- CarGoTram
The CarGoTram is a
freight tram inDresden . It suppliesVolkswagen's "Transparent Factory " with parts for their automobile production.History
The idea of building a "transparent factory" for Volkswagen automobile production in Dresden arose in 1997. On
3 March 2000 theDresdner Verkehrsbetriebe AG (DVB AG, "Dresden Public Transport Co.") and the Volkswagen Automobil-Manufaktur Dresden GmbH ("VW Car-Manufacture Dresden Ltd.") signed a contract for the CarGoTram. Movement of parts from the logistics center in Dresden Friedrichstadt ("Dresden Frederickstown") to the new factory would be managed using a tram running over infrastructure normally used to move passengers. The route from the logistics center to the factory runs straight through the inner city of Dresden so use of trucks would cause an increase in truck traffic.Two CarGoTrams were built by the Schalker Eisenhütte Maschinenfabrik GmbH
Gelsenkirchen ("Schalke Steel Machines Ltd."), each at a cost of 6.5million Deutsche Mark. The DVB AG is responsible for the transportation and security of the freight.The freight tram was introduced officially in Dresden on
16 November 2000 and had its first test run on3 January 2001 .Route and Cycle
CarGoTram runs every hour. If necessary, it can run on 40 minute cycles. There are several routes possible. The main route goes from the GVZ (Güterverkehrszentrum, "goods logistics center") in Friedrichstadt via Postplatz ("Post Office Square") and Grunaer Straße ("Gruna Street") to the Straßburger Platz ("Strasbourg Square") and finally into the factory. Alternatively, the tram can run via the main station (or other routes) in the case of congestion.
Technology
The CarGoTram is a bidirectional vehicle consisting of 5 segments. The standard formation is three freight units and two combination freight/control units. The control cars have less capacity (7500 kg) than the middle cars (15000 kg), because of space devoted to the driver’s cab. Total capacity is the equivalent of three motor trucks (214 m³).
Running gear for the tram was recycled overhauled parts from out-of-service Tatra trams. The bodies were newly built.
All axles of the control car as well as the middle cars are driven.
External links
* [http://dvb.de/untnehm/gbahn.htm Technical dates and route of the CarGoTram] De icon
* [http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Dresden/CarGoTram/pix.html Some pictures of the CarGoTram]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
