BUSINESS

Swiss Trams Start Regular Operation in Ostrava A test run of Tango NF2 trams on the tracks of the Public Transport Company, Ostrava (Dopravní podnik Ostrava, DPO) was successfully carried out in October 2018. From early November, the street cars began regular operation. By the end of the year, the manufacturer delivered 26 streetcars. A remaining 14 street cars will be dispatched from Siedlce, Poland to the depot in Ostrava-Poruba in the first half of 2019, thus concluding the first stage of DPO’s streetcar fleet renewal. industry. The technical solution of their design was made by the construction studio STADLER Praha, who contracted a range of Czech track and rail technologies suppliers in the development of a new tram for Ostrava. The Czech contribution therefore represents nearly 40  of the % total material and developmental costs, and implies a promising cooperation with the Swiss company in future. The main attraction of the Tango streetcar is not simply the modern look. Its technical parameters enhance the travel comforts in many ways. The interior is similar to modern STADLER streetcars made for western markets. ABB traction hardware is famous for its high technological level and reliability. This, and good quality motors by the Austrian company TSA, allowed the concentration of the traction apparatus of the streetcar in its central and back chassis, significantly reduced noise in the driver’s compartment, and improved the working environment of the tram operators. Overall noise and the travel dynamics of the street car showed even better results in test operation than the manufacturer initially guaranteed. Passengers will undoubtedly appreciate efficient air-conditioning in the new street cars: its operation was tested long-term in a laboratory, and passengers checked the results over the summer during test runs. Besides the main room, the driver’s compartment is equipped with an air -conditioning unit allowing independent adjustment, which will make the heat in the working environment history.

The articulated low-floor streetcar, mark Tango NF2, is the first foreign tram on the Czech market in recent history.

Swiss producer STADLER designed it in co-operation with German studio Innova Design Team, who specialise in aviation

Text: Ing. Bohumír Kráčmar Foto: archiv Stadler Praha s.r.o.

POSITIV ǀ 4/2018 19