The first of the Stadler built Variotram vehicles destined for the London Tramlink system has been delivered to the Chemnitz system in Eastern Germany for initial testing to take place. The tram – already liveried in the distinctive lime green, white and blue Tramlink livery – was first spotted in Chemnitz just before Christmas and since then has been seen out on the network undergoing tests.
2554 is the first of six Variotrams to be built for Tramlink and is one of three which was originally being constructed for Bergen in Norway. Stadler are building all of the trams at their plant in Pankow, Berlin.
It has originally been planned that 2554 would be delivered to Croydon’s Therapia Lane depot before Christmas but this has now evidently been delayed but is expected to make the move to the UK at some point in the early months of 2012. The plan is for the six trams to add to capacity on the current network which will include a new service between Therapia Lane and Elmers End (this will cover the busier section of line around central Croydon) and this was originally due to be introduced in Spring 2012 (whether the delay of
the delivery will impact on this timescale is unknown). It is not currently known what acceptance work will be required on the trams before they can enter service.
Photos of 2554 in Chemnitz are available here – http://www.drehscheibe-foren.de/foren/read.php?5,5705479. These confirm the livery details and show that each tram will have four sets of doors on each side including some at each end.