Zürich Trams - Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich (VBZ)

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	Zürich Trams VBZ - Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich All images link to larger copies which will open in a new window/tab
	Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich (ZVB) run the trams , trolleybuses, buses and a funicular in the Swiss city of Zürich and is wholly owned by the city. Formed as the Städtische Strassenbahn Zürich (SSZ), it received its current name in 1950. Various projects to introduce trams to Zurich were proposed from the 1860s onwards. It was not until 1882, however, that the first tram operated in the city. In the early years, trams were operated by private companies. These were acquired by the municipal tramway operator, SSZ, between 1896 and 1931 and integrated into a single network. Zürcher Verkehrsverbund (ZVV) coordinates the ticketing and services on trams, buses, local railways, lake ferries, funiculars in the greater Zürich area in Switzerland.

	Zürich Tram Classes on this Page Swiss Standard Trams 1351-1415 - Heavyweight Swiss Standards Be4/4 1501-1552 - Lightweight Swiss Standards Be4/4 711-798 - Lightweight Swiss Standard Trailers B4 Articulated Trams 1601-1690 - Mirage Trams Be4/6 - to be added 2001-2098 - Tram2000 Be4/6 2099-2121 - Tram2000 Be4/8 Low Floor Trams 3001-3088 - Cobra Trams Swiss Railway & Tramway Pages GFM/TPF - Metre & Standard Gauge in Fribourg LEB - Metre Gauge railway from Lausanne NStCM - Metre Gauge railway from Nyon TPG Geneva Trams & Trolleybuses VBZ Zürich Trams & Trolleybuses - this page Swiss Lake Pages CGN Header Page - Lake Geneva - Lac Leman CGN Page 1 - CGN Paddle Steamers 1822-1886 CGN Page 2 - CGN Paddle Vessels 1887-2004 CGN Page 3 - CGN Screw Motor Vessels LNM - Lacs de Neuchâtel & Morat ZSG - 2011 Zürich Lake Vessels	Associated Pages UK Excursion Vessels Cruise Ships Ocean Liners World Ferry Fleets Simplon Postcards. Home Page Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates - Simplon Postcards facebook page References Swiss Railways Platform 5 European Handbook No.5 by Haydock, Fox, Garvin Lokomotiven & Triebwagen der Schweizer Bahnen Band 2: Privatbahnen Westschweiz & Wallis by Peter Willen Orell Fuessli Verlag http://www..com Contacts English Website:- www.stadt-zuerich.ch/vbz http://www..com Zürich Maps Archive 2010 ZVB City Transport Map 2010 ZVV Area Transport Map 2010 ZSG Lake Services Map http://www..com
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The Swiss 'Standard' tram was designed in Zürich to replace their large fleet of two-axle cars. It was influenced by best practice in PCC, Milano 'Peter Witt' cars and the latest Oslo cars. Brown Boveri et Cie (BBC) built the first prototype as Zürich 351 in 1939. The second prototype 401 from Schweizerische Waggon- und Aufzügfabrik, Schlieren (SWS) followed in 1940 - this was a lighter tram than 351. They set the pattern for almost all modern bogie trams built for service in western Europe. Orders were placed for both designs of tram, becoming 1351-1415 and 1501-1552 after the 1945 Zürich renumbering. The last lightweight car 1549 lasted until 1987 and the last heavy cars remained until 1998. Lightweight and heavyweight single-ended cars were offered to other operators plus an intermediate double-ended car.

Two three axle trams 31-32 (later 1031-1032) were built in 1939 by SWS/SLM. the bodies on these trams formed the basis of the Swiss standards. Series production of the heavier standards started with 351-370 (later 1351-1370) between 1940-45. These were designated VST Typ 1b. These trams weighed 18t and were 288hp. The next batch were 1371-1375 built in 1947 with 360hp, weighing 20.5t. The final batch was 1376-1415 with 340hp, delivered 1947-54. The last cars in normal service were withdrawn in 1998.

Series production of the lighter standards started with 401-418 (later 1501-1518) between 1941-46. These were designated VST Typ 1a. These trams weighed 14.6t and were 200hp. Two trams 1551-1552 with 260hp were built in 1949. The final batch was 1519-1550 with 254hp built between 1949-1952. The last one was withdrawn in 1987.

Series production of the light standard trailers started with 711-765 (excluding 750) from 1945-52. They had two doors, one at the rear and one behind the leading bogie. They weighed 9.4t. 750 had the second door nearer the front. 766-770 were similar to the first batch and were built in 1953. These earlier trailers had 22 seats and 91 standing places. Later batches were 771-786 (with 34 seats, built 1959-60) and 787-798 (with 26 seats, built 1962-63). These later trailers had three doors.

The. first Tram2000 vehicles were delivered to VBZ in 1976. These were six-axle single-ended articulated vehicles (Be4/6) with two powered axles at each end. They have an emergency controller at the rear end. They can be operated in coupled pairs, but matching non-driving Be4/6 and Be2/4 powered units were also produced.

The first batch 2001-2045 was delivered between 1976-78.The bodies were built by SWS, the bogies by SIG and the electrical equipment by BBC. In the same period, non-driving Be4/6 units 2301-15 were also delivered.

In 1985, delivery of a second batch commenced. As SWS was no longer trading, Bodies were supplied by Schindler as SWS was no longer trading. Numbers 2046-2098 are largely similar to 2001-45. Also delivered were non-driving bogie Be2/4 units numbered 2401-20. This type was designed for use on routes where platform extensions at some stops were not possible. Delivery of the second batch lasted until 1987.

The third and final batch was delivered in 1991-1992. This comprised units 2099-2121 and 2421-35. In contrast to the earlier batches, these trams have three-phase AC motors. Despite electrical differences between the batches, all Tram 2000 units in Zurich can be combined for multiple unit operation. Units 2099-2121 were later extended to Be4/8 by inserting a low-floor centre section.

The third and final batch of Tram2000 vehicles was delivered in 1991-1992. This comprised units 2099-2121 and 2421-35. In contrast to the earlier batches, these trams have three-phase AC motors. Despite electrical differences between the batches, all Tram 2000 units in Zurich can be combined for multiple unit operation. In 2001, unit 2113 was extended to Be4/8 by inserting a low-floor centre section. Remaining units of the 2099-2121 batch were similarly extended between 2004-2005.

The Cobra Tram is Zürich 's newest tram type and first fully low floor tram.

In 1992, a consortium of Swiss rolling stock manufacturers proposed a new design of low-floor articulated tram, targeted for Zürich and Basel. The design is based on short body segments, with four-wheel trucks under every second segment. The wheel pairs of these trucks are not connected by axles but pivot individually and are steered into curves, intended to reduce wear and noise and increase passenger comfort. The lack of axles permits a low floor throughout the vehicle. The wheel boxes themselves are fit under seats, as are the motors. This running gear would have been designed and manufactured by Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG). The electrical equipment would have been supplied by ABB and the tram body by Schindler. ABB and Schindler later became parts of Bombardier. Zürich ordered six prototypes 3001-3006 delivered in 2001. Basel decided to order Siemens Combino trams, vehicles subject to a number of problems. The prototype Cobras also had their problems - cracks in drive mechanisms and high noise levels. Following correction of these faults, VBZ ordered 68 production set (3007-3074) for delivery from 2005-2009. This allowed most pre-Tram 2000 vehicles to be withdrawn. Another 14 sets were ordered later (3075-3088) and the six prototypes were rebuilt to conform with the production units.