Flexity Swift

Flexity Swift
A Porto Metro low-floor 2010 Flexity Swift
ManufacturerBombardier Transportation
Number built1000+[1]
Specifications
Train lengthSee tables
WidthSee tables
Articulated sections2
Maximum speed100 km/h (62 mph)[2]
WeightSee tables
Minimum turning radius25 m (82 ft)[3]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The Flexity Swift is a series of urban and inter-urban tram, light rail, and light metro vehicles manufactured by Bombardier Transportation.[1] It is part of the Flexity family of rail vehicles, and like the others, Flexity Swift vehicles can be customized to suit the needs and requirements of customers, including legacy designs from its acquisition of Adtranz. As of 2015, over 1,000 Flexity Swift light rail vehicles have been ordered.[1]

Overview

Vehicles in the Flexity Swift family vary in length, but are all articulated, usually with three sections. In most cases, the centre section is very short, but can be replaced with a longer section in order to increase capacity. The trams can also be coupled together into trains. Nevertheless, they are all bi-directional with cabs at both ends and doors on both sides. An emphasis is placed on speed with units capable of safely reaching speeds of 80 km/h (50 mph) when running on dedicated lines.

Most vehicles typically weigh between 35 and 40 tonnes (34.4 and 39.4 long tons; 38.6 and 44.1 short tons), though the ones made for the Minneapolis line are heavier due to stricter crashworthiness requirements in the United States (particularly buff strength) and the vehicles in Rotterdam and Karlsruhe are also heavier due to their use on a full, high-capacity rapid transit network and on mainline railway tracks, respectively.

The Flexity Swift family comes in two distinct versions with a 70% low-floor version to allow access to those in wheelchairs without requiring the construction of high platforms in city streets and a high-floor version with level boarding at raised platforms, generally to retain compatibility with stations built for older trams or trains. While they typically use DC overhead lines for power collection, the Rotterdam vehicles are also equipped with third rail power capability for use on the central sections of the network, while the Karlsruhe tram-trains are compatible with AC electrification which is used on the mainline railways.

Both the low and high-floor models were originally developed for use on the Cologne Stadtbahn in Germany. Other uses of Flexity Swift vehicles include on the London Tramlink, Manchester Metrolink,[4] the tram networks in Istanbul and Melbourne, the Rotterdam Metro, the Karlsruhe Stadtbahn, the Bonn Stadtbahn, the Stockholm light rail lines 12 and 22, and the Metro Light Rail in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota. The scrapped Merseytram plan for Liverpool in Merseyside planned to use the same model as London.

The Flexity Swift's closest competitors are the Alstom Citadis family (particularly the RegioCitadis, Citadis Dualis, and Citadis Spirit variants), Siemens' S70/Avanto, SD100/SD160, SD400/SD460 and S200, and the Sirio from Hitachi Rail Italy (formerly AnsaldoBreda). Compared to Bombardier's other Flexity vehicles, vehicles of the Flexity Swift family are not designed for streetcar operation with extensive mixed-traffic operations, although they do operate as such on a number of systems such as in London, Manchester, and Melbourne.

Technical specifications

Low-floor versions

City Operator Image Type designation Year(s) built Quantity Length Width Weight (empty) Maximum power
Cologne, Germany KVB K4000 1995–1999, 2002 124[5] 28.40 m (93 ft 2+1⁄8 in) 2.65 m (8 ft 8+3⁄8 in) 35.50 t (34.94 long tons; 39.13 short tons) 4 x 120 kW (160 hp)
K4500 2004–2007 69[6] 28.50 m (93 ft 6 in) 37.40 t (36.81 long tons; 41.23 short tons)
London, England TfL

(Tramlink)

CR4000 1998–2000 24[7] 30.10 m (98 ft 9 in) 36.30 t (35.73 long tons; 40.01 short tons)
Istanbul, Turkey Metro İstanbul A32 2002–2003 55[8][9] 29.70 m (97 ft 5+1⁄4 in) 39.20 t (38.58 long tons; 43.21 short tons)
Karlsruhe, Germany AVG and VBK ET 2010 (Tram-train) 2011–2013 30[10] 37 m (121 ft 4+3⁄4 in) 62.5 t (61.5 long tons; 68.9 short tons) 4 x 150 kW (200 hp)
2017–2018 12[11]
2020–2021 20[12]
Melbourne, Australia Yarra Trams E1 2012–2015 50[13] 33.45 m (109 ft 8+7⁄8 in) 62 t (61 long tons; 68 short tons) 6 x 85 kW (114 hp)
E2 2016–2021 50[14]
Minneapolis, Minnesota
(Metro Light Rail), United States		 Metro Transit Type 1 LRV 2003–2007 27 28.65 m (94 ft 0 in) 48.50 t (47.73 long tons; 53.46 short tons)
Porto, Portugal Porto Metro Traintram 2010 30[15] 37.07 m (121 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
RijnGouweLijn, Netherlands NS A32 1999–2003 6 (sold to Stockholm in June 2010) 29.70 m (97 ft 5+1⁄4 in) 37.50 t (36.91 long tons; 41.34 short tons) 4 x 120 kW (160 hp)
Stockholm, Sweden SL 1999–2008 31[16] + 6 bought from NS
Gothenburg, Sweden Göteborgs Spårvägar AB M33 2019–2023 40[17][18] 33 m (108 ft 3 in)
M34 2024–2026 60[19][20] 45 m (147 ft 8 in)

High-floor versions

City Operator Image Type designation Year(s) built Quantity Length Width Weight (empty) Maximum power
Bonn, Germany SWB K5000 2003 15[21] 28.4 m (93 ft 2+1⁄8 in) 2.65 m (8 ft 8+3⁄8 in) 37.80 t (37.20 long tons; 41.67 short tons) 4 x 120 kW (160 hp)
Bursa, Turkey Burulaş (Bursaray) U5-2010 Bursa 2010–2011 30[22][23] 28 m (91 ft 10+3⁄8 in) 38.00 t (37.40 long tons; 41.89 short tons)
Cologne, Germany KVB K5000 2002–2003 59[21] 28.4 m (93 ft 2+1⁄8 in) 37.80 t (37.20 long tons; 41.67 short tons)
K5200 2010–2011 15[24]
HF6 2020–2023 20[25]
6[26]
Düsseldorf, Germany Rheinbahn HF6 2019–2025 59[27][28] 28 m (91 ft 10+3⁄8 in) 40 t (39 long tons; 44 short tons)
Frankfurt am Main, Germany VgF U5-ZR (Bi-directional) 2008–2017 94 25.02 m (82 ft 1 in) 37.20 t (36.61 long tons; 41.01 short tons) 4 x 130 kW (170 hp)
U5-ER (Uni-directional) 130 24.764 m (81 ft 3 in) 36.15 t (35.58 long tons; 39.85 short tons)
U5-MW (non-driving) 2021–2023 24[29] 25 m (82 ft 0 in)
İzmir, Turkey İzmir Metro MD 2000–2001 30[30][31] 23.5 m (77 ft 1+1⁄4 in) 32.00 t (31.49 long tons; 35.27 short tons) 4 x 75 kW (101 hp)
M 15[30][31]
Manchester, England Metrolink M5000 2009–2022 147[32] 28.4 m (93 ft 2+1⁄8 in) 39.70 t (39.07 long tons; 43.76 short tons) 4 x 120 kW (160 hp)
Rotterdam, Netherlands RET MG2/1, SG2/1 1998–2002 81[33] 30.5 m (100 ft 3⁄4 in) 2.664 m (8 ft 8+7⁄8 in) 44.20 t (43.50 long tons; 48.72 short tons) 6 x 85 kW (114 hp)
RSG3, SG3, HSG3 2007–2016 86 42 m (137 ft 9+1⁄2 in) 64.30 t (63.28 long tons; 70.88 short tons) 8 x 130 kW (170 hp)

See also

References

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  2. ^ "Metro do Porto / Flexity Swift". Metro do Porto. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  3. ^ Williams, Tony (25 October 2016). "Bombardier M5000, New Vehicles for Metrolink". Light Rail Transit Association. Archived from the original on 22 June 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  4. ^ "One moment, please..." www.lrta.org. Archived from the original on 19 November 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  5. ^ "Flexity Light Rail Vehicles > Cologne K4000 – Germany". www.bombardier.com. Archived from the original on 14 October 2009. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  6. ^ "Flexity Light Rail Vehicles > Cologne K4500 – Germany". www.bombardier.com. Archived from the original on 14 October 2009. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  7. ^ "Flexity Light Rail Vehicles > London-Croydon, United Kingdom". www.bombardier.com. Archived from the original on 14 October 2009. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
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  9. ^ "Low-floor fleet". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  10. ^ "Flexity Swift – Karlsruhe, Germany". Bombardier Transportation. Archived from the original on 22 September 2015.
  11. ^ "More Bombardier LRVs ordered for Karlsruhe". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  12. ^ "AVG Flexity tram-train delivered to Karlsruhe". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  13. ^ "Flexity Swift – Melbourne, Australia". Bombardier Transportation. Archived from the original on 22 September 2015.
  14. ^ "Alstom delivers 100th Flexity light rail vehicle to world's largest tram network in Melbourne". Alstom. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  15. ^ "Flexity Light Rail Vehicles > Porto, Portugal". www.bombardier.com. Archived from the original on 14 October 2009. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  16. ^ "Flexity Light Rail Vehicles > Stockholm, Sweden". bombardier.com. Archived from the original on 12 February 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  17. ^ "Alstom successfully delivers the 40th Flexity light rail vehicle to Gothenburg in Sweden". Alstom. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  18. ^ "Gothenburg: Kiepe Electric and Alstom hand over the 40th new M33 Light Rail". Urban Transport Magazine. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 November 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  19. ^ "The new trams now being delivered to Gothenburg, Sweden". Alstom. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  20. ^ "Superspårvagnen: The first new 45-metre trams from Alstom and Kiepe are in service in Gothenburg". Urban Transport Magazine. 22 January 2025. Archived from the original on 5 October 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
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  22. ^ "Transportation > Media Centre > Press Releases". www.bombardier.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  23. ^ "Bursa orders Bombardier light rail cars". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  24. ^ "Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG – Neue Stadtbahnwagen unterwegs" [New light rail cars are on the way]. www.kvb-koeln.de (in German). 24 November 2010. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  25. ^ "First Bombardier HF6 high-floor light rail vehicle arrives in Cologne". Urban Transport Magazine. 19 December 2020. Archived from the original on 15 July 2025. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  26. ^ Cuenca, Oliver (8 January 2021). "Cologne orders six additional LRVS". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  27. ^ "First Bombardier HF6 for Düsseldorf homologated – will it become the successor of the legendary B-type?". Urban Transport Magazine. 4 June 2020. Archived from the original on 17 July 2025. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  28. ^ "Urban transport industry news round-up". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  29. ^ "VGF Frankfurt present new "U5" centre sections for 75 and 100 metre long metro trains". Urban Transport Magazine. 16 July 2021. Archived from the original on 10 September 2025. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  30. ^ a b "Light Rail Transit > Izmir, Turkey". www.bombardier.com. Archived from the original on 9 March 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  31. ^ a b "Izmir celebrates metro start". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  32. ^ Burroughs, David (13 October 2022). "Metrolink receives last of 27 new LRVs". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  33. ^ "Flexity Light Rail Vehicles > Rotterdam, Netherlands". www.bombardier.com. Archived from the original on 22 November 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
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