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Skoda trams enter into passenger service in Turkey
Published: Fri, 2014-02-28 15:54-
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Will deliver a total of sixty vehicles
Trams from the Czech company Škoda Transportation have entered into passenger service in the streets of the Turkish city of Konya. It is a modern 100% low-floor 28T Konya tram. Škoda will deliver a total of sixty modern vehicles to Turkey.
”In less than a year after signing the contract we have managed to develop, produce and deliver the first tram to the Turkish market. The vehicle is currently in operation with passengers, who seem to be excited, at least according to the first comments. Moreover, a series production of trams for Konya has been initiated, so we plan to deliver most of the sixty vehicles by the end of the year,” says Josef Bernard, chief executive of Škoda Transportation.
“Transport of the vehicle from Pilsen to Konya took seven working days – by truck from Pilsen to the Italian city of Trieste, then by ferry to Mersin in Turkey and from there again by truck to Konya. The first of the latest tram series from the Škoda company arrived from Pilsen in Konya three months ago. This was followed by demanding tests, which the tram successfully passed,” adds project manager Václav Petr.
Up to 364 passengers can fit into the 100 percentlow-floor vehicle. An easy way of boarding and getting off the tram for persons with reduced mobility is also made possible by the low boarding edge. The tram has five sections and a length of 32.5 metres. The air-conditioning had to be adapted to the operating conditions, so its performance was increased which resulted in the need for a complex reworking of the roof and the electric distribution. Other above-standard equipment includes for example the built-in Wi-Fi receivers for wireless internet connection.
“The modern two-way tram 28T Konya combines the properties of a suburban public transport unit, subway and tram. On account of the fact that its operation is planned in a 4.5 km long tunnel, the vehicle is constructed as an underground tram – that is a light subway. This is also the reason why the materials used comply with higher requirements for fire protection. Also, the trams for Konya will be operated as two joined units, like a train, and so they are equipped with automatic coupling for easier connection,” comments Jaroslav Kulhánek, chief engineer of the project.
Av Simon Matthis
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