The Interior Design Of The New WLB FLEXITY Trams

On 17 May 2020 Bombardier unveiled the interior design of the new FLEXITY trams for WLB (Wiener Lokalbahnen). The new tram offers more comfort, the highest safety standard, innovative design and flexible seating arrangements.

On 20 December 2018 WLB awarded Bombardier Transportation a contract for 18 Type TW-500 FLEXITY trams, the 94 million EUR contract including a 24-year FlexCare maintenance management system, and incorporating an option clause for 16 more trams and additional eight years of servicing and maintenance. 

The 1,435 mm gauge trams are to be developed and built at Bombardier’s Wien works, the first scheduled for commissioning in 2021. They will have a capacity for up to 160 passengers and will replace the 26 SGP-built ageing Type TW100 trams dating from between 1979 and 1993.

WLB’s 27 km light rail system links Wien city centre with the nearby health spa resort of Baden, and at present is operated using 40 trams, the latest being a batch of 14 Type TW400 trams designed and built by Bombardier between 2000 and 2010.

The delivery schedule assumes test operation of two TW-500 units with passengers from the second half of 2021. The agreement also includes a maintenance contract, for which the manufacturer is responsible, but the work will be performed by the WLB employees in its own works.

We asked Bombardier for main technical data (axle arrangement, dimensions, weight, power, maximum speed, and suchlike).

Bombardier answered us that the TW-500 trams have a Bo' 2' Bo' axle arrangement, a maximum speed of 80 km/h, a power of 440 kW, a length of 27.82 m, a width of 2.5 m and a weight of 41.68 t (empty).