CarGoTram

CarGoTram

The CarGoTram
Manufacturer Schalker Eisenhütte
Maschinenfabrik GmbH
Constructed 2000
Number built 2
Formation 5 EMU + 7 middle carriages
Specifications
Train length 59,400 mm (194 ft 10 5⁄8 in)
Width 2,200 mm (86 5⁄8 in)
Maximum speed 50 km/h (31 mph)
Weight 90 t (89 long tons; 99 short tons)
Power output 20 × 45 kW (60.35 hp) = 900 kW (1,207 hp)

The CarGoTram was a freight tram in Dresden. It supplied Volkswagen's "Transparent Factory" with parts for car assembly.

History

The idea of building a "transparent factory" for Volkswagen automobile production in Dresden arose in 1997. On 3 March 2000, Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe AG (DVB AG, Dresden Public Transport Co.) and Volkswagen Automobil-Manufaktur Dresden GmbH signed a contract for the CarGoTram. Car parts were to be transported by tram from the logistics center in Dresden Friedrichstadt to the new factory, using infrastructure normally used for passenger trams. The 4km long route from the logistics center to the factory ran straight through the inner city of Dresden; the use of trucks would have caused an increase of traffic in the city.

Two CarGoTrams were built by Schalker Eisenhütte Maschinenfabrik GmbH Gelsenkirchen, at a cost of 6.5 million Deutsche Mark each.

The freight tram was officially introduced in Dresden on 16 November 2000 and had its first test run on 3 January 2001.

Production of the VW Phaeton in Dresden ended in March 2016.

Route

CarGoTram ran every hour. If necessary, it could run every 40 minutes. Several different routes were used. The main route went from the logistics center in Friedrichstadt via Postplatz and Grunaer Straße to Straßburger Platz and finally on to the factory. If there was heavy traffic, the tram could also take route via the main station or other routes.

Technology

The CarGoTram is a bidirectional vehicle consisting of 5 segments. The standard formation is three freight units and two combination freight/control units. The control cars have less capacity (7,500 kg or 16,500 lb) than the middle cars (15,000 kg or 33,000 lb), because of space devoted to the driver’s cab. Total capacity is the equivalent of three trucks (214 m3 or 7,600 cu ft).

The running gear for the tram was recycled from out-of-service Tatra trams. The bodies were newly built.

All axles of the control car as well as the middle cars were driven.

See also

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