Siemens Transportation Systems (TS) is to supply 14 five-section Combino trams to the mass transit authority for the Polish city of Poznan. The contract includes an option for ten more light rail vehicles. “This is the first Combino order received from Eastern Europe,” says Hans M. Schabert, Group Vice President with responsibility for the rolling stock business at TS, commenting on the order award. “This order therefore has strategic significance. Combino orders have meanwhile been placed by 14 cities in seven countries on three continents,” Schabert points out. This new order from Poznan raises the total number of Combinos ordered to 529 and is worth €27.5 million.

The Polish contract is the result of an invitation to tender issued in July 2001. The Lord Mayor of Poznan, Ryszard Grobelny, was visibly impressed by the running performance and the comfort of the Combino during a test ride at Siemens’ own test center for rolling stock in Wegberg-Wildenrath. The Combinos for Poznan are to be deployed on a rapid transit route linking the city center with a large residential area on the outskirts. The 29.2-meter-long, 2.4-meter-wide single-ended trams have a top speed of 70 kilometers per hour and, with seats for 57 and standing room for 115, can each carry up to 172 passengers. They are designed for a track gauge of 1435 millimeters. Delivery of the vehicles is scheduled to start in Autumn 2003 and should be completed by early 2004. These 14 Combinos are to be manufactured at the Siemens plants in Krefeld-Uerdingen.

See picture:
At the Internet address: www.siemens.com/ts-picture/020 you will find a study of the Combino Poznan.