SIMORAIL HL3 – Sustainability meets durability

Initial situation

More and more cities have set themselves the target of further expanding and strengthening local public transport in support of environmentally sustainable mobility. With a view to offering a solution that covers all tram concepts, Stadler was keen to combine maximum flexibility with a high degree of standardisation when developing its new generation of trams, TINA ("total integrierter Niederflur-Antrieb", i.e. fully integrated low-floordrive). In designing a new bogie (patent pending) that can be used for a wide range of vehicle types and requirements (e.g. different track gauges or vehicle widths), the company achieved what it had set out to do.

Task

For the transport companies operating the trams, however, the focus is not only on safety and functionality but also on contemporary styling and overall visual appeal. Therefore, Stadler also placed special emphasis on passenger comfort when designing the interiors of the new trams. When it came to the completely step- and barrier-free vehicles with spacious interiors, wide aisles and comfortable seats, the task was to find a material that combined superior mechanical properties with low weight and a high degree of design flexibility. In addition, it had to be sustainable, durable, easy to clean and certified according to EN 45545-2.

Solution

Meeting Stadler's expectations in all of the above-mentioned points, our SIMORAIL HL3 sheets proved to be a compelling proposition. The TINA project team also includes DUROtherm, LAKOWA and swissplast - three experienced thermoformers who are equally impressed by our material.

Thanks to its high impact strength and dimensional stability, coupled with best-in-class thermoforming properties, SIMORAIL is the perfect choice when it comes to engineering durable components such as seat bases, side wall panels, covers and skirting boards. Incomparison to materials such as HPL or GRP, SIMORAIL HL3 is fully recyclable and excels above all in its visual appeal. The sheets can be produced in almost any colour and in various textures. What is more, as a solid-coloured material, SIMORAIL HL3 offers significant advantages as regards the visibility of scratches - without the need for time-consuming painting and coating.

Launched in 2020, the newly developed tram has already won several tenders. It will now provide countless passengers with safe, fast and comfortable local transport in Darmstadt, Basel, Rostock and Halle, among other cities.