Siemens–Duewag U2

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

Siemens-Duewag U2
A Siemens U2 in service in Mendoza.
A diagram of the U2 vehicles
ManufacturerSiemens
Built atDüsseldorf, West Germany (Duewag)
Florin, California (Siemens California)
Constructed1968-1990
Entered service1981 (San Diego MTS)
Number built297
Number preserved6
SuccessorSiemens SD660, Siemens S70 and S200
Capacity264 people (including standees)
Operator(s)Metrotranvia Mendoza
Edmonton Transit System
Calgary Transit
San Diego MTS
Specifications
Car body constructionFibreglass
Car length24 m (78 ft 8 7⁄8 in)
Width2,562 mm (8 ft 4 7⁄8 in)
Height3,780 mm (12 ft 4 7⁄8 in)
Doors8
Articulated sections1
Maximum speed80 km/h (50 mph)
Weight35,000 kg (77,000 lb)
Power output300 kW (400 hp)
Electric system(s)600 V DC OHLE
Current collection methodPantograph
Braking system(s)Dynamic Air
Safety system(s)CBTC
Multiple workingup to 5 cars
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Seatingupholstered neoprene foam

The name is derived from the class identifier given to the cars in the Frankfurt system.

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.

History
Siemens U1 car 1001 prototype.

The U2 vehicle was originally developed for the light rail system in Frankfurt. Its design was later used for systems in Edmonton and Calgary. The model was chosen for operations in San Diego in 1979, however, the planned platform level was lower than their counterpart system, so a street-level version was developed, and 71 vehicles were eventually delivered in stages.

In Mendoza

MTS exported 11 cars to the Metrotranvia Mendoza system in Argentina in early 2010.[1] These cars entered service in 2012 with a further 24 for expansion and parts donors following later that year.[2]

Retirement

MTS broke ground on the Trolley Renewal project in early 2010, beginning with the sale of 35 cars to Argentina, followed by the bulk of its U2 fleet retiring in 2013, when the Orange Line received low-floor cars. The remainder were used on its initial operating segment until January 2015. In 2016, 2 of the cars were shipped to Texas for use in a dog training facility,[3] The majority of the U2's had left the property by 2018, having been either scrapped or donated to museums, with car 1001 being retained.

After 48 years of service, the last Frankfurt examples were retired in April 2016. The Frankfurt cars have been replaced by the Flexity Swift. There are 3 Cars left for museum purposes

Calgary Transit has begun a similar retirement system as they have begun to introduce the Siemens S200 as both a replacement and expansion of the fleet. The city has begun to explore additional disposition options.

Edmonton Transit Service has now announced that their 37 U2s will be phased out between 2023 and 2025. They have also stated that they are looking into preserving at least one vehicle for their historical fleet.

Technical details

The U2's dimensions are 24.284 m (79 ft 8 1⁄8 in) by 2.650 m (8 ft 8 3⁄8 in) by 3.66 m (12 ft 1⁄8 in). In the US and Canada, usually up to five U2 cars are coupled to run as a train. Calgary Transit regularly couples up six U2 cars to shuttle them from Anderson Garage to Haysboro storage. These unique shuttle trains can be commonly seen after the evening rush hour. 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 (344 ft) 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.

In order to operate safely, the cars require 500 kW (670 hp) to accelerate from a station, and 150 kW (200 hp) to maintain speed.

Variants
Siemens-Duewag U2a
Siemens-Duewag U3

Siemens-Duewag 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 will be exported to Monterrey in Mexico, after being retired from service by Germany's Frankfurt U-Bahn. Three examples will be preserved for museum service

Siemens-Duewag 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.

Siemens also developed a U2 running on alternating current motors using inverters (nicknamed the U2-AC). 2 units were purchased by the Government of Alberta in 1988 and operated as demo units for Edmonton and Calgary. Calgary ended up adding the two units to their main fleet until 2015, when both were retired due to part issues. One of the units is still active as a track inspection vehicle, while the other was scrapped for spare parts.

Another variant, the U2h, was designed for lower boarding platforms in the Frankfurt system. A planned renovation project, codenamed U2e, was to take place in 2015, but after a few were completed, it was decided to retire their units in favour of the Flexity Swift.

U2 cars acquired, by city

U2a cars acquired, by city

Preservation
Car 1008 of the San Diego trolley system is preserved at the Southern California Railway Museum

San Diego MTS retired their last U2 vehicles in January 2015, coinciding with low floor S70 cars being deployed on its Blue Line, six examples are preserved by various museums and nonprofits.

MTS has retained Car 1001 as part of its heritage fleet of light rail vehicles. The car was unveiled as part of a celebration at 12th & Imperial on July 11, 2019, and re-entered service two days later. The car operates on the Silver Line, alongside San Diego PCC cars 529 and 530.[16]

The City of Edmonton has stated that at least one U2 will be preserved and operational for their historical fleet. The City of Calgary is currently looking into putting one on static display.

Cars 303-305 of the Frankfurt system have also been preserved following retirement in 2016.

Similar vehicles

See also

References
  1. "San Diego U2 Trolleys successfully operate in Argentina", San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, 9 March 2010.
  2. "Argentina to buy 24 more SD MTS trolleys". METRO magazine. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  3. "San Diego MTS Trolley cars find new home at TSA training facility". METRO magazine. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  4. Calgary Transit U2 DC LRV Roster. Carsandtrains.com. Retrieved on 2015-07-16.
  5. Calgary Transit U2 AC LRV Roster. Carsandtrains.com. Retrieved on 2015-07-16.
  6. http://www.kevinsbusrail.com/calgary_transit_c-train_sdu2-1988.html
  7. Edmonton LRT (Light Rail). www.jtbell.net (2009-03-05). Retrieved on 2010-11-23.
  8. Stolte, Elise (15 August 2017). "Targeted fix for Metro Line woes now 'end of 2017'". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  9. Stolte, Elise (11 May 2018). "Thales official breaks silence to say not all Metro Line LRT delay is on them". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  10. Stolte, Elise (28 November 2018). "Elise Stolte: Thales is not the bogeyman. Metro Line LRT doomed from the start". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  11. RAILSIM Worldwide Transit Vehicles Archived 2011-07-15 at the Wayback Machine. Railsim.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-23.
  12. Trolley Fact Sheet. SDMTS. Retrieved on 2010-11-23.
  13. Bowen, Douglas John (January 30, 2015). "MTS adds S70 LRVs to San Diego Blue Line". Railway Age. Retrieved 2015-02-17.
  14. "San Diego Trolley Car 1002's Move to the National City Depot". SDERA. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  15. "A ride on San Diego Trolley 1018 at Western Railway Museum". YouTube. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  16. "San Diego Is Getting New Trolley Cars, What Happens To The Old Ones?". KPBS. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
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