B2 class Melbourne tram
Encyclopedia : B : B2 : B2C : B2 class Melbourne tram
| B2 class tram | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B2 class | |||||||
| Service | |||||||
| Entered service | 1987-1994 | ||||||
| Built by | Comeng/ABB | ||||||
| Built / In service | 132 | ||||||
| Fleet numbers | 2003-2132 | ||||||
| Depots | |||||||
| Weight | |||||||
| Tare | 34t | ||||||
| Dimensions | |||||||
| Length | 23.63m | ||||||
| Width | 2.77m | ||||||
| Height | 3.65m | ||||||
| Motors | 2x AEG ABS 3322 195kW | ||||||
| Melbourne's electric trams | |
|---|---|
| 1920—1960 | SW5 SW6 W6 W7 |
| 1960—2000 | Z1 Z2 Z3 A1 A2 B1 B2 |
| 2000— | C D1 D2 |
Following the introduction of two B1 Class trams in 1984 and 1985, a total of 130 B2 class trams were ordered by the Victorian Government and built by Comeng (later ASEA Brown Boveri) in Dandenong, Victoria. They were introduced by the Metropolitan Transit Authority in 1987.
The B2 Class trams were the first trams introduced to Melbourne to feature air conditioning and dot-matrix destination signs. The electronics of the B2 Class were similar to earlier Z3 and A Class trams, however the B2 Class trams have Gate Turn-Off control systems.
In August 1999, the Melbourne tram network was privatised. A total of 55 trams were allocated to Swanston Trams (later M>Tram) with the reminaing 75 allocated to Yarra Trams. Both companies began their own repainting and refurbishment program that saw new liveries and internal colour schemes. However, with Yarra Trams now the sole operator of the Melbourne system, all B2 Class trams (with the exception of all over advertising trams) are painted in the Yarra Trams livery.
The Yarra Trams livery features a fog grey coat with a darker shade of grey for the bottom skirts and roof trimmings. The Yarra Trams logo and streamlined gum leaf are applied using vinyl stickers. The now defunct M-Tram livery utilised a more green concept as well as featuring yellow ribboning around the tram, a large M> logo, and a blue roof.
In 2003, Yarra Trams briefly proposed adding a further 'low-floor' section to the trams. This proposal was voiced during the introduction of the Apollo Seating Layout. However, the plan add the low-floor section has been shelved and the Apollo Seating Layout has only been applied to 10 trams.
External links
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