In November 2009, Solaris signed a contract for the delivery of 40 low-floor Tramino trams for MPK Poznań, with an option to extend the order by another 20 vehicles (the order has already been increased by 5 units under the so-called option). The first tram will be delivered to the carrier by the end of June 2011, and the delivery will be completed in March 2012. A month before the official handover, the manufacturer presented the Solaris Tramino in the colors of the Poznań MPK at a special exhibition.
The tram is nearly 32 meters long. It is an articulated, five-section, single-space, low-floor vehicle. This means that there are no steps inside throughout its entire length. Four double doors and two single doors ensure easy passenger flow. The width of the double doors is as much as 1500 mm, which is the largest currently found in trams offered on the market. In turn, the minimum passage width inside the carriage is 750 mm.
The Tramino can carry up to 229 passengers, including 48 seated. Travel in comfortable conditions is ensured by, among other things, a fully air-conditioned passenger space and comfortable seats. An innovative solution used inside the tram are special rails to which the seats are attached. This allows for their quick replacement, the addition of more, or a change in their arrangement. A great convenience for Tramino passengers is also the placement of two ticket machines in each vehicle.
In the second section of the Tramino, there is a space for people using wheelchairs. Additionally, the tram is equipped with specially marked seats for people with reduced mobility and mothers with children. Passenger information boards installed inside the vehicle show the tram’s route direction, and a voice system announces the nearest stops.
In accordance with Poznań tradition, the tram has two round boards on the roof (at the front and back) displaying the line number. The carriage has a driver’s cabin separated from the passenger compartment with an independent ventilation and air conditioning system, which allows for creating optimal working conditions for the tram driver. The traditional dashboard has been replaced by touch screens, which the driver uses to control the tram. An adjustable seat and adjustable control screens allow the workspace to be adapted to the individual needs of the driver. The manufacturer also thought of a refrigerator, where cooling drinks can be stored on hot days. The vehicle is powered by four VEM asynchronous motors with a power of 105 kW each.
– I can state with full responsibility that the residents of Poznań will be able to use trams that are among the most modern in Europe – said Krzysztof Olszewski, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Solaris, about the Solaris Tramino.
In addition to the vehicle presentation, there was also a demonstration of the final stage of Solaris Tramino production, which is carried out in Poznań, in the halls on Wieruszowska Street. The facility has an area of 5,600 square meters and employs nearly 250 people. A finished vehicle is created here from the painted steel structure. Activities performed include: installation of windows, floors, electrical wiring, and traction systems, as well as final quality control. Last year, the company already presented the halls producing steel elements for tram structures in Środa Wielkopolska. 120 people are employed in the production of so-called tram bodies. The technology used allows for the production of a set of bodies for a 32-meter five-section tram within one week, working on two shifts. The factory producing the steel tram structures has obtained ISO 3834-2 and PN-EN 15085 certificates, preceded by a quality audit by the German certification company TÜV SÜD. The certificates confirm high quality for welding production. Materials and machines of the highest quality are used for the production of Solaris Tramino trams. One of them is the TrueLaser Cell 7040 3D laser, a laser cutting and welding machine from TRUMPF – one of the first devices of this type in Poland.