Rail vehicle

The challenge

Transporting the 100th Flexity

The new barrier-free "Flexity" trams have been operating in Vienna for some time now and offer passengers greater comfort. And it was now time to celebrate the 100th tram leaving the factory in the 22nd district of Vienna for delivery to Wiener Linien. Prangl transported the landmark tram from the north to the south of the city – to the central workshop in the city's 11th district.

Our solution

Special rail car transporter

Vienna's Flexity is 34 metres in length, can accommodate 211 passengers, is fully barrier-free and boasts state-of-the-art technology. Prangl has a special vehicle combination in its fleet for transporting such awkwardly shaped loads from A to B: a tractor unit coupled with a very special rail car transporter. This combination has made a name for itself over the years and in various comparable projects – above all in Vienna – and is regularly used to transport Flexity trams; primarily because it has proven to be very agile and manoeuvrable in urban areas.

An impressive 99 tonnes on the move

The empty rail car combination was driven to the tram depot in Donaustadt in what remained a short version on the first night. The next day, the rail car trailer was converted on site – in preparation for loading the 100th Flexity. The entire transport train ultimately came in at 42.5 metres long, 2.99 metres wide, 4.40 metres high and weighed a total of 99 tonnes. On the second night, it was time to head off: accompanied by several road service vehicles, the tractor unit embarked in the direction of the S2 with its elongated load.

Roadworks cause diversions

The convoy came to a standstill on the approach to the S2, because it was only possible to negotiate the first roundabout by pushing the transport train back. The route then led via the A23 to the Süd Autobahn motorway; the direct route via the Favoritner Verteilerkreis junction was not possible due to roadworks. The alternative route included a diversion to Wiener Neudorf, where a tricky turning manoeuvre awaited the driver of the transport train at the re-entry point onto the Süd Autobahn motorway heading north. This proved no problem to the expert, who skilfully mastered this further challenge.

A safe arrival

The convoy arrived on the Simmeringer Hauptstraße in Vienna at night, via the St. Marx exit. In the area of building numbers 155 and 197, the transport combination was forced to switch from the normal carriageway to the tracks, because the total weight of 99 tonnes would have overloaded the roofing of the underground railway system running beneath it. Back on the carriageway, the transporters and escort vehicles covered the last few metres of the route without incident. And the landmark tram was delivered safely to the central workshop of Wiener Linien – like every other tram before it.