ABSTRACT
In economically and ecologically challenging times, sustainable tram development is an absolute must. Manufacturers are faced with the challenge of fast changing market requirements as well as ongoing technical developments. Sustainable vehicle platforms need to be constantly developed in order to keep up product competitiveness.
In recent years the market focus of the light rail vehicle business has shifted from mere functionality to an increased
focus on sustainability and passenger friendliness, both topics receiving very much attention from the general public.
A new light rail system today very often is regarded as an opportunity to re-shape the cityscape taking both sustainability
and passenger focus into consideration.
This paper describes how Bombardier as one of the major suppliers in the railway industry has been dealing with these challenges in the light rail sector by developing a platform vehicle with particular emphasis on sustainability at the same time taking customer and passenger considerations into account.
A product line has evolved designed to meet the requirements of enhancing sustainability at the same time reducing risk and cost and increasing the cityscape’s attractiveness to the public eye. This has resulted in
• Sustainable construction
• 90% recyclability
• MITRAC Energy Saver
• PRIMOVE
Nonetheless, the objective still remains to achieve maximum standardization based on cost-effective manufacturing principles while creating a passenger-friendly and energy efficient vehicle which blends into the cityscape to increase the city’s attractiveness.
Keywords: Sustainable Urban Transit / Rail Transit Infrastructure Development & Construction.
