On December 8, representatives of SWU Verkehr GmbH and Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Transport have officially opened Ulm tram Line 2, operated by Avenio M trams, supplied by Siemens Mobility. The approximately 10-km long tram line, which connects Ulm’s Science City with the Kuhberg district is expected to attract 5500 journeys from motorized private transport, shifted to public transport.
“With the commissioning of the transport project after three years of construction, we take a big step towards a sustainable mobile city,” Winfried Hermann, the Transport Minister of Baden-Württemberg said.
“We must counteract the potentially increasing traffic as a mobility service provider with intelligent concepts, a role for which we naturally stand ready with great commitment,” Klaus Eder, the Managing Director of SWU Stadtwerke Ulm/Neu-Ulm GmbH.
The 12 new trams from Siemens Mobility will be used on the city’s entire tram network (Lines 1 and 2). The first tram has been operating on Line 1 in Ulm since the summer of 2018, and Siemens Mobility has in the meantime handed over all twelve trams. With the opening of the Line 2, the new trams officially begin scheduled passenger service.
“The start of passenger service in Ulm is especially important for us in two respects. For one, Ulm is the first city to operate the new multi-articulated variant of the Avenio tram. For another, this is the first time our new “Siemens Tram Assistant” collision warning system is being used. By making trains and infrastructure intelligent, we guarantee availability and increase safety in urban traffic,” said Sabrina Soussan, CEO of Siemens Mobility.
The Siemens Tram Assistant is installed in all of Ulm’s Avenio tram fleet. The system informs the tram driver of critical situations with the help of lidar and radar sensors, helping to avoid accidents.
The Avenio M has been optimized to operate on the Ulm tram routes with their steep grades. Designed as a modular, multi-articulated tram, the Avenio M adapts flexibly to the infrastructure. The tram’s weight-optimized aluminum body and state-of-the-art electrical systems minimize its energy consumption.
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