Bombardier Transportation has secured a A$25m ($18m) order to deliver four additional Flexity 2 light rail vehicles (LRVs) to Australia’s Gold Coast Light Rail system (GCLR).
The new order is an exercise of an option included in a contract signed in 2011 between the Queensland government and the GoldlinQ consortium of Bombardier, McConnell Dowell, Keolis and Downer EDI.
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The A$1.1bn contract was awarded to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Gold Coast Rapid Transit System as well as deliver 14 trams.
The new LRVs will be used on the northern extension of the Gold Coast Light Rail to Helensvale (Stage 2).
The GCLR project is part of an 18-year public private partnership between the Queensland government and GoldLinQ.
GoldLinQ CEO Phil Mumford said: "Bombardier Transport will provide four additional trams and this is another important step towards connecting the light rail to heavy rail ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
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By GlobalData"The yellow and blue trams have become synonymous with the Gold Coast and the new light rail vehicles required for Stage 2 are due to arrive from August 2017.
"These trams are designed specifically for the Gold Coast and will ensure the same high-quality passenger experience and service frequency is maintained as the system expands."
More than 1,000 jobs are expected to be created during the construction of the northern extension, which is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
In October, the Australian Government has provided A$95m for the construction of Stage 2 that connects the Gold Coast to Brisbane.
The light rail extension will run from the Helensvale heavy rail station and bus interchange to connect with Stage 1 at the Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH) light rail station.
Bombardier light rail vehicles head Carsten Bopp said: "In their first year, the 14 trams already in passenger service have demonstrated their reliability by completing a total of 6.5 million trips on the line connecting Gold Coast University Hospital and Broadbeach South.
"This fact is proof of our strong commitment to providing high-quality, eco-friendly mobility solutions to the people of the Gold Coast."
The trams will be manufactured at the company’s sites in Bautzen, Germany, and are scheduled to be delivered from August 2017.
Similar to the existing fleet, the seven-section vehicles will be 43.4m-long and 2.65m-wide and will be equipped with Mitrac propulsion system, Flexx bogies and surfboard racks.
Image: Flexity 2 tram for Australia’s Gold Coast. Photo: courtesy of Bombardier Transportation.
