The first TRAMLINK tram was presented in Potsdam

ViP's Technical Director, Uwe Loeschmann, said: ‘We are delighted to be able to present a new, innovative vehicle for our tram fleet today in the shape of the TRAMLINK. The TRAMLINK will be a familiar part of the Potsdam cityscape for decades to come. The 13 TRAMLINK vehicles will provide the extra capacity we need to achieve our most important goal of continuing to provide efficient, customer-oriented local public transport in this growing city. The vehicle is state of the art and offers passengers a contemporary interior. The hundred percent barrier-free accessibility and the large doors make it easier for our passengers to get on and off. We hope that the new trams will be very popular and well received by the people of Potsdam.’

Mayor Mike Schubert said: ‘With the new TRAMLINK tram, we are noticeably improving public transport in Potsdam. I would like to thank everyone involved in making this important step possible. The new trams are a significant contribution to modern and environmentally friendly mobility in our city.’

In addition to Mayor Mike Schubert, the event was attended by City Councillor Bernd Rubelt, members of the supervisory board, the management of Stadtwerke Potsdam, the city's representative for people with disabilities, Tina Denninger, and the honorary chair of the customer advisory board, Kerstin Walter. The guests also included the managing director of the Verkehrsverbund Berlin Brandenburg (VBB) transport association, Christoph Heuing, representatives of the Eisenbahnbundesamt (German Federal Railway Authority) in its capacity as technical supervisory authority (TAB), and representatives of the ViP service providers involved in the project.

Jure Mikolčić, CEO of Stadler Division Germany, said: ‘We are delighted to be able to present the first of a total of 13 new TRAMLINK trams for Potsdam together with the ViP team. This first tram has travelled a long way through various Stadler sites: starting with the shell production in Poland, followed by the assembly in Spain, the vehicle arrived in Potsdam by sea and road. This makes the TRAMLINK a true European.’

In the coming weeks, a series of tests will be carried out and other tasks completed in preparation for the entry into service of the TRAMLINK. These relate to the new vehicle, but also to the drivers and the ViP workshop staff.

The tests include safety checks such as brake and radio tests, and trips to check the clearance gauge. They also check whether the specified requirements have been met.

The power consumption of the new tram in the overhead network is tested in the rectifier substation, a kind of transformer station for the traction current. All extra-low voltage systems and the interior lighting, the driving dynamics and comfort, the electromagnetic compatibility and the noise generation of the vehicle are also assessed. The door system and passenger information system are undergoing final testing and the ViP ticket vending machines are being installed.

A particularly important step in preparing for the future regular operation of the TRAMLINK is the instruction of the ViP driving personnel. The aim of the training is to enable each of the tram drivers to operate all types of trams in Potsdam in order to achieve maximum flexibility in everyday operations.

The new Stadler TRAMLINK vehicles for Potsdam have a number of special features that significantly improve passenger comfort and the efficiency of the public transport system. These trams are completely low-floor and offer barrier-free access, which is particularly beneficial for people with limited mobility.

At 42 metres in length, the TRAMLINK vehicles are around 12 metres longer than the Variobahn trams previously used and can carry up to 246 passengers, 74 of them seated. Passengers can board and alight quickly thanks to the low-floor access at all eight doors. The bright, spacious interior features wide aisles and step-free access throughout the vehicle.

Particular attention has been paid to the needs of different passenger groups. For example, there are special parent-child seats that provide enough space for small passengers and their parents. Four specially designated multifunctional areas make it easier to transport pushchairs and walking frames, and two separate areas are provided for wheelchair users.

The TRAMLINK was presented under the motto ‘A European for Potsdam – The TRAMLINK European Tour’. The vehicle was previously built at the Stadler plants in Środa Wielkopolska, Poland, and Valencia, Spain, where the second vehicle is currently in the final assembly stage. Valencia is the Stadler site where the TRAMLINK series was developed. The future production and commissioning of the vehicles ordered for Potsdam, numbered three to 13, will take place at the Stadler sites in Berlin and Velten.

www.stadlerrail.com