Flexity 2
The Flexity 2 is a family of 100% low-floor trams and light rail vehicles manufactured by Bombardier Transportation—now part of Alstom—designed for efficient and accessible urban mobility.[1] Introduced as part of the broader Flexity platform, it features a fully low-floor configuration to facilitate easy boarding for passengers, including those with mobility impairments, and is customizable to meet the specific needs of various transit networks.[2] Key technical specifications of the Flexity 2 include lengths typically around 33 meters, accommodating up to 200 passengers with configurations such as 60 seats and 140 standing spaces, wide double doors for rapid boarding, and advanced systems like air conditioning, CCTV surveillance, and energy-efficient MITRAC propulsion that reduces traction energy consumption by up to 30%.[3][1] The vehicles incorporate pivoting bogies for smooth operation on curved tracks, onboard energy storage options for sustainability, and barrier-free interiors with the world's lowest boarding height of 215 mm in some variants, enhancing inclusivity and passenger flow.[4][3] In service in cities such as Blackpool, Basel, Zürich, Vienna, Antwerp, Ghent, Nanjing, and Suzhou, the Flexity 2 supports high-capacity urban transit while minimizing infrastructure upgrades, with local manufacturing content often exceeding 60% to boost regional economies. Planned deployments include Melbourne (Australia) and Graz (Austria).[2][5] Notable for its adaptability, the Flexity 2 has been tailored for diverse environments, such as Australia's extensive tram networks and Europe's dense city centers, earning recognition through awards for innovative designs like those in Brussels.[1] Ongoing production and contracts, including deliveries that began in 2025 for Melbourne's next-generation fleet—with the first tram arriving for testing in October 2025—underscore its role in modernizing global light rail systems with a focus on sustainability, safety, and passenger comfort.[2][6]Overview
Description
The Flexity 2 is a family of 100% low-floor, bi-directional light rail vehicles designed for urban tram networks, enabling seamless access without steps or platforms.[7] These vehicles feature articulated designs with multiple sections connected by flexible joints, typically configured in five or seven modules to accommodate varying route demands while maintaining smooth passenger flow.[8] Equipped with driver's cabs at both ends and doors on either side, they support efficient bidirectional operation, reducing turnaround times at terminals.[7] Primarily intended to modernize high-floor or legacy tram systems, the Flexity 2 enhances accessibility for passengers using wheelchairs, pushchairs, and other mobility aids through its fully level interior and wide entry points.[1] This design prioritizes inclusive urban mobility, with multi-purpose areas dedicated to such needs and gap-bridging elements at doors to minimize barriers. Passenger capacities generally range from 150 to 250, depending on seating configurations and module count, allowing flexible adaptation to different city requirements.[8][9] As a standard element, the Flexity 2 incorporates energy-efficient technologies, including regenerative braking systems that recover up to 30% of braking energy, alongside LED lighting and optimized climate control to lower overall consumption.[1] These features contribute to sustainable operations in dense urban environments. The model forms part of the broader Flexity family of low-floor trams developed by Bombardier Transportation.[10]Manufacturer
The Flexity 2 is a member of the Flexity family of low-floor trams developed by Bombardier Transportation, serving as an evolution from earlier models such as the Flexity Outlook and Flexity Classic, with production commencing in 2009.[11] Bombardier Transportation handled manufacturing at its primary facility in Bautzen, Germany, where final assembly occurred for many units, including the debut order for Blackpool.[10] This site, inaugurated with expanded capabilities in 2018, supported the efficient production of customized vehicles using modular construction techniques that allow for tailored configurations while maintaining standardized components to reduce costs and lifecycle maintenance.[12] In January 2021, Alstom completed its acquisition of Bombardier Transportation for approximately €8 billion, integrating the Flexity lineup into its portfolio and continuing production under the Alstom brand at the Bautzen facility.[13] Post-acquisition, Alstom has maintained the Flexity 2's modular design for ongoing orders, such as production for Melbourne assembled with local content in Australia.[4] To expand production in Asia, Bombardier signed a 10-year technology licensing agreement with CSR Puzhen (subsequently part of CRRC Nanjing Puzhen) in July 2012, enabling localized manufacturing of Flexity 2 variants in China beginning with the first units rolled out in 2014 for Suzhou.[14] By 2025, over 300 Flexity 2 units have been produced globally, reflecting the model's adaptability through modular innovations that facilitate operator-specific customizations like varying lengths and interior layouts.[15]Development
Background
The development of the Flexity 2 tram emerged in the late 2000s as part of broader efforts to modernize aging European tram networks, driven by increasing demand for low-floor vehicles to enhance accessibility for passengers with disabilities, in line with EU Directive 2008/57/EC, which established accessibility as an essential requirement for rail systems across the Union.[16] This directive built on earlier initiatives addressing the limitations of high-floor heritage fleets that dominated many urban systems and restricted mobility for wheelchair users and those with reduced mobility.[17] Around 2008, cities faced mounting pressure to upgrade infrastructure amid growing urban populations and the need for inclusive public transport, with low-floor designs becoming a standard response to these regulatory and societal needs.[11] The Flexity 2 was influenced by the proven success of earlier models in the Bombardier Flexity family, such as the Flexity Swift in Cologne, Germany, where low-floor trams improved passenger flows and accessibility since their introduction in the early 2000s, and the Flexity Swift (Incentro) in Nottingham, UK, which similarly addressed high-floor fleet inefficiencies by offering step-free access and higher capacities.[11] These implementations highlighted the advantages of low-floor technology in reducing dwell times at stops and increasing overall system efficiency, encouraging further evolution within the Flexity lineup to overcome persistent challenges in legacy networks.[18] Bombardier's strategy emphasized standardizing low-floor platforms across its tram portfolio to achieve cost efficiencies in manufacturing and maintenance for urban modernization projects, allowing for modular adaptations while minimizing production variations.[11] Initial concept development for the Flexity 2 occurred between 2007 and 2008, with a focus on bidirectional operation to support flexible route configurations in diverse urban environments, enabling seamless integration into bidirectional street-running systems without the need for turning loops.[19] This period aligned with escalating economic pressures, including rising fuel costs that favored electric rail over diesel alternatives and stricter environmental regulations promoting low-emission urban transport solutions to curb greenhouse gas emissions from public transit.[10] The first application of the Flexity 2 was in Blackpool, UK, marking its global debut.[10]Production history
The production of the Flexity 2 tram began with the first order placed by Blackpool Transport in July 2009 for 16 low-floor vehicles, valued at £33 million, with deliveries commencing in May 2011 and completing by March 2012.[20][21] Manufactured at Bombardier Transportation's facilities in Bautzen, Germany, and Vienna, Austria, the initial fleet entered full service in Blackpool by late 2012, marking the type's commercial debut.[10] Subsequent orders expanded production across Europe. In June 2015, Wiener Linien awarded Bombardier a €431 million contract for 119 Flexity 2 trams tailored for Vienna's network, with series deliveries starting in January 2019 at a rate of one per month from the Vienna plant; by February 2025, the 100th unit had entered service, and an additional 27 vehicles were ordered in July 2024 for delivery between mid-2025 and 2026.[22][23][24] In Belgium, De Lijn's initial 48-unit order from September 2012 for Antwerp and Ghent was followed by an option exercise in June 2015 for 40 more, bringing the total to 88 and increasing production at the Bautzen site.[25][26] For Basel, the Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe (BVB) signed a contract in January 2012 for up to 60 trams worth 222 million Swiss francs, with deliveries of two units per month beginning in 2014 from Bautzen.[27][28] In Switzerland, Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich (VBZ) ordered 70 trams in March 2017 for 358 million Swiss francs, with the first arriving in November 2019 and the full batch completing in November 2024; options were partially exercised for 40 more in December 2020 and 12 additional in June 2024, extending deliveries into 2027.[29][30][31] In 2012, Bombardier granted a 10-year technology license to CSR Nanjing Puzhen (now CRRC Nanjing Puzhen) to produce Flexity 2-based trams for the Chinese market, enabling localized manufacturing.[14] This led to the rollout of 18 five-section units for Suzhou Tramway Line 1 in April 2014, entering service later that year, followed by 18 more for Line 2 ordered in April 2016.[32][33] For Nanjing, CRRC supplied 15 catenary-free trams based on the design for the Hexi line in 2013, with deliveries supporting operations from 2014; additional units, including seven for the Qilin line by 2016, brought the local production total to over 50 by 2019.[34][35][36] Following Alstom's acquisition of Bombardier Transportation in January 2021, production continued without interruption at key sites including Vienna, Bautzen, and licensed facilities in China, with ongoing orders and upgrades sustaining output. By 2025, the global Flexity 2 fleet exceeded 350 units across operators in Europe and Asia, reflecting steady demand for the modular low-floor design.[37][38]Design
Structure and articulation
The Flexity 2 employs a modular articulated structure comprising five or seven body modules, enabling lengths of 32 to 34 meters for the shorter configuration and 40 to 43 meters for the extended variant.[39][40] This design utilizes Jacobs bogies at the articulation points between modules to ensure smooth transitions and support a fully low-floor layout throughout the passenger area.[41] The vehicles are bi-directional, featuring driver's cabs at both ends and symmetrical door placements on either side, typically with 8 to 10 doors per unit to facilitate efficient passenger boarding and alighting.[42] Construction emphasizes durability and reduced weight through aluminum body shells mounted on corrosion-resistant steel underframes, enhancing overall efficiency and longevity in urban environments.[43] The bogie arrangement includes three units for the five-module version and four for the seven-module, incorporating the Bombardier FLEXX Urban 3000 design with conventional independent wheelsets that achieve a 100% low-floor profile at a height of approximately 350 mm above the top of rail.[20][42][44] These bogies integrate seamlessly with the propulsion system via external motor placements, contributing to stable operation on varied urban tracks.[1] For enhanced safety, the Flexity 2 incorporates dedicated crashworthiness zones at the ends, setting standards in both non-deforming and deforming impact performance to protect occupants during collisions.[1] The articulated joints provide flexibility for curve negotiation, while the overall structural integrity supports reliable performance in demanding light rail networks.[45]Interior and accessibility
The Flexity 2 features a fully accessible, step-free interior with a 100% low-floor design that enables level boarding and easy movement throughout the vehicle. This layout complies with the European Union Technical Specifications for Interoperability relating to persons with reduced mobility (PRM TSI), ensuring provisions for wheelchair users, prams, and other mobility aids. The interior emphasizes passenger flow with wide aisles that meet or exceed the minimum 800 mm width required for wheelchair access between seats and doors.[46] Seating arrangements combine transverse and longitudinal configurations, typically in a 2+2 setup within bogie modules, allowing operators to adjust the number and layout for optimal comfort and space utilization. Dedicated priority areas provide 2 to 4 wheelchair spaces per vehicle, each at least 700 mm wide with adjacent companion seating and aid call devices within reach, in line with PRM TSI standards.[47][46] Flooring uses slip-resistant composite materials to prevent accidents, maintaining a uniform height without steps or irregularities greater than 5 mm.[46] Accessibility is further enhanced by compliance with PRM TSI requirements for information and assistance, including dynamic audio announcements for stops and destinations, LED displays visible from at least 51% of seats and wheelchair spaces, and tactile guidance features at entry points. Wheelchair ramps or sliding steps are available at doors, with a minimum effective width of 1,000 mm for designated access points.[46] Climate control is managed by an efficient HVAC system providing zoned heating and ventilation, while energy-saving LED lighting illuminates the spacious interior.[47] Customization allows operators to tailor interiors to local needs, such as moquette upholstery in Blackpool's fleet for durable, comfortable seating. In Vienna, multipurpose areas accommodate wheelchairs, strollers, and bicycles, with spacious layouts supporting up to eight pushchairs and dedicated parent-child seating zones.[48][49]Technical specifications
Dimensions and capacity
The Flexity 2 tram is available in modular configurations, typically ranging from five to seven sections, resulting in overall lengths of 32.2 m for the five-module variant used in Blackpool and up to 42.9–43 m for the seven-module versions deployed in cities like Zürich and Antwerp.[50][51][52] Widths vary between 2.3 m and 2.65 m depending on the operator's infrastructure, while heights are generally 3.2–3.6 m to ensure compatibility with urban overhead clearances.[50][39] The articulated design allows these lengths to be achieved through flexible joints between modules, enabling smooth navigation on city streets.[53] Empty weights range from 38 to 57 tonnes across configurations, with loaded weights (at 4 passengers per square meter) reaching up to 70 tonnes; maximum axle loads are limited to 10–11 tonnes to suit standard light rail tracks.[54][19] The Flexity 2 supports both standard gauge (1,435 mm) and metre gauge (1,000 mm) tracks, as demonstrated by deployments in standard-gauge networks like Blackpool and metre-gauge systems in Basel and Zürich.[55][39] Passenger capacity varies by module count and interior layout, with seated accommodations for 60–93 passengers and total capacities of 180–280 including standing room at densities of 4–6 persons per square meter per EU standards.[56][57][53] For instance, the five-module Blackpool units seat 74 with space for 148 standing, totaling 222 passengers, while seven-module Zürich variants seat 90 with 186 standing for a total of 276.[19][51] The 100% low-floor design features entrance heights of 215–350 mm above the top of rail, enabling level boarding on platforms of similar heights without steps.[54][53][58]| Configuration Example | Length (m) | Width (m) | Height (m) | Empty Weight (t) | Seated Capacity | Total Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackpool (5 modules) | 32.2 | 2.65 | 3.42 | 40.9 | 74 | 222 |
| Vienna (5 modules) | 33.8 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 42 | 62 | 211 |
| Zürich (7 modules) | 43 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 57 | 90 | 276 |