The VAG Verkehrs-Aktiengesellschaft Nuremberg has ordered 21 type G1 four-car metro trains from Siemens. The contract also includes two options for a total of a further 13 trains. These trains are earmarked for service on Nuremberg’s U1 line. The contract was signed in 2015 and delivery is scheduled for end 2018. The trains will be built in the Siemens plant in Vienna. Core components of the G1 will be manufactured in the Nuremberg metropolitan area and include such products as the drive converters, traction motors, auxiliary converter units and control equipment. The project management, development and service support will be provided from Erlangen.
The U1 line is the oldest of Nuremberg’s three underground lines and is operated conventionally. It is also the longest and the most heavily frequented. It runs from Langwasser Süd via the Exhibition Center, Nuremberg Main Station and Plärrer to Hardhöhe Station, the current most westerly terminus of the line in the nearby city of Fürth. The line has an overall length of 18.5 kilometers and serves 27 stations. Ridership rises sharply when visitors come to major events, such as the Nuremberg Christmas Market and trade fairs. On weekdays, this line is mainly used by commuters.
The G1 meets these demands. Barrier-free boarding and exiting will be made even easier as the new trains have wider doors with extendable door steps to bridge the gap between car and platform. The passenger areas will offer end-to-end accessibility. In contrast to the four driver’s cabs on the present Nuremberg metro trains, these new trains will have only two cabs. They will also be pre-equipped for fully automated operation, with driver’s cabs designed to permit easy removal.
The eco-friendliness of the G1 will also help the City of Nuremberg reach its climate targets. Environmental protection begins at the production stage of these new G1 trains. All Siemens plants are certified according to the strictest environmental standards and all the materials used are tested for their environmental compatibility. The weight of the empty train is lower, which reduces the consumption of operating power. Braking creates energy that is recovered and used either by the train’s own auxiliary equipment, such as to heat or ventilate the passenger areas, or by other trains that are running in the metro system. The interior and exterior lighting uses LED technology, which also reduces the energy consumption. At the end of their service lives, the trains can be recycled to a degree of 94.5 percent.
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