Siemens-Duewag U2
Encyclopedia
The Siemens
-Duewag
U2 is a type of light-rail
vehicle (LRV). The cars were built by consortium of Siemens, Wegmann & Co. and Duewag. The U2 design was built on the Siemens U1 prototype tram built in 1965 (now stored at a Frankfurt tram museum).
Originally designed for and used by the Frankfurt U-Bahn
(subway/metro system), the model of car was adopted for light-rail use by transit systems in Edmonton, Calgary, and San Diego
, during a period in which few purpose-built tram
s were being manufactured. All U2 cars were built between 1968 and 1990.
; in the US, usually up to three such 'pairs' run together. Each articulated car has a total passenger capacity of 264 passengers. It may be equipped with two DC
motors for a total power output of 300 kW and a maximum speed of 80 km/h, or with four AC
motors for an output of 544 kW and speed of 88 km/h.
As the length of a tram or light-rail train running on shared track is restricted to a maximum of 75 meters in Germany
, up to three U2 cars may be used in a single consist
on such track.
Frankfurt U2 cars use a Scheren (diamond) pantograph
, while Calgary, Edmonton and San Diego vehicles use a single-arm (z-shaped) pantograph.
Siemens–Duewag Type U3 is an upgraded version of the U2 with a slightly longer length and cosmetic changes. Introduced in 1977, they entered service in 1980 and were never exported outside of Germany
's Frankfurt U-Bahn
.
Siemens–Duewag Type U2A on Sacramento Regional Transit's light rail system is an upgraded version of the U2 that shares similar characteristics of the newer SD-100s and SD-160s
, yet it still uses the mechanical equipment of the U2.
Siemens AG
Siemens AG is a German multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Munich, Germany. It is the largest Europe-based electronics and electrical engineering company....
-Duewag
DUEWAG
The DUEWAG AG was one of Germany's major manufacturers for rail vehicles. The business was sold in 1999 to Siemens transportation.- History :The company was founded in 1898 as Waggonfabrik Uerdingen AG in Uerdingen...
U2 is a type of light-rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
vehicle (LRV). The cars were built by consortium of Siemens, Wegmann & Co. and Duewag. The U2 design was built on the Siemens U1 prototype tram built in 1965 (now stored at a Frankfurt tram museum).
Originally designed for and used by the Frankfurt U-Bahn
Frankfurt U-Bahn
The Frankfurt U-Bahn, together with the Frankfurt S-Bahn and the Frankfurt Straßenbahn, is the backbone of the public transport system of Frankfurt, Germany. Its name derives from the German term for underground, Untergrundbahn. The U-Bahn opened in 1968 and now consists of 87 stations on nine...
(subway/metro system), the model of car was adopted for light-rail use by transit systems in Edmonton, Calgary, and San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, during a period in which few purpose-built tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
s were being manufactured. All U2 cars were built between 1968 and 1990.
Technical details
The U2's dimensions are 24.284 m by 2.650 m by 3.66 m. The articulated halves of each car can be seen as a married pairMarried pair
A twinset or twin unit is a set of two railroad cars or locomotives which are permanently coupled and treated as if they were a single unit. A twinset of cars or coaches can also be called a twin car.-USA:...
; in the US, usually up to three such 'pairs' run together. Each articulated car has a total passenger capacity of 264 passengers. It may be equipped with two DC
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
motors for a total power output of 300 kW and a maximum speed of 80 km/h, or with four AC
Alternating current
In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....
motors for an output of 544 kW and speed of 88 km/h.
As the length of a tram or light-rail train running on shared track is restricted to a maximum of 75 meters in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, up to three U2 cars may be used in a single consist
Consist
A consist , in North American railway terminology, is used as a noun to describe the group of rail vehicles that make up a train. A near-equivalent UK term is rake but this excludes the locomotive....
on such track.
Frankfurt U2 cars use a Scheren (diamond) pantograph
Pantograph (rail)
A pantograph for rail lines is a hinged electric-rod device that collects electric current from overhead lines for electric trains or trams. The pantograph typically connects to a one-wire line, with the track acting as the ground wire...
, while Calgary, Edmonton and San Diego vehicles use a single-arm (z-shaped) pantograph.
- Manufacturer: Siemens Duewag Düsseldorf, West Germany
- Type: Double-ended articulated car, 6 axle, multiple-unit operation
- Height: | 12.4 feet (3,780 mm)
- Width: 8.7 feet (2,652 mm)
- Length: 76 feet (23.165 m), 76.71 feet (23.381 m) or 88.5 feet (26.975 m)
- Weight (empty): 77161 pounds (35,000 kg), 89000 pounds (40,370 kg) or 97900 pounds (44,407 kg)
- Car Body: Lightweight welded steel
- Wheels: Steel-tired with acoustic dampening
- Dynamic Braking
- Speed: 50 miles per hour (80.5 km/h) to 55 miles per hour (88.5 km/h)
- Overhead Traction Power: 600 V DC
Variants
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
's Frankfurt U-Bahn
Frankfurt U-Bahn
The Frankfurt U-Bahn, together with the Frankfurt S-Bahn and the Frankfurt Straßenbahn, is the backbone of the public transport system of Frankfurt, Germany. Its name derives from the German term for underground, Untergrundbahn. The U-Bahn opened in 1968 and now consists of 87 stations on nine...
.
Siemens–Duewag Type U2A on Sacramento Regional Transit's light rail system is an upgraded version of the U2 that shares similar characteristics of the newer SD-100s and SD-160s
Siemens SD-160
The SD-100 and SD-160 are light-rail vehicles manufactured by Siemens. The SD-100 uses motors that run on direct-current electricity while the SD-160 model features newer motors that run using alternating current. Both models are suited for loading at street level and high-platform level...
, yet it still uses the mechanical equipment of the U2.
U2 cars acquired, by city
- Calgary — 82 cars
- Edmonton — 37 cars
- Frankfurt — 104 cars
- San Diego — 71 cars
- Mendoza — 11 cars (provided by San Diego)
Similar vehicles
- UTDCUrban Transportation Development CorporationThe Urban Transportation Development Corporation, or UTDC as it was commonly known, was an Ontario, Canada, Crown corporation created in the 1970s as a way to enter what was then expected to be a burgeoning market in advanced light rail mass transit systems...
ALRV and HF LRV - Siemens SD-100 and SD-160
- Kinki SharyoKinki Sharyois an Osaka, Japan-based manufacturer of railroad vehicles. It is an affiliate company of Kintetsu Corporation.In business since 1920 and renamed The Kinki Sharyo Co., Ltd in 1945...
LF LRV - Tokyu Car CorporationTokyu Car Corporationis a manufacturer of heavy rail cars in Japan. The company is based in Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama, Japan, and a member of Tokyu Group. Tokyu Car manufactures rail vehicles not only for Tokyu Corporation but for other Japanese operators, including various Japan Railways Group companies and...
LRVBuffalo Metro RailThe NFTA has a fleet of 26 rigid-bodied LRVs for the Metro Rail system, numbered sequentially from 101 to 127. They were built by Tokyu Car Corporation of Japan. One car was damaged in transit and later purchased by a restaurateur, Bertrand H. Hoak, of Hamburg, as an addition to Hoak's Armor Inn... - Siemens S70
- Siemens SD-400Siemens SD-400The Siemens SD-400 LRV is an electric light rail vehicle locomotive built by Siemens-Duewag AG. It is powered by four individual Siemens DC-IBGT electric motors with each one developing and creating a combined total power output of . Electric current is received via an overhead catenary wire...
See also
- C-TrainC-TrainC-Train is the light rail transit system in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It has been in operation since May 25, 1981. The system is operated by Calgary Transit, a department of the Calgary municipal government.-Operations:...
- Edmonton Light Rail TransitEdmonton Light Rail TransitEdmonton Light Rail Transit, more commonly referred to as the LRT, is a light rail system in Edmonton, Alberta. Part of the Edmonton Transit System , the 20.5-kilometre route starts in Edmonton's northeast suburbs and ends at Century Park in Edmonton's south end.The ETS designates the LRT as Route...
- San Diego TrolleySan Diego TrolleyThe San Diego Trolley is a light rail system operating in the metropolitan area of San Diego. The operator, San Diego Trolley, Inc. , is a subsidiary of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System ...