Bombardier Transportation
won the first Flexity 2 tram order signed worldwide to supply 16 trams to the city of Blackpool, Great Britain. Funded by the Department for Transport (DFT), Blackpool Council and Lancashire County Council, this contract is valued at approximately $54 million.
The Flexity 2 trams will feature five sections and three bogies and is based on the Flexity product family. Technical advantages include an improved car body concept, better corrosion protection, an enhanced bogie design, and overall reduction of the vehicle mass as well as an enhanced cab structure. The Bombardier MITRAC propulsion technology and an optimized air conditioning system will result in significantly lower energy consumption, according to the company.
The vehicles are scheduled to be delivered between May 2011 and March 2012. Bombardier will manufacture the vehicles at its sites in Bautzen, Germany and Vienna, Austria.