What can we expect from the Adelaide Amigos?
The Sunday Mail today reported a new tram fleet for Adelaide, with a number of new Spanish cars being sent to the Adelaide system to boost our current fleet. It was reported these trams will be Alstom Citadis 5-section trams, built in France for the Madrid light rail network.
The trams have a sleek, slimline appearance, are air conditioned to modern European standards and are quiet. They also have counterparts already operating in Melbourne, making driver training and locating parts easier and cheaper than when the Bombardier Flexity fleet were implemented.
The ‘Amigo’ trams (a nickname from the Spanish for ‘friend’) differ operationally to the Flexity fleet. While they are longer overall than their German-built counterparts, they have fewer seats and more standing space, with two of the five sections devoted exclusively to standing room. This gives them a higher overall capacity, cutting down the number of passengers left waiting at platforms as trams become full during the peak period; however this also means that fewer commuters will get a seat for either part or the entire journey, likely to cause upheaval among conservative Adelaide commuters.
The Spanish trams are also far removed from the feather-bed ride we got used to with the Flexities, their three trucks are rigidly attached to their frames, which means that track vibrations will be felt more than in the current fleet, which have more suspension between the body and the swivelling bogies. Other points of contention include the body design – there is more glass on the French-built vehicles which is likely to cause an increased greenhouse effect inside the vehicles during warmer months.
While the Amigos will no doubt improve the running and operation of the Adelaide light rail network, and continue bringing it into the 21st Century (a task started by tram 101 in 2005), only time will tell how commuters will react to them. The public asked for what Melbourne has, and they got it, but when the first one arrives from Spain, will commuters like what they see?
