This is the first of 14 Citadis trams ordered in 2013 as part of an integrated tramway system contract awarded by the city of Cuenca to the CITA Cuenca consortium led by Alstom. It is the first catenary-free tramway system in the American continent. The Citadis trams for Cuenca are being produced at the Alstom site in La Rochelle, France.
The tramway line, which is 10.2 kilometres long per direction (20 km in total) and includes 27 stations, is expected to open in 2016. To preserve Cuenca’s architectural heritage as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the tramway line will include a catenary-free section using Alstom’s APS technology – a proven solution with a 12-year track record in cities like Bordeaux, Reims, Orleans and Tours in France or Dubai in the United Arab Emirates – that powers the tram through a third rail positioned centrally between the running lines.
The Citadis trams of Cuenca are nearly 33 metres long and can transport around 300 passengers. They are equipped with fully low floors and wide doors, guaranteeing perfect accessibility, notably for passengers with reduced mobility. The company is currently managing the construction of 8 tramway systems including Cuenca (Ecuador), Rio (Brazil), Sydney (Australia), Nottingham (UK), Lusail (Qatar) and further projects in Algeria.
Photo: http://www.alstom.com
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