Czech transport engineering company Škoda Transportation launched the ForCity Plus tramcar, first of the ForCity Plus generation, for Slovakia’s capital city Bratislava.
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The ForCity Plus 30T tramcar was designed based on Škoda’s ForCity Classic Miskolc trams, which were developed for Hungarian city of Miskolc.
It is the first bidirectional tramcar in the ForCity Plus range, and runs at a speed of 65km/h, with the capacity to hold up to 350 passengers. It is equipped with modern electronics offering safety and comfort to the passengers.
The first order for the ForCity Plus tram came from the Bratislava Transportation Company for 15 bidirectional trams in 2013. As part of Operational Transport Programme, the Bratislava Transportation Company received funds from the Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development of Slovakia for the modernisation of its fleet.
The trams are produced at the Škoda Pilsen plant. The first tramcar commenced operations in Bratislava in November 2014.
ForCity Plus design and features
As the sixth-busiest metro system in Europe, Prague Metro consists of roughly 60km of track.
Bratislava’s ForCity Plus is a bi-directional, low-floor tram intended for service on 1,000mm track gauge. It has five car bodies, with front and rear units fully reversible. The tramcar also features advanced undercarriage technology.
The car body rests on four bogies, with two fully pivotable traction types. The other two inner bogies are limitedly pivotable. One of them is of traction type and the second is of mailing type.
A typical five-sectional tramcar has a length of 32.5m, width of 2.48m, height of 3.56m, and floor height of 350mm.
Each car has two double-wing doors on both sides, enabling easy boarding.
ForCity Plus tramcar interiors
The tramcar offers enough space to accommodate 356 passengers at a density level of eight persons per square metre.
The spacious interior layout of the tram offers enough room for baby-buggies and passengers with reduced mobility. A retractable platform is also available for disabled passenger, to ensure convenient boarding and alighting. Each car is equipped with restraint systems.
The entire tram, including the driver’s cabin, is air-conditioned and performs quietly. A special device installed in the tram allows for vocal communication between blind passengers and the driver. An audiovisual information system and CCTV camera setup with six internal and six external cameras ensure passenger safety.
ForCity Plus tram engine and performance
The ForCity Plus tram is equipped with six traction engines, which provide excellent dynamic properties to the tram. Each engine delivers an output of 100kW. The tram runs on 600V DC and 750V DC power supply.
Orders for the ForCity Plus tram
Škoda Transportation received a contract from the Bratislava Transportation Company to supply 15 bidirectional modern trams for the city of Bratislava in 2013.
The €39m contract also included an option for the supply of 15 unidirectional trams and maintenance of the vehicles for 15 years. The option was exercised in April 2014, with the first delivery of 15 bidirectional trams scheduled for 2015.
