BVG orders 47 additional FLEXITY trams for German capital

The Berlin Transport Authority (BVG) has placed an order for 47 additional Bombardier FLEXITY trams for the German capital.

Bombardier Transportation will supply 47 additional FLEXITY trams for Berlin as part of a framework agreement signed in 2006 for a maximum of 206 vehicles.  The order is valued at approximately €176 million ($ 190 million US). BVG originally ordered four pre-series vehicles for testing followed by 99 trams in 2009 and a call-off for 39 trams in 2012. The total number of vehicles now stands at 189. In response to the constantly rising number of passengers, 20 trams from a previous order will be modified from five to seven-module vehicles.

Additional FLEXITY trams will increase capacity on Berlin’s popular public transport network

Klaus-Dietrich Matschke, Director for Trams at BVG, stated “By ordering another 47 FLEXITY and the conversion of short to long trams, BVG proactively responds to the requirement arising from the growing city of Berlin for local public transport.”

Carsten Bopp, Head of Light Rail Vehicles, Bombardier Transportation, said: “Having handed over the 100th tram to BVG in summer 2015, this call-off is yet another important milestone in the long and successful cooperation in the German capital. The increasing number of passengers confirms the attractiveness of public transport in Berlin, the city with the fourth largest tram network worldwide, and we are proud to be an integral part of this success story.”

The FLEXITY Berlin concept was jointly developed by BVG and Bombardier Transportation in order to develop a 100 percent barrier-free, leading edge tram providing easy access which is highly popular in Berlin and has already received several design awards. The interior offers more space as well as multipurpose areas and air-conditioning both in the passenger area and the driver’s cab. The vehicles boast low electricity consumption and feed braking energy back into the system.