How are trams in Helsinki

• How are trams in Helsinki

Well, today we have "in the air" transport my favorite topic: us from a nice Finnish city of Helsinki came just 3 tram. I jumped on the bandwagon, ride, took off, and of course, traditionally slept course, visited the depot. And for one learned various interesting facts about the newest trams.

Yes, of course, is not Finnish trams came to Moscow - they have a track width and voltage other. I had to go to them himself.

The only valid in Finland tram network in Helsinki. Here she works since 1888, and until 1900 she worked as a horse-drawn. On the electric tram Finns crossed the long, mainly because of the high cost of electricity.

Tram lines in Finland acted as Turku and Tampere, but they refused them in the middle of the 20th century. The cars were delivered, first in Sweden, then in Germany and the United States. In the 40s there were the first Finnish trams, they produced a major engineering company Valmet Oy. From 1998 to 2003, it was purchased 40 new low-floor trams manufactured by Bombardier. And in 2013 in Finland again began producing trams, designed taking into account the new realities: the requirements of ergonomics, efficiency, climate and operating experience of all previous models.

Here it is a new tram production Transtech Oy Finnish company. Now in Helsinki there are only 2, but the city has ordered more 40. Pay attention to passive safety: the tram has a protruding bumper that not only quenches the blow in the collision, but also reduces the chance of sucking a pedestrian under the wheels; A "kit" completely covers the chassis, which further prevented from entering into the moving parts of clothing or foreign objects. Furthermore, there are no mirrors - instead mounted camera. The very design of the car frame is designed for maximum safety of the passengers in the accident, and corresponds to the three international safety standards for the rail transport: standard welding body elements EN15085, the standard static and fatigue loads and EN12663 standards of resistance to various kinds of deformations EN15277.

engineering group, at a cost of half a million euros (there are experts? A lot or a little for the development of the tram?) Was created for the design of the tram. The cost of one unit of 2, 5 million. €. For comparison, the estimated cost of the new national coach with a low floor, which was built at the Tver plant is around 650,000 €.

Salon narrow but, and a tram track in Helsinki is narrow, with a width of 1000 mm (railway and tram track in Russia has a width of 1520 mm, a railway track in Finland - 1524 mm), and a lot of tight curves, which imposes restrictions on the length carriages and their sections. In this case, the seating capacity of the new tram - 74 seats + 14 folding seats, 125 seats for standing passengers. Paul, of course, very low throughout the cabin, the maximum height above the ground only 52 cm.

The total length of the tram 27, 6 meters. Composite panel interior and exterior have a simple detachable structure and can be easily replaced with new ones in case of accidents or damage by vandals.

The interior well laid out in the details: Check out the table, head restraints and upholstery with the image of the Itinerary

A validator for transport cards. No way, the turnstiles! When we cancel them? In the metro in Helsinki, too, no turnstiles, full payment of travel control is carried supervisors. I'm not familiar with the system of payment of travel to Helsinki, but, as I understand it, there is also a zonal fare, or travel for a certain period. Who knows?

The rear of the car space. Visible Tilt control console in the reverse direction (maneuvers used in the depot, for example). Of course, when working on the route the console is in the closed position, but we participated in a demonstration flight, without passengers, and accompanied by officials, so that they showed us everything

The management console larger.

The cabin and control panel designed with the participation of experts in ergonomics and, crucially, tram drivers. It worked out all the details. Even the chair in an expensive car, leather, memory installed on several different drivers position!

Who do we have here is, from the drivers / drivers? Both on our domestic transport with these things?

The cabin 11 is installed cameras, as well as outer chambers replacing mirrors. Two large monitors in the cockpit are displayed as images from these cameras and all necessary parameters tram and traffic signals. The necessary information on the tram is transmitted in real time to the control room also provides an operational voice. Well, that's all, like, it has long been the standard for the modern urban transport.

The driver's cab has a separate climate control. The lounge also provides climate control and heated floor. Moreover, energy efficient climate system, receives power part due to the braking of the car (recovery).

The design of the tram was developed with the participation of the industrial design studio IDIS Design Ltd, the selected company Transtech, the interior was created by Finnish designer Yyuni Riikonen (Jouni Riikonen), which has chosen Helsinki Transport company HCT. Color solution continues the established tradition and recognition, and the exterior design was developed with taking into account that the tram would have looked good against the background of the old and new city quarters.

The poster with the device of the new tram depot on the wall: I love these pictures.

Let us now look at the predecessors: it HKL 71-112 and 71-103. They differ in the number of sections. These cars were produced in the 80s of the 20th century, the Valmet factory in Finnish, and passing in 2006-2010 modernization are still in operation, accounting for more than half of the park in Helsinki. Them in the first place and will change.

This is one of three tram depot Valila.

Clean. Although the station and the old. Such purity I've only seen in our new Strogino depot.

the old HKL 71-112 cab. Well, yes, you can compare it with a new one.

Salon. Something similar on our old cars. Gender is not low, is necessary to raise the carriage. But, however, when it managed to modernize a little bit lower.

The old trams, as replacing them with new ones will be sold in Poland, for a knockdown price of just 15 000 € per unit.

The control panel on the rear platform.

floor level at the site of the connection sections is even higher. When something did not think about it.

But the tram production of the Canadian Bombardier, which was delivered before 2003. In developing its new tram Finns take into account its shortcomings. These cars will modernize and will remain in operation.

And finally, an unusual retro-tram HKL 175, released on the Valmet factory in 1959. The tram runs along the tour route in the summer months. The lounge bar is arranged, and its (albeit as ordinary cars) can be rented for the event.