thumb|ULF (B1) in [[Vienna (April 2009)]]

thumb|ULF (A1) [[Oradea (June 2009)]]

The Ultra Low Floor tram (ULF) is a low-floor tram operating in Vienna, Austria, and Oradea, Romania, built by a consortium composed of Siemens and ELIN in Vienna. It has the lowest floor-height of any such vehicle.

Overview

thumb|left|Motor of an ULF

In contrast to other low-floor trams, the floor in the interior of ULF is at sidewalk height (about above the road surface), which makes access to trams easy for passengers in wheelchairs or with baby carriages. This configuration required a new undercarriage. The axles had to be replaced by a complex electronic steering of the traction motors. Auxiliary devices are installed largely under the car's roof.

The ULF technology went into testing in the early 1990s. Since 1998, ULFs have been in use on Vienna's tram network. As of mid-2008, 302 cars were in operation (150 cars since mid-2006, and another 152 as of 2007).

Siemens ULF trams were introduced in Oradea, Romania, on 24 April 2008, and are the only ULF trams outside Austria.

Technical specifications

{| class="wikitable"

! City / Operator

! Type designation

! Built in

! Number of vehicles

! Length

! Width

! Weight (empty)

! Maximum power

|-

| rowspan="4" | Vienna / Wiener Linien || A || 1995 (prototype), 1997 || 50 || rowspan="2" | || rowspan="5" | || rowspan="2" | || 6 ×

|-

| A<sub>1</sub>|| 2007–2015 || 80 || 6 ×

|-

| B || 1995 (prototype), 1998 || 100 || rowspan="2" | || rowspan="2" | || 8 ×

|-

| B<sub>1</sub> || 2009-2015 || 100 || 8 ×

|-

| Oradea / OTL|| A<sub>1</sub> || 2008–2009 || 10 || || || 6 ×

|}

<gallery widths="200" class=center>

ULF Dachausruestung.jpg|Electronic and engine parts on the head of two ULF

Wien-wvb-sgpelin-versuchswagen-quellenstrasse--795290.jpg|Trial unit of a ULF in Vienna, 1994

9 Johann-Nepomuk-Berger-Platz.jpg|Short version (Type A) of first-generation ULF in Vienna

25 Kagran U.jpg|Long version (Type B) of the second-generation ULF in Vienna

62 Oskar-Straus-Park.jpg|Short version (Type A<sub>1</sub>) of the second-generation ULF in Vienna

Straßenbahn-Endstation mit Verwaltungs- und Wohnbauten (52540) IMG 1149.jpg|Long version (Type B<sub>1</sub>) of the second-generation ULF in Vienna

Siemens ULF 51, tram line 3R, Oradea, 2010.jpg|ULF (A1) Oradea (2010)

Innenraum ULF B.JPG|Interior of a first-generation ULF

Innenraum Typ A1.JPG|Interior of a second-generation ULF

</gallery>

See also

  • Trams in Vienna
  • Trams in Oradea

References

  • Railway Gazette
  • Siemens ULF technical overview
  • Ulf story
  • Unofficial website about Ulf