
Austrian tram operator Wiener Linien has finishing testing Siemens’ ultra low-floor EcoTram in Vienna, as part of the product’s research project.
During the first phase of the project, the company used the tram in a climatic wind tunnel and in regular line service to collect data.
The recorded data was then used to develop efficiency improvement measures, which were incorporated in a prototype vehicle, known as the EcoTram.
The EcoTram was deployed in passenger service, following the completion of testing in the climatic wind tunnel.
This test tram features energy-saving systems, including a cooling and heating system with predictive control, a multi-stage cooling system and special sunlight-inhibiting window foils.
Wiener Linien general manager Günter Steinbauer said: "In the past five years, we have been able to gain valuable insights into the energy-saving potentials of trams, as well as test new technologies in regular line service."

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By GlobalDataApart from Wiener Linien, Rail Tec Arsenal, SCHIG, Siemens, TU Wien and Vossloh Kiepe have also worked on the project.
Image: Wiener Linien completes EcoTram testing in Vienna. Photo: courtesy of Siemens.