SL18

The SL18 (short for Sporvogn Ledd, commissioned in 2018) is a series of 87 low-floor, articulated trams currently being phased-in on the Oslo Tramway network.[3] They will continue to be phased-in until 2024, when the last SL79s and SL95s were replaced. They were purchased from the Spanish tram manufacturer, CAF. The first one was shipped and unveiled at Grefsen depot in 2020, and regular operation begun in 2022. The entire purchase has a price of 4.2 billion krones.

SL18
SL18 no. 403 at Jernbanetorget, 2022
In service2022–present
ManufacturerCAF
Order no.87
Built atCAF's producing facility at Beasain, Spain[1]
Family nameUrbos 100
ReplacedSL79 & SL95
Entered service2022
Fleet numbers401-487
Capacity220 passengers
Owner(s)Sporveien Vognmateriell
Operator(s)Sporveien Trikken
Depot(s)Grefsen Depot, Holtet
Line(s) served17, 18
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium[2]
Train length34.17 metres (112 ft 1 in)
Width2.65 metres (8 ft 8 in)
Height3.65 metres (12 ft 0 in)
Floor height356 millimetres (14.0 in)
Low-floor100%
Doors6 per side (12 in total)
Maximum speed70 kilometres per hour (43 mph)
Electric system(s)750 V DC overhead catenary
Current collector(s)Pantograph
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
SeatingTransverse

History

By 2009, it was recognised that the city of Oslo needed new trams and that the rail infrastructure needed to be upgraded.[4] In 2013, the City Council of Oslo initiated the tram program.[5] The responsabilty of procurement was transferred to Sporveien in August 2015. In December 2015, the Council approved the procurement of 87 new trams. Also in December 2015, the pre-qualification of suppliers begin and the potential suppliers were announced in March 2016. The pre-qualification stage ended with six suppliers being invited tenders. Including the winner, there were five other selections.

The model of the SL18 tram is visible on the left.

On the 30th of March 2017, the submit deadline passed and the evaluation process begun. A year later, on the 18th June 2018, Sporveien awarded a contract to CAF.[6] On the 28th of August, 2019, a full-scale model of the new tram was unveiled at Rådhusplassen (City Hall Square).[7]

In 2020, after the outbreak of COVID-19, the production of trams in Spain was temporarily halted. Nonetheless, in October 2020, the first tram arrived in Oslo and it was unveiled at Grefsen Depot.[8] There was a testing period on Line 13 between Skøyen and Bråten in early 2022,[9] before being put to use on Line 17 and Line 18, between Rikshospitalet and Grefsen station, starting from April 2022.[10][11]

Fremtidens Byreise program
The single track in Prinsens gate before the upgrading project in 2014.

The Fremtidens Byreise program was initiated as part of the tram program in 2013. In 2015, the City Council approved the procurement of new trams and along with it, the modernization of the current system's infrastructure. This involved the upgrading of Oslo's streets and tracks, and multiple old water and wastewater pipes were to be replaced.

The first building project begun in 2014, which was the upgrading and renovating Prinsens gate. The tracks were demolished and replaced in a two-way system. About 30 renovation projects followed suit across Oslo in the late 2010s. This unfortunately led to system closures, such as the one on the Kjelsås Line (which lasted approximately 2 years). According to the official website, one of their aims was to satisfy the requirements of universal design, making it easier for everyone to take the tram.

Specifications

The six-axle, five-segmented tram can accommodate a maximum of 220 passengers.[12] They are significantly lighter than the SL95s, weighing at just 43 tons, compared to the 65 tons of the SL95s.[13] It is approximately 34 metres (111 ft 7 in) long and its width is 2.65 metres (8 ft 8 in). The height is 3.65 metres. The SL18 is a form of the Urbos 100 stock (this rolling-stock is also used in many other European cities).[3] The exterior is in a blue colour that matches the previous stock.

The factory in Beasain.

The tram is also entirely low-floor making it accessible to wheelchair users. The interior is fitted with a passenger information system to display the next tram stop,[14] instead of the dot-matrix displays used on the former stock. There are also rectangular displays to show advertisements. The SL18 is bi-directional, so there is no need to use a balloon loop to turn around. Therefore, there are two driver cabs, one at each end of the tram. They are also infitted with USB-charging slots.[15] There are six doors on one side, so there are there are twelve in total. They also make a beeping noise whenever they open and close. Unfortunately, this has led to complaints from people stating that the noise level is too high.[16]

According to Jan Rustad, communications adviser of Sporveien, the reason for the reduced seating capacity is to make it more accessible for stroller and wheelchair users.[17] There are no stairs anywhere on the tram.

Operation
An SL18 tram at Holtet (before the trial period with passengers).

At the moment, SL18 trams have begun operating on routes 17 and 18. However, they have not completely replaced the SL95 on those routes, but instead at the moment, supplement alongside them. Therefore, they currently serve the Ullevål Hageby Line, the Grünerløkka–Torshov Line and the Sinsen Line. During the trial period in early 2022, the SL18 ran on sections of Line 13 (such as the Skøyen Line, the Bjørvika Line and the Ekeberg Line.) There was also a short trial period on Line 12 and 19 in June 2022.[18]

As of January 2023, Sporveien has received 19 of the new rolling-stock and 14 of them are in normal operation.[19] According to City Councilor Raymond Johansen, the trams should be serving the city of Oslo for at least 25 or more years.[20]

See Also (Related Articles)

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to SL-18.
  1. "Produksjonen av nye trikker stanset midlertidig". Fremtidens Byreise. March 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  2. "Sporveien AS - Sporveien Vognmateriell". sporveien.com (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  3. "87 nye trikker til hovedstaden". Fremtidens Byreise. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  4. "Program to purchase new trams". Fremtidens Byreise. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  5. "About the Tram Program". Fremtidens Byreise. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  6. "Tidenes trikkesatsing i Norge: Sporveien velger CAF som ny trikkeleverandør". Sporveien. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  7. "Sjekk den nye trikken!" [Check the new tram!]. Fremtidens Byreise. 28 August 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  8. "Velkommen til lansering av Oslos nye trikker". sporveien.com. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  9. NTB (2022-01-17). "Her prøvekjøres Oslos nye trikker". Avisa Oslo (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2023-01-18.
  10. "Den nye trikken til linje 17 og 18". Fremtidens Byreise. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  11. "Na kommer de nye trikker til Linje 17 og 18". sporveien.com. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  12. "Norge -> Sporvogner i Oslo -> Oslo: SL18 - CAF Urbos | Jernbane.net". jernbane.net. Retrieved 2023-01-18.
  13. "Om to år ruller de første nye Spania-trikkene ut i Oslos gater". www.aftenposten.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). 2018-11-22. Retrieved 2023-01-18.
  14. "OSLO TRAM". www.caf.net. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  15. "Avduket Oslos Forste Nye Trikk". sporveien.com. Retrieved 2023-01-22.
  16. Linstad, Arnsten (2022-03-12). "Klager på Oslos nye trikker: - Dørvarsler har et meget høyt støynivå". vartoslo.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  17. Lorvik, Jørgen Berge, Nina (2020-10-12). "Her er Oslos nye trikk". Nettavisen (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  18. Kjelstrup, Karl Andreas (2022-06-15). "Nå kan du prøve den nye trikken til Kjelsås". Nordre Aker Budstikke (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  19. Avisa Oslo
  20. Velle, Vegard (2020-09-10). "Den første av de nye trikkene har reist fra fabrikken i Spania og er på vei til Oslo". vartoslo.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2023-01-28.
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