D-class Melbourne tram

D-class tram in Swanston Street
D1 class (3-section) D2 class (5-section)
Service
Entered service	D1 - December 19, 2002 D2 - March 3, 2004
Built by	Siemens TS
Built / In service	D1 - 38 / 37 D2 - 21 / 21
Fleet numbers	3501 - 3538 5001 - 5021
Depots	Malvern, Southbank
Weight
Tare	D1 - 25.8 t D2 - 35.3 t
Dimensions
Length	D1 - 20.04 m D2 - 29.85 m
Width	2.65 m
Height	3.65 m
Power
Motors	4 x 100 kW

The D class, or Combino is a type of electric tram operating in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It was built by Siemens in Düsseldorf, Germany, and the first unit was delivered to the city in 2002. The trams were initially operated by M>Tram, but are now operated by Yarra Trams.

Variants: D1 and D2

The class come in two variants: the D1 class which is a three-section tram, and the larger D2 class five-section tram. The trams feature plug-type doors, next-stop display, and several other features. The trams are built '100% low-floor.'

The D1-class cars can be found on Melbourne's southeastern and inner tram routes and are based at Malvern, Victoria tram depot. The first D2-class cars were delivered to the city in 2004, with the last cars entering service in November 2004.

Cab controls

All D-class trams have a traction braking controller with an integral deadman's trigger that the driver must release and reapply every minute. If this is not done, an alarm sounds. If the alarm sounds for more than a few seconds then the disc brakes are applied firmly, stopping the tram.

Originally the driver could hold it down continuously while the tram was moving, if the driver took their hand off, an alarm would sound, followed soon by track brake application. If after four minutes it had been held-down continuously and the tram stopped, the driver would get an audible warning and the tram would not move until the driver had released it. There was also an alternative deadman's button on the side of the armrest. Drivers discovered that if the armrest were dropped low enough, this button would stay pressed without the driver applying any pressure, they still had to be released every four minutes when coming to a stop. But as soon as the management discovered this, their reaction was "vigilance control," actually a dead-man's vigilance device, and hence the notice in the cab "Vigilance control now fitted, release and reapply every 1 minute, if an alarm sounds, release and reapply immediately."

Reception

Originally the D1 and D2 trams were welcomed as a new, modern and comfortable addition to the network's fleet. In recent years they have been derided as having badly designed seating configurations and being extremely noisy, both inside and outside.

Gallery

• 

  D2-class tram

• 

  The interior of a Combino tram

• 

  D1-class tram at Melbourne University

External links

• List of D1-class trams at VicSig
• List of D2-class trams at VicSig
• Note on operation of dead man alarms and brake