Siemens–Duewag U2
U2 railcars ( or series U2 ) is the name for a family of high-floor light rail vehicles.
Type
The vehicle model was developed from 1966 by the company Düwag for use in the underground Frankfurt am Main. The series is based on the two in 1965, also built for Frankfurt prototypes of type U1, which in turn were derived from the Düwag modular system for trams. As the experience of the trial operation necessitated on the under construction Frankfurt Stadtbahn numerous changes to the design, the vehicles of mass production were designated as Class U2.
The type U2 was manufactured in lightweight steel construction, while the cabs are made of glass fiber reinforced plastic to easily replace after accidents can. The vehicles are equipped with three -axle trucks, which are driven by the two outer. The car body is made in two parts with a joint in the center of the vehicle. All U2 cars were built as bi-directional vehicles and have both sides over Scharfenberg couplers. Train sets, it is possible for up to six vehicles.
Frankfurt am Main
The type U2 was first delivered in 1968-1978 a total of 97 copies to Frankfurt, where they were given the numbers 303-399. The delivery was made initially by rail ( transition to the tram line in Oberursel ) with steam engines of the 50 series later on their own axes, following a derailment due to the wider tires on flat cars. Part of the production was awarded while in the border regions, the company Wegmann in Kassel. The cars were equipped with 303-366 on delivery with scissors, the cars from number 367 with single-arm pantographs. After 1980 five cars (314, 317, 318, 320 and 323) were destroyed in a major fire at the depot Heddernheim, 1984 and 1985 a total of seven cars were replenished with the numbers 400-406. The replica cars differ in the design of the interior slightly from the vehicles of the older series. Be green metal table are located on the seating areas instead of white wooden tables, smooth plastic coverings replaced the previous profiled rubber floors. The seats were covered with orange colored fabric, while brown faux leather has been used in older vehicles. The dashboard was changed and installed an automatic, the acceleration and braking ability influencing weight control, which has been retrofitted to older vehicles. All series are fully compatible and therefore electrically coupled to one another freely. Through the acquisition of the U5 rail cars since 2008 U2H railcars are being phased out gradually, many cars are currently parked drivable in a former tram depot. Scheduled perverted the U2H railcar last only on the U1, on November 5, 2012, the U2H railcars were officially retired from regular service on the A line. Since the summer of 2012 on weekdays three U2H railcars operated on the C- section as a course of U6, which was made possible by the Aufschotterung of the stations. This deployment ended in February 2013. On June 10, 2013, the scrapping of the first railcar began.
Colorings
At first the vehicles were delivered in red / white in the Frankfurt city colors. From the mid- 1980s there was a repainted in orange / ivory, the seven vehicles of the replica series have been delivered in this color scheme. Since the mid- 1990s, a further repainting is done in the new VGF - house color " subaru vista blue" (a kind of turquoise ). Only two vehicles of the type U2H (326, 331 ) and a vehicle of the type U2E (361) have not yet been repainted, the units 326 and 331, however, are no longer in use since 2010. Since the summer of 2011, the U2H railcar carrying 303 and 304, the old and first color paint and will be preserved as a museum car.
Conversions
Changes in platform heights required several modifications in the door area. The original U2 - type was designed with a fixed level to about 68cm in height for platform heights of 32 and 56 cm. By now, most platforms of the A- lines (U1- U3) have been set higher at 80 cm. The B- lines (U4, U5 ) and the C- sections ( U6, U7) but have 87 cm high platform. Therefore, the vehicles have been converted into two variants U2H and U2E:
U2h
U2E
The U2 - cars were to a large extent (all U2E, some U2H cars through to car 368) equipped with larger cabs ( enlargement towards passenger compartment ) and new driver's seats. Because of the phase-out started but not all vehicles to be converted. The type U2E was also equipped each with an accessible door per side of the car. To this end, the central rod was removed, which made it necessary to install a new light barrier system. For purposes of clarity, the faster accessible door with a yellow line is marked above the Einstieges. To ensure that no one accidentally blocked the innovative photocell, a signal generator was installed to add a sound once after removing the door release the light barrier is interrupted. The installation of this facility began in 2001.
Former U2H railcars that have been converted into U2E railcars since the extension of the U4 after Enkheim: 336, 341, 343, 349, 352, 357, 358, 361, 365, 402, 403, 404, 405 and 406
Use
Last U2H helped three cars after successful conversion of the platforms between June 2012 and February 2013, yet during the week on the U6. On the A - route they were last still out on the U1 line, but this application ended on November 5, 2012. On the new line to Riedenberg there is an express ban on U2's car because of the relatively steep slope behind the branch in Lower Ursel. On this ban is pointed with stickers in the cabs. Because of the maximum system length of 105 meters may be operating in traction in Frankfurt up to four vehicles. The phase-out started with the delivery of the U5 series from 2008. U2H two cars remaining after the retirement or over the winter 2012/2013 at the depot Heddernheim order to retract icy overhead lines if necessary. This last railcars ( last 356 and 359) were finally parked in February 2013 along with the U2H cars that were still on the U6 go until then.
The U2E vehicles operate on lines U4 and U7. 2013, the U2E cars are replaced by new ones on the U7 U5 railcars.
355 car has been parked since a derailment at the terminus Hohemark on 29 December 2005 due to bogie damage and since May 2007, is back in action. 365 car suffered an accident in 2006 in white churches. Carriage 334 was badly damaged on the B - side after an accident and is taken out of service; the A head is now at 365 cars and is also performed at this number.
Cars 372 and 376 were retired in an accident. 375 car was currently parked just after the accident.
Export
Edmonton
Edmonton opened in 1978, today a 15.2 km long rail line as Edmonton Light Rail Transit, for their operation also U2 cars were ordered from Düwag. Around one third of vehicle components, however, was made in Edmonton itself. In total, 37 vehicles were produced that are in use still.
Calgary
1981 Calgary was taken with the so-called C -Train light rail system in another operation. After they had had good experiences with the type of U2 in Edmonton, we also ordered 83 vehicles of the type, of which 80 are still available. You are to remain in use until 2023.
San Diego
San Diego opened in July 1981, the first light rail system in California. Also at the San Diego Trolley is resorted to vehicles of the type U2, the first 14 vehicles were delivered in 1980. By 1990, a total of 71 vehicles were manufactured, San Diego thus has the most recent vehicles of the U2 family. Unlike Frankfurt, Edmonton and Calgary were dispensed on high platforms, accordingly, the local vehicles are equipped with steps down to the street level. With regard to the climatic conditions in its area of the U2 - car of the San Diego Trolley are equipped with air conditioning. The car park has now been supplemented by the U2 - type succession Siemens SD -100 and low-floor vehicles of the type Siemens Avanto/S70.
→ English article: San Diego Trolley
Mendoza
Since the beginning of the test runner on the rail network in Mendoza on 28 February 2012, also go there U2 railcars, which were taken from San Diego.