Flexity 2 (Blackpool)

Flexity 2 (Blackpool)
Flexity 2 tram, No. 011, at Tower tram stop
Interior
Manufacturer	Bombardier Transportation
Built at	Bautzen, Germany and Vienna, Austria
Family name	Flexity 2
Constructed	2010–2012 2016–2017
Entered service	April 2012
Number built	18
Number in service	18
Formation	5 body sections per tram
Fleet numbers	001–018
Capacity	74 seats + 148 standing spaces
Operator(s)	Blackpool Transport
Depot(s)	Starr Gate
Line(s) served	Blackpool–Fleetwood
Specifications
Car body construction	Steel side panels/Aluminium
Car length	32.23 m (105 ft 9 in)
Width	2.65 m (8 ft 8 in)
Height	3.42 m (11 ft 3 in)
Floor height	320mm
Doors	2x double width and 2x single width, each side
Articulated sections	5
Maximum speed	43.5 mph (70 km/h)
Weight	40.9 t (40.3 long tons; 45.1 short tons) per tram
Traction system	Four 120 kW (160 hp) three phase AC traction motors
Acceleration	0.5 m/s2 (1.1 mph per second; 1.8 km/h per second)
Deceleration	1.2 m/s2 (2.73 emergency) (2.7 mph per second; 6.1 mph per second emergency)
Electric system(s)	600V DC Overhead
Current collection method	Pantograph
Bogies	FLEXX Urban 3000
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)

Blackpool Council ordered 16 Bombardier Transportation Flexity 2 trams, becoming the worldwide launch customer for the design. The modern 100% low-floor trams replaced the Blackpool tramway's tourist-focused and high maintenance heritage fleet, some of which have been retained with modifications for use as a supplementary fleet alongside the Flexity 2 trams and some for tourist services on the promenade. Blackpool's Flexity 2 trams are intended to be suitable for daily commuters and to provide a service competitive with other modes of transport and comply with legislation on accessibility for disabled users.

Two further Flexity 2 units arrived on the 1 and 15 of December 2017, and both entered service on the 4th of March 2018.

Blackpool Council placed the £33m order for the 16 Flexity 2 trams in July 2009, with funding from the council, Department for Transport and Lancashire County Council. The worldwide launch of the Flexity 2 family took place with the unveiling of the first Blackpool tram on 8 September 2011. They entered service on 4 April 2012.

The Blackpool Flexity 2 trams are bi-directional five-section articulated tramcars. There are four doors on each side, two single doors next to the driver cabs in the first and fifth cars and two double doors in the centre of the second and fourth cars. They can accommodate wheelchairs and pushchairs, with level boarding from low platforms which were built at stops ready for the introduction of the trams.

The trams have two powered FLEXX Urban 3000 bogies in the centre of the first and fifth cars and an unpowered set in the centre car. The trams utilise a 600V overhead DC power supply, can negotiate a minimum curve radius of 25 m in service or 20 m at Starr Gate Depot and can tackle a maximum gradient of 6%.

The final livery unveiled at the launch consists of white sides with black window surrounds and purple cabs, with a purple criss-cross pattern extending along the lower side panels.

The Flexity 2 cars are maintained at a depot at Starr Gate which was purpose built by VolkerFitzpatrick, with input based on experience with tram depots elsewhere in Europe.

Named Alderman E.E Wynne.

Ran the first journey with passengers on the first day of operations on 4 April 2012 but derailed in Fleetwood on the first journey back to Starr Gate.