Prefab innovation in Athens Tram

The first extension in the Athens tram, was duly finished and commissioned for circulation, in the mid of October। The extension measuring 670 meters comes as a trial for new technologies rather than a substantial addition to the already operating 22 km network। One of them and surely the most important is the introduction of prefabricated segments for the substructure। The segments were used in the crossing of Poseidonos avenue, a high velocity motorway in the south of Athens and gateway to the seaside tourist and nightlife areas। In order to facilitate the construction of the crossing and the sequential congestion of traffic, given a conventional construction, prefabricated segments came as a natural choice. The segments were constructed in a prefab plant in the outskirts of Athens, using Belgian know-how adapted in the local conditions. The segments incorporating the rails and all major network duct ways were laid in less than ten days, including the soil and substructure preparation, a major advance to the other ways monthly time span. Behavior up to now in the heavy traffic is said to be very smooth, and it is almost certain that prefab segments are to be used in the next extension to Peraeus.

Nice inaugurates the first tramway to be equipped with batteries

On Saturday, 24 November, Nice inaugurated its first, 8.7 kilometre-long tramway.
It links the districts in the north and east, taking in the city centre. 21 stations will enable over 120,000 inhabitants of these districts to move around using this means of transport, which had disappeared from the city’s streets in 1953.For the first time in the world, a tramway now operates over part of its route – which amounts to 11% of the line’s 8.8 kilometres – using an autonomous on board system, which makes it possible to avoid the use of overhead contact lines.

How does it work?
The driver presses an illuminated button to initiate the battery operation transfer sequence. The pantograph that is in contact with the overhead power lines is lowered. The tram then draws its energy from a battery located on the roof in the middle of the tram instead of from the power grid. Once the area has been crossed (square, bridge, etc.), the driver presses the button again and the pantograph is redressed. The battery is then re-charged during operation with the overhead cable.
To facilitate mode changes and to avoid possible driver error, audible and visual alarms are triggered on the driver console when the power source needs to be changed.
The advantages
Preservation of a restricted urban area
Simple solution for limited needs
On-board equipment with no requirement for additional ground infrastructure
Constant-temperature operation ensuring a minimum battery life of 5 years
Reduced and easy maintenance
Battery recycling

The battery is an autonomous on-board system that allows the tram to operate in urban areas without overhead cables over distances of less than 1 km, at a maximum speed of 30 km/h.
This technology was developed as a world-first on rolling stock for ALSTOM’s CITADIS tram in Nice. Thanks to the absence of overhead power lines and supports, the historical character of the Masséna and Garibaldi squares has been preserved.

Ground Level Power Supply

Ground-level power supply, also known as surface current collection and Alimentation par Sol (APS) is a modern method of third-rail electrical pick-up for street trams. It was invented for the Bordeaux tramway, which was constructed from 2000 and opened in 2003. Currently this is the only place it is used.


Track with APS under construction in Place Paul Doumer, Bordeaux.

A section of APS track showing the neutral sections at the end of the powered segments plus one of the insulating joint boxes which mechanically and electrically join the APS rail segments.

Tram travelling on APS arrives at Gavinies Tramstop which is transition point between APS and Overhead wires. The sign on the CCTV post tells the tram driver to travel in APS mode.

Athens Tram (profile)

Tram S.A. was founded in March 2001 and is a subsidiary company of ATTIKO METRO S.A. In 2002, the company begun the construction of the new Athens tram network, while commercial operation started in July 2004, a few weeks before the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. TRAM S.A. is a public service corporation supervised by the Ministry of Transportation & Communications. The company's mission is to design, develop and operate the modern tram network.

Vehicle

The Athens Tram vehicles were designed by the AnsaldoBreda company in collaboration with the famous Ferrari designer Sergio Pininfarina, the most dominant luxury car designer of the last century.

The type of vehicles is called SIRIO, a project dating from the end of 1997 as a result of the decision reached by Italian companies ANSALDO TRASPORTI and BREDA COSTRUZIONI FERROVIARIE to develop a prototype, in order to meet the demands for a modern, economic tramway vehicle.

During the design of the vehicles, special emphasis was given to:

General aesthaetics
Functionality, comfort, quality and ergonomic design of the interior of the vehicles
Ample visibility and comfort in the drivers cabin, and
The structural elements of design