Adelaide’s new Citadis trams on track
As Monty Python fans will be well aware, nobody expects a Spanish Inquisition, however Adelaide tram users can expect the arrival of the State Government’s Spanish Acquisitions here in the Festival City.
Former MetroLigero Citadis tram 167, built in France for Madrid, has been modified at Preston Workshops, Melbourne and departed on board a lowloader yesterday bound for Glengowrie tram depot bearing the number “T204″ printed on a sheet of paper in the driver’s cab window. Arrival of the tram is expected in Adelaide by the end of the week at earliest.
The 200 class trams (affectionately known as Amigos) will supplement the existing 100 class Flexity trams by offering a greater overall capacity despite having fewer seats overall. The Citadis design is popular with commuters in Melbourne, who have embraced the ‘Bumblebee’ trams, sisters to the forthcoming Adelaide fleet.
Unlike the famous Monty Python sketch, it is hoped that these trams will not attract “diabolical laughter”, despite being more than put the test with Adelaide’s pre-summer heatwave. Airconditioning is expected to be able to cope with Adelaide’s Madrid-like mediterranean climate despite the use of large glass panels throughout the bodywork. Climate control has been an ongoing sticking point for commuters with the Flexity tram fleet delivered in 2005.
Modifications taken out at Preston have included the removal of all signage associated with MetroLigero as well as Alstom-related wording; however the Blue, White and Red livery is likely to remain with the Amigos in Adelaide in the short term at least.
The trams are being delivered as part of a State Government deal announced earlier in the year for the purchase of 6 near-new secondhand trams from the Madrid operator, which had stored a large number of trams due to economic factors. MetroLigero 169 was sighted being delivered to Preston today as former-167 was departing.
