Zurich Public Transport operator VBZ awarded Bombardier Transportation a contract for the supply of 40 Flexity low-floor trams for Zurich. The contract is part of an option from the contract signed by the two companies in March 2017 for 70 Flexity trams with an option for a further 70 vehicles. EUR 160 million is the value of the latest contract, excluding VAT.
“I am very pleased that we can now order an additional 40 Flexity low-floor trams for Zurich as the need for public transport will continue to grow as the population increases. More than 50 per cent of Zurich’s citizens do not own a car, so in order to maintain this high proportion the public transport offer must be attractive to our customers and the new Flexity trams contribute significantly to this,” Guido Schoch, the Director of VBZ Zurich Public Transport, said.
The tram’s 100 per cent low-floor design ensures the vehicle doors align with station platforms for easy boarding and disembarking. The low floors combined with wider doors make the trams’ accessibility easier for passengers with limited mobility. Regenerative braking increases energy-efficiency on these trams and Bombardier’s Obstacle Detection Assistance System (ODAS) adds a new level of safety.
On the interior, the new trams feature 20 per cent more passenger capacity than the trams currently in use. Spacious comfortable interiors have an open design to improve passenger flow and designated areas easily accommodate passengers in wheelchairs, as well as travellers with strollers or luggage. Dynamic timetables and dynamic passenger information onboard ensures that passengers receive the very latest travel information throughout their entire journey.
The first Flexity Zurich tram of VBZ’s new fleet, vehicle number 4,001, was delivered to Switzerland in November 2019 for tests on the Zurich network and it began passenger services in October 2020.
Also, in 2020, the Flexity Zurich tram won the renowned international Red Dot Design Award for Product Design. According to the jury, “Flexity Zurich impresses with a successful mix of retro elements, which create a direct link to the city, a friendly interior design and state-of-the-art technology.” The exterior and interior designs were developed collaboratively by design agency Milani, Bombardier and VBZ.
In Switzerland, the Flexity trams manufactured by Bombardier Transportation are in operation in Basel and Zurich.
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