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Pesa presents new tram platforms

PESA's new tramway platform I © PESA

PESA Bydgoszcz will expand its tram portfolio with a two new tramway platforms, called Swing 3.0 and Twist 3.0. These are primarily new vehicle architectures, which essentially represent a further development of the existing Swing, Jazz, Twist and Foxtrot trams. The classic Twist tram is a bogie vehicle with steps above the bogies in the interior.

The new tram platforms focus on accessibility with a completely low-floor design, easy accessibility for people with disabilities and wheelchair users as well as special facilities for blind passengers. They will also incorporate the latest technical innovations.

PESA is thus following the international trend for bogie vehicles without ramps and high-floor areas. Similar vehicles have already been presented by Alstom and Stadler for the Central and Western European market in recent years. It will be interesting to see how the interior layout will change compared to the previous PESA vehicles.

Visualisation of the new tram platform I © PESA

A key feature of the new trams is the use of energy storage systems, which should enable a route of at least three kilometres without overhead lines. This technology allows operation in the event of overhead line failures or on sections of track without overhead lines. In addition, a modern anti-collision system will be integrated that uses radar and camera technology to detect obstacles such as vehicles or pedestrians up to a distance of 80 metres, thereby significantly reducing the likelihood of accidents. The front design of the vehicles is also optimised to minimise the risk of injury to pedestrians.

The vehicle architecture

The information published in recent months shows that this is a pure bogie vehicle. Two bogie wagons are connected in the centre with a litter, while a wagon body with the end bogie ‘rests’ on each end of the vehicle. The vehicle length in this variant is likely to be between 40 m and 42 m. Both the transport companies in Kraków and Gdansk are interested in 40-metre trams. A tender in Kraków has already been launched in 2024 (see below).

40-metre variant with five carriage sections and six turning points of the new PESA tram platform I © PESA

It can be assumed that PESA is targeting customers in other central and south-eastern European countries such as the Baltic states and Romania in addition to its home market of Poland. The Polish manufacturer has not yet succeeded in entering the German-speaking tram market. In the years 2012 – 2014, PESA Link supplied diesel multiple units to Deutsche Bahn and Niederbarnimer Eisenbahngesellschaft.

Technical innovations

A technical highlight is the advanced camera system that monitors safety both inside and outside the vehicle. Among other things, this system can detect objects left behind, while external cameras monitor the surroundings on the road and platforms. A special camera for the pantographs enables remote monitoring and analysis of the overhead line status in real time.

PESA uses modern materials in its development, including noise-reducing components such as special insulation and wheel dampers. Instead of conventional heating systems, quieter solutions are intended to improve travelling comfort. Tests on the 146N trams for Wrocław have already shown initial results: A measured noise level of 49.9 dB in the driver’s cab and 54.1 dB in the passenger compartment proves the progress made in noise reduction.

We reported on the 146N in Wrocław and its sister vehicles in Tallinn here:

The new platforms will also impress with their lower weight, which should reduce both energy consumption and the load on the track infrastructure. A lightweight, laser-welded carriage body structure, protected by the cataphoresis process, contributes to the weight reduction. The drive technology based on silicon carbide inverters also ensures energy-efficient performance.

In addition to the new vehicles, PESA is planning to introduce the DiagApp 2.0 diagnostic system, which will optimise fleet management and maintenance through a web and mobile application.

First vehicle to be on the road in 2027

PESA and its partners have ambitious goals: The first vehicle on the new platform is to be unveiled as early as 2027. It is not known whether this will be a first order or a prototype. The engineers in Bydgoszcz are currently focussing on the design of the steel structures and bogies, while the design of the interior and the selection of components will be driven forward in 2025.

The biggest challenge is to take into account the diverse requirements of customers. In order to do justice to the diversity of urban tram infrastructure, PESA is planning a flexible basic design that can be customised to meet as many customer requirements as possible.

Design drafts and head shapes of the new tram platform – is the yellow and white colour variant intended for MVG Mainz? I © PESA

According to experts, PESA would like to use the new platform to participate in the tender for 90 trams in Kraków.

PESA is also investigating the possibility of integrating alternative drive technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells, batteries or supercapacitors into the new trams. This is in line with the company’s goal of producing vehicles that meet the requirements of low-emission transport and are ‘hydrogen ready’. PESA already has initial experience with fuel cells: the four-axle SM42 6Dn shunting locomotive is currently in the validation phase and should be ready for use from 2025. The supplier of the fuel cells is Ballard.

The introduction of the new tram platform is part of the PESA strategy with a perspective until 2025+, which focuses on product development, new technologies and international expansion.

16.01.2025