Re: Sydney Tram - CAF

(Quoting corrected to allow top-down reading)

> > Why only a single door in modules 2 & 4 and not two doubles each?

> Because of the layout of the tram, they can't get a double door ahead
> of the end bogie like they did on the Variotram. The overhang/swept
> path would be too great. Common now on these multiarticulateds. The
> Variotram was a bit unique.

The Urbos for Nantes (36m) does have a double door at the front end:

http://tinyurl.com/kbetzhb

Obviously, with the "two rooms and bath" (multiarticulated)
configuration, the huge front overhang (=>mass moment of inertia) will
significantly worsen the problem of track wearout due to excessive
lateral forces on the track. And it won't help with yawing either.

Bombardier's first "Outlook" (they called it "Cityrunner" back then)
for Graz also had double front doors.

> I guess they figured 4 doors ( 2 and 2 halves) is enough for the
> relatively low use of the inner west line.

The equivalent of three double doors for a streetcar that's 33m in
length would probably set a new world record.

Over here three double doors for a 28m car are already hopelessly
insufficient during peak hours. They would need five to handle the
passengers with decent dwell times.

The new cars for Munich have eight double doors for 36m length,
those for Braunschweig have six double doors, which would be the
minimum for that length imho.

Sincerely,

Wolfgang

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