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ALSTOM will deliver a total of 28 tram-trains of the type Regio CITADIS for the Kassel transport system. The innovative vehicles are to comply with the rigorous and partly opposing normative requirements for tramways and railways likewise in order to connect the city centre of Kassel with the region without the need to change trains.
Premiere for hybrid tram-trains
The first 18 trains are two-system vehicles running on the tramway network as well as on the railway network under the overhead contact line. The first series hybrid tram-trains present a premiere. They are operated in the city using the existing overhead contact line of the tramway as well as on non-electrified railway lines in the region as diesel vehicles.
By order of Nordhessischer VerkehrsVerbund (NVV) Regionalbahn Kassel (RBK) has awarded ALSTOM the order for these vehicles. Thus RBK is the owner of the vehicles and will also maintain them after delivery.
Maximum speed of 114 km/h reached
At the last InnoTrans in 2002 the design model was unveiled - now visitors can view the original.
At the beginning of July 2004, ALSTOM, together with the customer presented the first vehicle to the public during a roll-out in Salzgitter.
In August, the first Regio CITADIS completed a demanding test program on the 6.4 kilometer-long circular track of the Wegberg-Wildenrath (PCW) test center. For the first time the vehicle reached a maximum speed of 114 km/h. In regular passenger service the vehicles will run at an operating speed of up to 100 km/h.
Neither the acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 15 seconds nor the full braking from 50 km/h in 39 meters was a problem to the vehicle. It demonstrated by its very smooth running and low noise level. The automatic change of the supply voltage during the vehicle's passage between the two networks had been thoroughly tested.
The first eight two-system trains will enter regular passenger service on the Kassel-Hofgeismar-Warburg line in Northern Hesse in December 2004. The Kassel-Wolfhagen and Kassel-Melsungen lines will follow in 2005/2006. A further ten two-system vehicles will be handed over by April 2005. Delivery of the ten innovative hybrid tram-trains will be completed in November 2005 so that all 28 tram-trains will be in service as of December 2005.
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