Bombardier and Vienna Transport Authority make metro line U6 fit for the future

Bombardier Transportation together with consortium partner Vossloh Kiepe has won an order from the Vienna Transport Authority, Wiener Linien, for five new trainsets for Vienna’s metro line U6. The parties signed the contract in the U6 depot Michelbeuern, in the Austrian capital. The order is an option under a contract signed with the Vienna Transport Authority in 2004. The total contract value is estimated at approximately 60 million euro ($77 million US) with Bombardier’s share of the contract valued at approximately 46 million euro ($59 million US).

The Deputy Mayor of Vienna, Renate Brauner said: “The order for the supply of new trainsets for the line U6 is good news both for the passengers of this popular line as well as for the 600 employees of the Bombardier site in Vienna.” The site is central to Vienna’s industry and this option for further train sets for the U6 continues the long-standing relationship between Bombardier, the City of Vienna and the Vienna Transport Authority, the Deputy Mayor added.

Delivery of the light rail vehicles (LRVs) will begin in the autumn of 2013 and will be completed in 2014. The new vehicles will enable the Vienna Transport Authority to reduce train intervals at peak times down to 2.5 minutes from the current three minutes, resulting in 20 per cent more capacity in the morning and late afternoon.

“The U6 is our longest metro line, used by almost 130 million passengers per year. The new LRVs will make the U6 more attractive and comfortable. They will also provide additional capacity for a future increase in passenger numbers,” said Günter Steinbauer, Managing Director of the Vienna Transport Authority.

The air conditioned trainsets ensure agreeable inside temperatures even during hot summers. The vehicles are also particularly energy efficient due to innovative LED lighting and the recuperation of braking energy. The ecological LED technology reduces each vehicle’s energy consumption over the course of its lifecycle by 2.5 million kWh and its CO2 emissions by 1,500 tons.

“We thank the City of Vienna and the Vienna Transport Authority for their trust and support. With 124 vehicles delivered to date, the U6 orders have been of significant importance for Bombardier’s Vienna site. They formed the cornerstone for the continued success of the site, which has a proud 200-year history as a LRV competence centre,” said Germar Wacker, President Light Rail Vehicles, Bombardier Transportation.

The new generation grey and red vehicles for the U6 are based on the proven technical concept of their predecessors, the “T“ type model. The new vehicles are 26.8 m long and 2.65 m wide. Up to four vehicles of the types “T“ and “T1“ can be combined. Video surveillance inside the vehicles as well as visual and acoustic warning devices in the entrance areas ensure passenger safety.