status ‘at the heart of Europe.’ With its advanced, proven, water-cooled a.c. traction equipment, the EUROTRAM is quiet, clean and pollution free.

Its modular construction requires the minimum swept path for its tracks and permits the addition of extra modules to accommodate future growth in ridership. The civic leaders recognised the need for a system which was more than just purely functional but a work of art as well. They turned to the experienced industrial architect Phillippe Neerman’s design agency IDPO (whose work includes the tramways of Brussels, Nantes, the Hague, Amsterdam and Grenoble) and engineering consultants Mertram to develop the concept design for the new vehicle.

In effect, they had to create a vision of Europe in the 21st century, something for the citizen of Strasbourg to be proud of – something which has become the focus of the city’s identity, its community spirit and its self-confidence. Work is in hand to extend the system, with an additional line to be completed in 1999.

The vehicles

The light rail vehicle was carefully developed to appeal to the passenger. Since there are limits to the acceleration and deceleration forces a passenger will tolerate, journey times on an urban transit system are principally affected by the duration of stops.

The EUROTRAM has a low floor over 100% of its length, no obstructions below seats in the saloons and no steps to negotiate. Facilities for the mobility impaired are superior to those found in previous vehicles. Powered wheelchair ramps are fitted to the centre passenger saloon to assist disabled passengers. These ramps are controlled by the driver from the cab with closed-circuit television allowing the driver to monitor all passengers entering and alighting from the vehicle.

The body structure is comprised of welded wide aluminium extrusions, stiffness is provided by a deep keel in the centre of the roof. This method of construction gives a body shell which is both light and strong. The large windows are bonded to the structure in a manner similar to many car windscreens, so giving a light and pleasant interior. The seats are of the tip-up ‘cinema’’ type. They are cantilevered from the body side to ensure that there are no litter traps which would make cleaning the vehicle difficult. Units are air-conditioned throughout by two roof-mounted air-conditioning units fitted to each passenger module, as well as one in each cab.

Each tram is made up of a number of interlinking modules. Faults which occur can be isolated at the module level and an exchange unit quickly be substituted. Equipment is reliable and easily accessible from the outside, helping to cut repair times and keep the interior free from dirt and grease.

Safety features

The EUROTRAM has a number of extra safety features. Its design recognises the problems of operating rail vehicles in the midst of road traffic. The possibility of accidents is greatly reduced by giving the EUROTRAM driver a superb field of view through a wrap-around