Voith Digital Solutions Austria will be delivering its electric drive system to Transtech Oy, the Finnish rail vehicle supplier and part of the Skoda Transportation Group, for an additional ten ForCity Smart Artic low-floor trams. The drive systems from St. Pölten have proven themselves in the existing Helsinki trams with an availability rate of more than 99%, after having driven more than 2.2 million kilometers.

During the latter part of 2017, Transtech Oy commissioned the first 40 low-floor trams with an electric drive system from Voith. A new series of 20 additional vehicles is scheduled for delivery during 2019. The package from Voith includes the entire drive system, including traction inverters, drive motors, final drives and complete wheelsets, as well as parts of the vehicle control, such as diagnostic and monitoring system.

Despite a freely pivoting bogie, the Arctic low-floor tram achieves low-floor configuration, while a separate motor-gear unit with a continuous output of 65 kW drives each of the eight axles of the 27.6 metre long vehicle.The traction motors receive their input power via two EmCon double traction inverters with a continuous output of 2 x 220 kVA each. The integrated drive control ensures excellent control and optimum coordination of the components of the drive system, affecting important parameters of the rail vehicle, such as safety, energy efficiency and the vehicle’s lifespan.

“The specifications to be met by trams in the Finnish capital are especially stringent due to the challenging weather conditions and the knock-on effects of the transport network,” explained Alfred Gmeiner-Ghali, Vice President Sales & Marketing at Voith Digital Solutions Austria. “Alongside maximum driving comfort and minimal running costs, the particular robustness of the vehicle coupled with their reliable traction system were the decisive factors in awarding us the order for our electrical drive systems. We are delighted about this follow-up order and regard it as confirmation of our successful collaboration to date with Transtech Oy.”