D class Melbourne tram

MelbourneTram


DESCRIPTION=D1 class tram at the Arts Centre
NAME= D1 class
ENTERED SERVICE=December 19 2002
BUILDER=Siemens TS
IN SERVICE= 38 / 37
FLEET= 3501 - 3538
DEPOTS=Malvern
TARE= 25.8 t
LENGTH= 20.04 m
WIDTH= 2.65 m
HEIGHT= 3.65 m
MOTORS= 4 x 100 kWMelbourneTram|

DESCRIPTION=D2 class tram
NAME= D2 class
ENTERED SERVICE=March 3 2004
BUILDER=Siemens TS
IN SERVICE= 21 / 21
FLEET= 5001 - 5021
DEPOTS=Malvern
Southbank
TARE= 35.3 t
LENGTH= 29.85 m
WIDTH= 2.65 m5 Articulated sections
HEIGHT=3.53 m
MOTORS=4 x 100 kW

The D class, or Combino is an electric tram operates in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It was built by Siemens, 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. The class come in 2 variants: the D1 class which is a 3 unit tram, and the larger D2 class five unit tram. The trams feature plug-type doors, next-stop display, and several other features. The trams are built '100% low-floor.'

The D1 class can be found on Melbourne's southeastern and inner tram routes and are based at Malvern, Victoria tram depot. The first D2 class unit were delivered to the city in 2004, with the last units 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 an alarm sounds they must release and reapply the trigger immediately; otherwise, magnetic track brakes are applied at full force.

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."

External links

* [http://www.vicsig.net/index.php?page=trams&section=class&class=D1 List of D1 class trams at VicSig]
* [http://www.vicsig.net/index.php?page=trams&section=class&class=D2 List of D2 class trams at VicSig]
* [http://tdu.to/msg/msg12834.html Dead man equipment on the Combino]