Alstom Citadis 305

Citadis 305
General
Manufacturer	Alstom
Track gauge	Standard gauge (1,435mm; 4ft ​81⁄2in)
Fleet numbers	001-060
Maximum speed	70-80km/h
Current collection method	Pantograph APS Battery (Emergency only)
Traction system	Alstom ONIX 850 DLP3 IGBT–VVVF with 6-LMS-1052 (4 × 150 kW) 6-pole permanent-magnet synchronous motor
Line(s) served	L1 Dulwich Hill Light Rail (limited service) L2/L3 CBD and Southeast Light Rail
Operator(s)	Transdev Sydney
Unit Type	Light Rail
Fuel	750V DC Electricity
Car body construction	Aluminium
Dates
Constructed	2017–2020
Entered service	14th December 2019
Statistics
Number in service	60
Formation of carriages per set	10
Features
Toilet	No
Airconditioned	Yes
Reversible seating	No
Wheelchair access	Yes

The Alstom Citadis 305 set is a new class of Light Rail Vehicle (LRV) currently operating in Sydney. It entered service with the L2 CBD and Southeast line on December 14th, 2019.

The Citadis 305 represents Alstom's second rail fleet contract in New South Wales (after the Sydney Metro’s Metropolis set).

History

They were ordered by Transport for NSW in 2015 in preparation for the opening of the L2/3 CBD and Southeast Light Rail. They were all delivered by truck to the stabling facility near Randwick Racecourse.

Incidents

• On 26 January 2020, an L2 line tram was hit by a car at the Eastern Distributor bridge. The front of Unit 35 was derailed.
• LRV number 053 suffered an uncontained battery failure on 3 April 2020. The battery charging software on this unit (and others) was corrupted during an update, meaning the onboard batteries were overcharged, leading to an explosion.
• On 27 July 2020, unit 007 was involved in a collision with a truck near Circular Quay while on a L3 service. The side on car 07-2 was damaged in the incident. Units 007 and 008 were temporarily out of service in order to undergo repairs. Due to this incident as well as a bus collision near UNSW Anzac Parade the same day, buses replaced light rail services on a huge chunk of the L3 line. 007 has since been repaired and returned to service.
• On 5 September 2022, a fire truck collided with unit 001 at in the middle of Pitt Street and Eddy Avenue at Central station.
• On 13 December 2022, Unit 032 was involved in a derailment at Central Chalmers Street
• On 20 July 2023, two Citadis trams collided on the L1 in service. Unit 038 was rear ended by Unit 041 on the Central Colonnade
• On 14 Mar 2024, a Citadis tram was involved in a side collision with a truck on George Street near the Market St intersection. Unit 033 sustained side damage to one of its leading modules; one of its doors were partially torn off in the accident.

Description

The Citadis 305 is the newest model of Alstom's Citadis lineup. The "305" variant, employed for the L2/L3 lines, comprises of 5 carriages:

• 2 driving carriages: Contains fixed, 2x2 seating in a horizontal formation. A single double-door is located near the front of the car.
• 2 non-control carriages: Located adjacent to driving cars. These house marked accessibility spaces and include a two rows of foldable seating perpendicular to the tram. Dedicated hand railing and two double-doors located at either end of the cars improve support for a large standing room.
• 1 centre carriage: Also contains fixed, 2x2 seating. It is the shortest car by length and does not have any doors.

Due to many high patronage areas along the line, (ie. Moore Park and UNSW Precinct) some measures were taken to increase passenger capacity. One is the semi-permanent coupling of two units to form a 10-car set. These sets are 67m in length and are rated to carry up to 466 passengers, with a majority (377) standing. Another measure was the reduction in seating for non-control carriages, significantly increasing standing room. Double doors are used to improve passenger flow during dwell times.

Each unit has lowered floors and designated disability spaces to improve accessibility for mobility impaired passengers.

Multiple onboard Passenger Information Displays (PID) are used to depict route information, such as next stops, transport interchanges and service alerts. These share the same software as those used in B-Line buses. The digital voice announcements (DVAs) are provided by Taylor Owynns, who is also responsible for the automated announcements at stations on the Sydney Trains / NSW TrainLink network.

Security and passenger safety is also heightened with 14 CCTV cameras and 12 intercoms onboard each set. A differentiating aspect of the Citadis 305 model is the use of more energy efficient and environmentally friendly technologies:

• brake-by-wire
• synchronous traction motors with permanent-magnets
• LED lights
• sensor-based air-conditioning
• water based-paints used fir livery
• non-hazardous materials for construction

These features, according to Alstom, result in 25% less energy consumption compared with previous generation models, as well as 99% recyclability of each tram.

The trams are powered by pantograph and third rail at 750V DC. In the event of power failure, all trams carry a battery cubicle that allows continued propulsion to a powered area.

Third Rail (APS)

Another feature of the Citadis 305 is its ability to use an APS (Alimentation Par le Sol, literally "Feeding via the ground") system, an alternative method of power collection involving an electrified third rail embedded into the center of the track. This is split into 11 or 22m segments and the power to each segment can only be turned on by a transponder underneath the tram. Collector shoes underneath the tram then run over this third rail and pick up this power, repeatedly as the LRV travels through the APS zone. This ensures consistent power supply without the need for overhead wiring, as well as prevention of electrical accident occurrence amongst pedestrians and other vehicles.

Specifications

• Modules (for single sets): 5
• Axle arrangement (for single sets): Bo′+2′+Bo′
• Tram Length: 33m (single sets) or 67m (two coupled sets)
• Max capacity: 466 passengers
• Max speed: 70-80km/h

Service

Originally the Citadis 305 were intended to exclusively service the L2/L3 line on the Sydney Light Rail network. Although they were not designed to operate on the L1 line in service, single Citadis 305s units were used to serve the L1 line as a replacement for the Urbos 3 which were taken out of service due to cracking. Currently the Citadis 305 are used in regular service on all lines of the L1/L2/L3. They can also travel empty between George St and Lilyfield Maintenance Centre when required for heavy maintenance.

International operations

Variations of the Citadis 305 are used in:

• Caen, France
• Kaohsiung, Taiwan
• Athens, Greece

References

New South Wales Rail Rollingstock

Suburban EMUs Red Rattlers S set, K set, C set, T set (Tangara), M set (Millennium), A (Waratah) and B sets (Waratah Series 2) Sydney Metro: Alstom Metropolis set Intercity EMUs U set, V set, H set (OSCAR), D set (Mariyung) Country Trains Retired: CPH railmotor (Tin Hare), Creamy Kate and Trailer, Silver City Comet, 400/500 class, 600/700 class, 620/720 class, 660/760 class, 900/800 class (DEB), 1100 class (Budd), 1200 class (Tulloch) In Service: XPT, Xplorer, Endeavour, Hunter Future: CAF Civity NSWGR Diesel Locomotives 40 class, 41 class, 42 class, 421 class, 422 class, 43 class, 44 class, 442 class, 45 class, 47 class, 48 class, 49 class, 70 class, 71 class, 72 class, 73 class, 79 class, 80 class, 81 class, 82 class, 90 class, PL class, X100 class tractor, X200 class tractor NSWGR Electric Locomotives 71 class, 46 class, 85 class, 86 class NSWGR Steam 10 class, 11 class, 12 class, 13 class, 14 class, 15 class, 16 class, 17 class, 18 class, 19 class, 20 class, 21 class, 23 class, 24 class, 25 class, 26 class, 27 class, 28 class, 29 class, 30 class (3112), 30T class, 32 class (3237)(3265), 34 class, 35 class (3526), 36 class (3642), 38 class (3801)(3820)(3830), D50 class, D53 class, D55 class, D57 class, D58 class, D59 class(5917), AD60 class SMR 10 class, ROD 2-8-0 Trailers End platform, S type, N type, HUB, RUB, Stainless steel carriage stock Light Rail Adtranz Variotram, CAF Urbos 3, Alstom Citadis 305 Rail transport in New South Wales - Rail rollingstock in New South Wales - Sydney Trains Fleet - NSW TrainLink