--- InTramsDownUnder@..., "Dudley Horscroft" <transitconsult@...> wrote:
>
> Which makes me think that if Melbourne opened tendering for another 50 new trams, and were willing to accept foreign built trams, they could get 50 15Ts for a cheaper price and before Bombardier finished delivering them.
>
> Unfortunately both the {Prague and Riga trams are narrower so none could be diverted to Melbourne, but if the Riga order has just finished then the production line could be used for full width trams very easily.
>

When you see the production methodology you see that its very easy to adjust the width and gauge. It's not a big deal as is often made out - there's a lot of bull floating around about modern trams. The Skoda production line is full for some years. I think they're commissioning a new hall soon but it takes surprisingly little space to make trams (indeed locomotives and railcars are being built in the same hall). They have a couple of nifty covered traversers to switch trams between roads for different stages of the process. Before going on the bogies and being joined, the modules are run through the paint booth on a rail trolley which a couple of men can push! It's really like a modern car factory as I said. Obviously intense production planning leading to a simple outcome.

Not only Skoda, but CAF and others would be able to churn out a small fleet in the time it will take Dandenong to produce its Rolls Royces. I guess the catch is that hardly anyone can do rotating bogies on 100% low floor, unless Melbourne is prepared to swallow the MAN approach (as in Avenio), but I have a feeling they assessed that and rejected it. There was a lot of YT engineering enquiry going round the European traps before the tender got underway.

cheers
Tony P