Siemens–Duewag U2

Siemens-Düwag U2 car in Frankfurt. The U2's originated in Frankfurt's U-Bahn Network.
Siemens U1 car 1001 prototype.

The Siemens-Düwag U2 is a type of light-rail vehicle (LRV). The cars were built by consortium of Siemens, Wegmann & Co. and Düwag. The U2 design was built on the Siemens U1 prototype tram built in 1965 (now stored at a Frankfurt tram museum).

Originally designed for and used by the Frankfurt U-Bahn, the model of car was adopted for light-rail use by transit systems in Edmonton, Calgary, and San Diego, during a period in which few purpose-built trams were being manufactured. All U2 cars were built between 1968 and 1990.

Technical details

Diagram of the Siemens-Duewag U2

The U2's dimensions are 24.284 m (79 ft 8.1 in) by 2.650 m (8 ft 8.3 in) by 3.66 m (12 ft 0 in). In the US, usually up to three U2 cars are coupled to run as a train. Each articulated car has a total passenger capacity of 264 passengers. It may be equipped with two DC motors for a total power output of 300 kW (400 hp) and a maximum speed of 80 km/h (50 mph), or with four AC motors for an output of 544 kW (730 hp) and speed of 88 km/h (55 mph).

As the length of a tram or light-rail train running on shared track is restricted to a maximum of 105 meters in Germany, up to four U2 cars may be used in a single consist on such track.

Frankfurt U2 cars use Scheren (diamond) or single-arm (z-shaped) pantographs, while Calgary, Edmonton and San Diego vehicles use a single-arm (z-shaped) pantograph.

Variants

Siemens–Düwag U2a
Siemens–Düwag U3.

Siemens–Düwag Type U3 is an upgraded version of the U2 with a slightly longer length and cosmetic changes. Introduced in 1977, they entered service in 1980 and were never exported outside of Germany's Frankfurt U-Bahn.

Siemens–Düwag Type U2A on Sacramento Regional Transit's light rail system is an upgraded version of the U2 that shares similar characteristics of the newer SD-100s and SD-160s, yet it still uses the mechanical equipment of the U2.

U2 cars acquired, by city

U2a cars acquired, by city

Gallery

U-Bahn Frankfurt U2 car 361 
Frankfurt U-Bahn U2e in Frankfurt am Main 
Edmonton U2 car 1002 
Calgary Transit C-Train U2 car 2022 
Calgary Transit C-train U2 Duwag door emblazoned with logo of the 1988 Winter Olympics. 
San Diego Trolley U2 car 1036 operating on the Blue Line, at the Old Town Transit Center 
Metrotranvía Mendoza U2 car 1007 in Mendoza, Argentina 

Similar vehicles

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Siemens-Duewag U2.

References

  1. ↑ Calgary Transit U2 DC LRV Roster. Carsandtrains.com. Retrieved on 2015-07-16.
  2. ↑ Calgary Transit U2 AC LRV Roster. Carsandtrains.com. Retrieved on 2015-07-16.
  3. ↑ http://www.kevinsbusrail.com/calgary_transit_c-train_sdu2-1988.html
  4. ↑ Edmonton LRT (Light Rail). www.jtbell.net (2009-03-05). Retrieved on 2010-11-23.
  5. ↑ RAILSIM Worldwide Transit Vehicles. Railsim.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-23.
  6. ↑ Trolley Fact Sheet. SDMTS. Retrieved on 2010-11-23.
  7. ↑ Bowen, Douglas John (January 30, 2015). "MTS adds S70 LRVs to San Diego Blue Line". Railway Age. Retrieved 2015-02-17.
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