Bombardier awarded Primove pilot project

Bombardier Transportation said Wednesday it has signed a cooperation agreement with the Augsburg Transport Authority (Stadtwerke Augsburg Verkehrs GmbH) to “install the contactless and catenary-free BOMBARDIER PRIMOVE system for trams as apilot project in the city of Augsburg,” Germany.

The Primove system will be installed on a 0.8-kilometer(one-half mile) section of Line 3 to the Augsburg fairground. The pilot project intends to demonstrate the technical capability and electromagnetic compatibility Primove offers light rail vehicles in an urban environment, where overhead wires are deemed impractical or otherwise undesirable. Installation work will start this summer.

Bombardier says Primove involves cables laid beneath theground and connected to the power conditioning and supply network. They are only energized when fully covered by the vehicle, which ensures safe operation. A pick-up coil underneath the vehicle turns the magnetic field created by thecables in the ground into an electric current that feeds the vehicle traction system.

We are delighted to extend our long and successfulpartnership with the Augsburg Transport Authority to include this innovative development in electric mobility. The Primove catenary-free technology is now mature for installation into a demanding urban tram network. Over timecatenary-free operation will become a standard element of light rail systems and we are confident that Primove will be the clear choice for many cities inthe future", said Eran Gartner, president, Systems Division, Bombardier Transportation.

Josef Doppelbauer, chief technical officer, Bombardier Transportation, said, "By dispensing with the need for overhead catenary, the PRIMOVE system will open upnew opportunities for urban planners in the design of integrated transportation systems for cities.”

Norbert Walter, managing director of Stadtwerke Augsburg, said, "Our expectation for the Primove pilot project is to gain further insights into newdevelopments in energy management and energy savings in tramway operations. Wewill also cooperate with the Augsburg University of Applied Sciences for this. Public transport stands to benefit from this innovative project in the field of electric mobility."

Bombardier already has a contract to supply a fleet of 27 Flexity Outlook vehicles to Augsburg Transport Authority; delivery began in 2009 andwill continue through to the end of 2010.