Bombardier Transportation has introduced the first completely contactless and catenary-free operating tram.

The Bombardier Primove catenary-free operation was presented to journalists on the test track at Bombardier’s Bautzen site in Germany.

“The Primove technology is a unique system that provides complete catenary-free operation of trams over distances of varying lengths and in all surroundings,” said Dr Carsten Struve, director advanced technology development, Bombardier Transportation at the system’s presentation. “The catenary-free operation offers an entirely new prospect, particularly for trams operating in historic city centers where impressive cityscapes can now exist unencumbered by visual pollution from overhead lines. Combined with the new Bombardier Mitrac Energy Saver technology, the Primove system can also save additional energy.”

For rail operators, the Primove system offers significant advantages, including the completely invisible power supply, easy installation and the complete irrelevance of weather conditions. In addition, the contactless, safe energy transfer system reduces wear on parts, limiting equipment lifecycle costs.

Another benefit of the system is the integration of the MITRAC Energy Saver, which is mounted on the roof of a light rail vehicle: The innovative capacitors of the system store the energy released each time a vehicle brakes and re-use it during acceleration or operation.