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."
Apart 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.
