Manchester orders an additional twelve Light Rail Vehicles from Bombardier and Vossloh Kiepe

Once again, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is exercising an option for “M 5000” high-floor Light Rail Vehicles with Bombardier Transportation and Vossloh Kiepe. A total of 74 vehicles have now been ordered.

The original contract with TfGM for the delivery of new light rail vehicles was concluded in 2007 and initially involved eight vehicles. Since then additional quantities have been continuously ordered – a total of more than 40 vehicles have now already been supplied to Manchester. With this addtional order, TfGM has now ordered 74 vehicles in total.

The twelve light rail vehicles will replace vehicles in the existing Metrolink fleet.

The new “M 5000” vehicles being built at Bombardier in Vienna can accommodate up to 200 passengers. Wide double doors facilitate easy entry/exit for passengers in wheel chairs or with prams. Vossloh Kiepe is supplying the electrical equipment, heating, air conditioning and ventilation equipment as well as the traction motor and gear box units.

Specific TfGM requirements were taken under special consideration during the development of the new Light Rail Vehicles. So the “M 5000” has a special static converter (BNU 524) characterized by its energy-efficient high frequency circuit technology which leads to increased performance at a reduced weight.