Bombardier M5000

The Bombardier M5000, is a model of light rail passenger vehicle. It is part of the Flexity Swift range of vehicles, built specifically as a high-floor, articulated bi-directional tram to operate solely on the Manchester Metrolink system in England. The Metrolink system is the only tram network in the United Kingdom capable of running vehicles in multiple and subsequently the M5000s can operate as either a single vehicle or coupled together to form a "double" unit.

Bombardier M5000
A coupled pair of M5000s, nos 3120 and 3085 near Holt Town
Interior
In service2009–present
Manufacturer
AssemblyVienna, Austria
Built atBautzen, Germany
Family nameFlexity Swift
ReplacedT-68/T-68A
Constructed2009–2022
Entered service21 December 2009
Number built147[1]
Formation2 carriages
Fleet numbers3001–3147[1]
Capacity52/8 or 60/6 seats, 146 standing per vehicle
Operator(s)Metrolink
Line(s) served3001-3060 For all lines. 3061-3147 For all lines except Timperley to Altrincham (Not fitted with ATS Signalling).[2]
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium
Car length29.28 m (96 ft 3⁄4 in)[3]
Width2.65 m (8 ft 8+3⁄8 in)
Height3.67 m (12 ft 1⁄2 in)
Floor height980 mm (3 ft 2+5⁄8 in)
Platform height955–899 mm (3 ft 1+5⁄8 in – 2 ft 11+3⁄8 in) (empty, new wheels–loaded, wheels worn)
Articulated sections1
Wheel diameter660–580 mm (26–23 in) (new–worn)
Wheelbase1,800 mm (5 ft 10+7⁄8 in)
Maximum speed50 mph (80 km/h)
Weight39.7 t (39.1 long tons; 43.8 short tons) per vehicle
Axle load10.45 t (10.28 long tons; 11.52 short tons)
Traction systemKiepe Electric UTA 111 IGBT–VVVF[4]
Traction motors4 × Traktionssysteme Austria TMR 36-30-4 120 kW (160 hp)[5]
Power output480 kW (640 hp)
TransmissionQuill drive (Voith MGU 120-SV-SZH418 gearbox); 6.29 : 1 gear ratio (2-stage reduction)[3][6]
Acceleration1.08 m/s2 (3.5 ft/s2)
Deceleration
  • 1.03 m/s2 (3.4 ft/s2) (service)
  • 2.54 m/s2 (8.3 ft/s2) (emergency)
Electric system(s)750 V DC overhead catenary
Current collector(s)Pantograph
UIC classificationBo′+2′+Bo′
Minimum turning radius
  • 25 m (82 ft 0 in) (horizontal)
  • 400 m (1,312 ft 4 in) (vertical)
Safety system(s)ATS, VRS
Coupling systemScharfenberg
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Notes/references
Sourced from [7] except where noted.

A total of 147 trams were ordered between 2007 and 2018,[8] with the first M5000 entering service on 21 December 2009. Following the withdrawal of the last T-68 and T-68A trams in May 2014, the M5000s have operated all Metrolink services.[9]

History

In April 2007, eight Bombardier Flexity Swift trams were ordered by the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive for Metrolink; these were intended to supplement the existing T-68/T-68A fleet and increase capacity on the Bury-Altrincham line, which was suffering from overcrowding. Based on the K5000 design used in the German cities of Cologne and Bonn, these were designated the M5000. On 13 July 2009, the first M5000 (numbered 3001) was delivered to Manchester.[1]

The M5000s were built by Bombardier Transportation factories in Bautzen, Germany and tested at their facility in Vienna, Austria,[10] with all electrical equipment supplied by Vossloh Kiepe of Werdohl, Germany.[11] Unlike the previous T-68/T-68A trams, the M5000s lacked retractable steps, as a result the low-height platforms on several of the stops in central Manchester were either raised or removed to create an entirely high-floor network.[12]

A further four were ordered in November 2007 (Nos. 3009-3012) to allow for a 12-minute service between Cornbrook and the new MediaCityUK extension in Salford Quays.[13] Another 28 were then ordered (Nos. 3013-3040) to complete the tram order for the Phase 3A expansion of the network. After funding had been secured for the Phase 3B expansion of the network, another 22 M5000s were ordered (Nos. 3041-3062).[14]

Meanwhile, the M5000 trams were proving to be considerably more reliable than the older T-68/T-68A fleet, which were found to be in need of expensive overhauls to keep them in service. In 2011, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) decided it would be more cost effective to replace the entire 32 strong T-68/T-68A fleet with M5000s than to overhaul them, and so 32 more M5000s were ordered in two batches of 12 and then 20 (Nos. 3063-3094) in order to replace them.[14]

In 2013, ten more trams were ordered in anticipation of the Trafford Park Line before the production line closed.[15][16] In September 2014, TfGM ordered a further 16, bringing the total number of units ordered to 120.[17][18][19][20] The last of this order was delivered in October 2016.[21]

In July 2018, a further 27 trams were ordered to help relieve overcrowding at a cost of £72m. The first of these was delivered on 14 November 2020.[22] Alstom purchased Bombardier Transportation in January 2021, taking over production of the M5000. The final tram (numbered 3147) was delivered on 24 September 2022, taking the fleet to a total of 147 trams.[1]

Units ordered
Batch Qty. Ordered for
Apr 2007 8 Capacity enhancement
Nov 2007 4 MediaCityUK spur
2008 28 Oldham, Rochdale, Droylsden, and Chorlton
Mar 2010 8 Ashton and Didsbury
Aug 2010 14 Manchester Airport
2011 12 Replacement for T68s
2012 20 Replacement for T68s
2013 10 Trafford Park
2014 16 Capacity enhancement
2018 27 Capacity enhancement (replacement for Trafford Park)

Description

Each vehicle is 28.4 m (93 ft) long and has three bogies, the outer two of which are powered, while the unpowered central bogie supports the articulation gangway. Numbers 3001 to 3074 have 52 standard seats with a further eight "perch" seats, while numbers 3075 upwards have 60 standard seats and six perch seats. On numbers 3001 to 3074, there are two wheelchair spaces, one in each half of the tram; which increased to four spaces for numbers 3075 upwards. At a standard four persons per square metre there is space for 146 standing passengers, giving each vehicle a total peak capacity of 206 passengers.[23]

The M5000 can be operated as a single vehicle or as a double, the latter providing capacity for over 400 passengers at any one time. The trams are equipped with a passenger information system to deliver timely and relevant travelling information using a Lawo Lumintator Europa 'IBIS' (Integrated Board Information System). This is a relatively primitive system that works on wheel rotations, and relies on the driver inputting the relevant 'IBIS code' to display the correct destination.

In service
Two M5000s operating as a double on the East Manchester Line.

The M5000s operate all Metrolink services. They operate both singularly and as a double, denoted by dbl for a double on passenger information displays. Multiple M5000s are able to be coupled and operate as triple and quadruple units however this only happens in case of emergency such as a tram unit breaking down.

The first 60 units (3001-60) were either delivered with, or retrofitted from withdrawn T68s, automatic tram stop (ATS) and vehicle recognition system (VRS) equipment and can be used anywhere on the Metrolink network. Units 3061-3147 have never been fitted with this equipment and cannot be used in-between Timperley and Altrincham where the line is operated by Network Rail. During disruption, the non ATS/VRS vehicles can occasionally be found terminating at Timperley but this is infrequent. Some of the 3001-60 batch have since had the ATS/VRS removed when the equipment has failed, with the reduction of ATS signalling across the network there is no need for a full 60 vehicles to be fitted.

Like their predecessors the T-68s, the M5000s are fitted with two warning devices in the form of a street whistle and segregated horn. Unlike the T-68s however, these are electronic rather than the air-chime whistle and airhorn fitted to the T-68s. Both utilise a loudspeaker underneath the cab floor facing forwards, and are operated by foot pedals in the cab. The frequent 'toot' sounds of the street whistle are a recognisable symbol of the Metrolink network and common background noise in Manchester City Centre.[24]

References
  1. "Manchester Metrolink M5000 order complete". Railways Illustrated. No. 238. December 2022. p. 13.
  2. "REQUEST FOR INFORMATION UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000" (PDF). Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  3. "LRV Manchester - Two-Part Bi-Directional Train" (PDF). Voith. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  4. "Straßenbahnsysteme - Großbritannien" [Tram systems - Great Britain] (PDF) (in German). Kiepe Electric. p. 4. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  5. "Bombardier Flexity M5000 for Manchester". Wiener Neudorf: Traktionssysteme Austria. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  6. "Your ticket to ride - Gear units for rail vehicles" (PDF). Voith. p. 7. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  7. "FLEXITY Swift - Manchester, United Kingdom" (PDF). Bombardier Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  8. Barlow, Nigel (11 October 2022). "Last of 27 new Metrolink tram arrives as part of £72m network investment". About Manchester. Archived from the original on 12 October 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  9. "A new generation of trams for Greater Manchester". Metrolink. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  10. "Metrolink's first new tram lands in Manchester". GMPTE. 13 July 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  11. "Manchester: high-floor M5000 light rail vehicles". Vossloh Kiepe. 10 October 2010. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  12. "First Manchester M5000 tram delivered". Railway Gazette International. 13 July 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  13. "More trams for Manchester" Rail issue 581 19 December 2007 page 18
  14. "Next stop for Metrolink". Rail. 11 March 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  15. "Bombardier to Supply 10 Additional Light Rail Vehicles to Manchester Metrolink in the UK". Manchester: Marketwired. 20 December 2013. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  16. TfGM backs Manchester tram-train proposals Railway Gazette International 11 November 2013
  17. Thompson, Dan (7 July 2014). "5,000 jobs on the way in £470m bonanza". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  18. "Metrolink investment confirmed" Tramways & Urban Transit issue 921 September 2014 page 360
  19. "Sixteen more trams for Metrolink to cater for expected growth" Rail issue 757 17 September 2014 page 27
  20. UK's Transport for Greater Manchester orders 16 new Bombardier trams Railwaytechnology.com 18 September 2014
  21. Metrolink's 120th tram gears up for service Metrolink 19 October 2016
  22. "New trams set to boost capacity and social distancing". Transport For Greater Manchester News. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  23. "Bombardier M5000, New Vehicles for Metrolink". Light Rail Transit Association. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  24. Mountford, Emma (28 January 2016). "Things you only know if you travel on the Metrolink". men. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
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