TW 2000

The TW 2000 is a light rail vehicle type that is used in the Hanover Stadtbahn.

General

For line extensions the Üstra needed at the beginning of the 1990s, more vehicles; by awarding the EXPO 2000 in Hanover and the resulting planned expansion of the tram network and the projected visitor numbers increased this demand. Since the previous vehicle type TW 6000 was manufactured since 1974, a new type of vehicle should be developed, who received the advances in vehicle. The British designer Jasper Morrison laid before 1994 first concept studies. After the award of the contract to Alstom LHB the first vehicle were presented at the Hannover Messe 1997. The shiny silver outer skin of the car has earned them the nickname " Silver Arrow ".

From September 1997, the new vehicle type TW 2000 was used. Until the Expo 2000 144 cars were purchased in two different versions. 108 of these vehicles has funded as part of a cross-border leasing business, thereby saving € 14 million at a purchase price of € 190 million in claims to üstra.

Variants

TW 2000

48 vehicles are like the TW 6000 bi-directional vehicles (two cabs and doors on both sides). You have the vehicle numbers from 2001 to 2048. The private car in 2007 was scrapped in July 2012 in an accident and was in the following year.

TW 2500

The other 96 vehicles are designed as non-genuine two-way car with only a driver's cab and doors on both sides and will only be used in pairs. The other end of the vehicle is equipped with a transition, so that the train for passengers is completely accessible. Is a non-visible during normal operation Behelfsführerstand for shunting At this end of the car. These vehicles have the vehicle numbers from 2501 to 2596.

Technology

The body is 2.65 meters wider than that of the TW 6000. At ground level it is reduced to 2.40 meters, so that the carriage can move to the existing and aligned to that width high platforms. The body is created in lightweight steel construction, the cabs are made in one piece of fiberglass reinforced plastic. Among the cabs the Scharfenberg coupler is pivotally mounted in a movable panel, thereby, a close coupling distance of 16 centimeters possible. Top speed, acceleration and braking are the same as TW 6000. TW 2000 and TW 6000 are mechanically coupled to each other, but not electrically, so that the only purpose is mutual towing.

Instead of mechanical folding doors in 2000 hinged doors are used in TW, but close slower. Instead of folding steps Lift-/swivel levels are used. The wood-clad seats are ergonomically shaped. They are largely arranged in the longitudinal direction, which has led in advance of purchasing to controversial discussions. A soft white light from fluorescent tubes makes for a pleasant atmosphere.

The TW 2000 is equipped with several pairs of TFT screens, which thus offer passengers the first time the public broadcast of radio broadcasting company in charge passenger television. The screen on the left shows the nearest stations and transfer facilities. Advertising and messages are shown on the right screen.

In addition, a video surveillance system has been installed now in 77 " Silver Arrows " ( 2021-2048 and 2521-2569 ). This is to protect the car from vandalism and provide passengers with more security. The recordings are stored on a hard storage case in the cab and overwritten again after 24 hours, if no significant events have occurred that require an evaluation of the records.

Unlike the TW 6000, there have been in the 2000 series no extensive tests or even pre-production vehicles. Only the cab was tested as installed in a car in the TW -6000 series to check the ergonomics. When starting up the TW 2000 therefore there were numerous teething problems, which probably most persistent problems with the treads mechanics were: fair was on each car of the TW -2000 series not functional at least one door. In addition, the electronics of the car is controlled by a 386 - based system, which had from time to malfunction. By troubleshooting required then it took several minutes until the train was again fit to drive.

Even after years of use, the cars could still come up with unpleasant surprises in the fall of 2004 was short-term deployment of the entire TW -2000 fleet up for grabs, after several times for no apparent reason axle bearings were overheated and a threat to the operation could not be excluded. Short term, the problem was solved by increasing the use of available yet TW 6000 and regular review of the still operating TW 2000. The passengers during operation had to change the vehicle at the depot, the train cleared was then tested in the pit to elevated temperatures of the axle bearings. After a few weeks all the trains were equipped with temperature sensors in the axle bearings that can detect and report a hot running bearing on time. Long term, the replacement of all the journal bearing is planned as part of routine maintenance.

Use

Up to three vehicles are used in regular service in the train. A train is then composed of two TW 2500 and a TW 2000. Three TW 2000 are not possible because after BOStrab the length of the trains on the road must not exceed 75 m. In lines 1 and 4 move since 2001 three-car trains during rush hour, on line 3 since June 2006 and on the line 6 since December 2009. In the exhibition grounds are a dispensation also 100 meters long four-car trains on the lines to the fairgrounds in use.

Because of the greater compared to 6000 TW width of 2.65 meters and thus required larger track distance, the TW 2000 can not be used on all links of the network. Initially, they were used only on the B - line. By the year 2000, the C- sections with the exception of the branch Nackenberg were - Kirchrode TW - 2000 compliant. On line 3 (A - line ) can TW 2000 drive since May 2006. For this purpose, had, among other things, a large part of the track widened to Podbielskistraße and the stop Bleekestraße be rebuilt.

For the TW 2000, the following sections are closed off for small track spacing for places:

• Noltemeyerbrücke - Fasanenkrug (line 9)
• Black Bear - Empelde (line 9)
• Goethe Platz - Aegidientorplatz (lines 10 and 17), expansion takes place in the course of the development of the D- line to 2018
• Glocksee - Ahlem (line 10)

In basic renovations of the tracks in these areas between the tracks is adapted to a vehicle width of 2.65 meters.

Since the outer doors of the TW - 2000 vehicles are not available at the end of the wagon, the platforms can be about five feet shorter than the longest train sets used. Thus, 70 -meter-long platforms are required for three-car trains. Still 60 meter long platforms were on the B-course in the 1990s built: Langenhagen, Langenhagen / Langenforther Course, Close Brabrinke, Laatzen / Werner-von -Siemens -Platz and Laatzen / Eichstraße ( train station). In three-car trains here the first and the last door at the stop can not be opened. It is planned to extend these platforms in the coming years to a length of 70 meters.