Siemens Combino

Siemens Combino
Vitaly Volkov from Dendermonde, Belgium · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	Siemens Combino
Manufacturer	Siemens Mobility
Years	1996–2007
Numberbuilt	~700
Capacity	variable
Carlength	variable
Width	2.3–2.65 m
Maxspeed	70–80 km/h
Poweroutput	variable
Bogies	Jacobs bogies / fixed bogies
Doors	multiple

Siemens Combino

The Siemens Combino is a family of low-floor articulated light rail vehicles built by Siemens AG and Siemens Mobility during the late 1990s and 2000s. It provided modular tram solutions for urban transit agencies across Europe, Asia, and Australia, competing with models from Alstom, Bombardier Transportation, Stadler Rail, and CAF. The design emphasized low-floor accessibility, modular carbody sections, and compatibility with existing networks operated by agencies such as Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe, Helsinki City Transport, Melbourne tram network, and Amsterdam Tram operators.

Design and Technical Specifications

The Combino adopted a modular articulated configuration using lightweight aluminium carbody modules joined over articulated joints with interconnecting gangways, drawing heritage from earlier designs by Siemens Schuckertwerke and influenced by contemporaries like the Siemens Avenio and Adtranz Incentro. Multiple versions featured varying car lengths and door arrangements to suit operators including Transport for London proposals, GVB (Amsterdam), and SL (Stockholm). The vehicles used either powered bogies or Jacobs bogies with shared wheelsets, and drivetrain components sourced from suppliers such as Siemens Transmission divisions and third-party firms linked to ZF Friedrichshafen. Electrical systems incorporated traction inverters, braking systems with regenerative capabilities influenced by ABB and Mitsubishi Electric practices, and onboard control similar to systems used by DB Regio and SNCB/NMBS fleets. Passenger amenities and accessibility complied with standards referenced by European Union urban transport guidelines, and adaptations addressed climate extremes for operators in Hong Kong, Brasília, and Vienna.

Development and Production

Initial development was carried out by Siemens’ tram engineering teams headquartered in Munich and manufacturing facilities across Germany including Düsseldorf and Uerdingen. Prototype work involved collaborations with municipal authorities in Karlsruhe and Frankfurt am Main, and trials took place in test centers used by Deutsche Bahn and municipal partners. Production contracts were secured through competitive bids against manufacturers such as Siemens-Duewag successors, Bombardier and Alstom, with major orders from operators like Tramlink (Croydon), Helsinki Regional Transport Authority, and Melbourne's Yarra Trams. Subcontractors in metallurgy, electronics, and assembly included firms from the German manufacturing sector, components supplied via European aerospace and automotive supply chains, and final acceptance tests conforming to standards set by bodies such as UITP and national transport regulators.

Service History and Operators

Combino trams entered revenue service across a diverse roster of operators: Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) in Berlin, Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft (MVG) in Munich, Helsinki City Transport (HKL) in Helsinki, GVB in Amsterdam, Sydney Light Rail proposals, and fleets in Zurich, Vienna, Dresden, and Melbourne. Cities deployed Combinos on routes with high passenger throughput, integrating them into networks alongside rolling stock from Siemens-Duewag, Adtranz, and Stadler. Operators adapted schedules, depot facilities, and maintenance regimes in coordination with transit authorities such as RATP-style agencies and municipal transport departments in Oslo and Reykjavík.

Structural Issues and Recalls

During in-service use, a series of fatigue-related defects emerged in the aluminium carbody joints on several Combino series, prompting scrutiny from regulatory authorities in Germany, Netherlands, and Denmark. Inspections revealed cracking at module connection points similar to fatigue problems documented in other aluminium-structured vehicles studied by TÜV Rheinland and engineering research at Technische Universität München. Siemens initiated retrofit programs, replacing or reinforcing modules under agreements with affected transit agencies including BVG, GVB, and München Verkehrsgesellschaft, and coordinated with certification bodies such as Eisenbahn-Bundesamt and local safety boards. The recalls and remedial programs influenced procurement policies at municipal governments and contributed to litigation and negotiated compensation with agencies like Helsinki Regional Transport Authority.

Variants and Modernizations

The Combino family spawned multiple variants adapted for gauge, climate, and operational requirements: narrow-gauge versions for systems in Bratislava and custom-length units for Melbourne, high-capacity articulated sets for Vienna and Zurich, and modified electrical packages for operators in Hong Kong and São Paulo. Retrofit modernization packages addressed structural reinforcement, updated traction control supplied by entities akin to Siemens Mobility’s later product lines, passenger information systems integrating displays from firms associated with Bombardier and Thales Group, and interior refurbishments to meet accessibility mandates from institutions like European Commission. Later rebuilds resembled design principles later embodied in the Siemens Avenio and S70 families, with many operators opting to upgrade rather than replace units.

Incidents and Safety Investigations

Incidents involving Combino vehicles prompted investigations by municipal safety authorities, national transport inspectorates, and oversight bodies such as Land Transport New Zealand-equivalent agencies and Austroads affiliates. Reports examined root causes for crack propagation, fatigue under cyclic loading analogous to findings in studies by Institute of Railway Technology and Dekra, and operational factors including track geometry in cities like Dresden and Amsterdam. Follow-up actions included temporary withdrawals, engineering assessments by firms like TÜV Süd, and the implementation of enhanced maintenance regimes influenced by standards from CEN committees and recommendations by academic researchers at RWTH Aachen University.

Category:Tram vehicles