Projects
Low floor Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) for Blackpool (UK)
Scope of Business: Rail Vehicle Technology
Focus: Supervision of the Manufacturing Process and Technical Acceptance Tests
Client: Blackpool Council
Project Term: 2010 - 2012
Project Locations: Bautzen, Vienna, Siegen
Amount of Investment: Approx. Euro 38 million
Project Description
The City of Blackpool which is on the coast next to the Irish Sea is not only a tourist centre, it also has a tram network that has been in continuous operation since 1885 and which carries 6.5 million passengers yearly. The rolling stock consists of historical vehicles - the so-called 'Heritage Trams'. To keep up with the increasing mobility demands, lines have been modernised and a new depot has been built. Furthermore, in July 2009 Bombardier Transportation was awarded the contract to supply 16 low floor trams of the type FLEXITY 2.
The 5-section multi-articulated vehicles (32.5m long, 2.65m wide, 100% low floor) have an optimal car body concept for weight reduction, the newly developed FLEXX Urban 3000 bogie using standard axle technology and an optimized drive and air-conditioning system. The production takes place at the facilities in Bautzen and Vienna.
VCDB was commissioned on the basis of their vast experience in the supervision of the manufacturing process of light rail vehicles (more than 500 up to 2010) as well as their extensive knowledge of the production processes at the Bombardier facilities.
VCDB's Scope of Services
- Development of an inspection and acceptance strategy for an efficient supervision of the manufacturing process
- First article inspections of specific vehicle components at the manufacturer's premises
- Welding technology acceptance tests of the car body shells for all vehicles
- In-process inspection of the final assembly and submission of regular work progress reports to the customer
- Final acceptance test of the vehicles ready for delivery
