Vienna tests energy saving tram

Vienna public transport operator Wiener Linien is testing an energy saving tram, the EcoTram, using it in daily operation until May 2014. The tram is part of a bigger project to make public transport vehicles more energy efficient. A Siemens ultra low floor tram has been equipped with intelligent control units that predict whether cooling or heating will be required. If the tram enters a tunnel where the ambient temperature is cooler, the air-conditioning will be turned down. The units control three air
August 21, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
Vienna EcoTram
Vienna public transport operator 4203 Wiener Linien is testing an energy saving tram, the EcoTram, using it in daily operation until May 2014. The tram is part of a bigger project to make public transport vehicles more energy efficient.

A 189 Siemens ultra low floor tram has been equipped with intelligent control units that predict whether cooling or heating will be required. If the tram enters a tunnel where the ambient temperature is cooler, the air-conditioning will be turned down. The units control three air-conditioning units with heat pumps, a variable-frequency compressor and CO2 sensors. According to Siemens, the tram could offer annual savings of up to 3,000 MWh for tram operator Wiener Linien.

The EcoTram project has been running since 2009, supported by the Climate and Energy Fund of the Austrian Research Promotion Agency as part of its New Energies 2020 programme.

Other project partners include the Automation and Control Institute at Technische Universität Wien, which has developed the control software; Rail Tec Arsenal, which has manufactured the measuring technology; and Vossloh Kiepe, which has supplied the heating and air-conditioning units. Consulting firm SCHIG mbH is the project manager.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Aesys demonstrates ultra low power VMS and LED parking signs
    March 3, 2014
    Aesys, a specialist in the LED display industry, will be using Intertraffic Amsterdam 2014 to highlight its range of traffic variable message signs (VMS) with ULP Technology. The company claims ULP (ultra low power) is the best existing technology for low consumption applications. It enables high efficiency LEDs with ULP piloting, power supplies with low dispersion, optimised electronic control, heat dissipation without external air exchange and high thermal dissipation paint. In addition, the company says
    Read More
  • Shanghai Keolis JV to manage tram network
    December 9, 2020
    Ridership estimated to reach 50,000 passengers a day in eastern Chinese city of Jiaxing
    Read More
  • Melbourne uses big data to transform tram services
    November 7, 2013
    In Australia, Melbourne's Yarra Trams, the largest tram system in the world, is dramatically improving service on its 250 kilometres of double tracks. By using IBM big data, the cloud, mobile and analytics the company is able to reconfigure routes on the fly, pinpoint and fix problems before they occur, and respond quickly to challenges, whether it's sudden flooding, major events in the city, or just rush hour traffic. As a result, the iconic 100-year old system is consistently beating its own service
    Read More
  • European ITS Congress emphasises ITS development and deployment
    January 26, 2012
    The 8th European ITS Congress is a key event for the industry. Hermann Meyer, CEO of Ertico-ITS Europe puts the event in context
    Read More

Highlighted Content