T-68
| Ansaldo Firema T-68/T-68A | |
|---|---|
T-68 1011 in Manchester city centre
in July 2008 |
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Interior of the prototype T-68
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| In service | 1992–2014 |
| Manufacturer | AnsaldoBreda |
| Built at | Naples, Italy |
| Family name | Firema |
| Constructed | T-68: 1991–1992 T-68A: 1999 |
| Refurbishment | 2007–2010 midlife refurbishment, T-68 gain retractable couplers and covered bogies 2010–2012 reliability modifications, LCD screens, LED lights, driver's cab air conditioning |
| Number built | T-68: 26 T-68A: 6 |
| Number in service | 0 |
| Number preserved | 6 |
| Formation | 2 carriages |
| Fleet numbers | T-68: 1001-1026 T-68A: 2001-2006 |
| Capacity | 82/4 seats, 122 standing per vehicle |
| Operator(s) | Metrolink |
| Line(s) served | Altrincham, Bury, Eccles |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Steel |
| Car length | 29 m (95 ft 2 in) |
| Width | 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in) |
| Height | 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in) |
| Articulated sections | 2 |
| Maximum speed | 50 mph (80 km/h) |
| Weight | 49 tonnes (48 long tons; 54 short tons) per vehicle. |
| Traction motors | T-68: 4x 105 kW (141 hp) separately excited DC motors T-68A: 4x 120 kW (160 hp) three–phase AC motors |
| Electric system(s) | 750 V DC OHLE |
| Current collection method |
Pantograph Type: Brecknell Willis High Reach |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The T-68 is a model of light rail passenger vehicle that operated on the Manchester Metrolink network in England between 1992 and 2014. It was part of the Firema range of vehicles, built specifically as a high-floor, articulated bi-directional tram to operate solely on the Manchester Metrolink system. The T-68s were constructed by the Italian manufacturer AnsaldoBreda at their factory in Naples Italy, entering service in 1992.
Six modified variants of the T-68 (known as the T-68A) were added in 1999. In July 2012 it was announced by Transport for Greater Manchester that all T-68 and T-68A vehicles would be replaced by M5000s by 2014. The last T-68 was withdrawn on 26 May 2014.
The first T-68s entered service on 6 April 1992. Initially 26 (1001-1026) were ordered. Because low-floor tram technology was in its infancy at the time Metrolink was in its planning stages, and in order to be compatible with standard high-floor heavy railway platforms, inherited by Metrolink; the vehicles are high-floor, using the same 900mm platform height as main line trains. In the beginning, several stops in the city centre (High Street, Market Street, Mosley Street and St Peter's Square) had dual height platforms, with one high part and one lower part, because of this, the T-68's were equipped with retractable steps to allow passengers to use the lower section of the platform. The dual height platforms have since been either rebuilt as high level platforms or removed. The T-68's could operate either as single units, or coupled together in pairs.
The fleet later received various modifications, including electronic destination displays instead of destination blinds, retractable couplers, covered bogies, internal electronic displays, CCTV in place of mirrors and several other electronic modifications. 15 of the trams were later fitted with air conditioning units.
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