Officials from Alstom have recently been in Blackpool to test the Dynamic Autostop fitted to one of the Flexity2 trams. 017 has been fitted with the equipment and cameras for a while and the system has been under test to see the effectiveness with this latest visit being used to further evaluate it as well as film to showcase the system.
The Dynamic Autostop system requires cameras fitted in the trams cabs and as suggested by its name it is a system which will bring the tram to an automatic stop if an obstacle is identified. 017 has been used as a test vehicle whilst 001, 002 and 016 have also now been fitted with both the cameras and the overall system. A number of other Flexity2 trams have also been fitted with the system although the cameras have not yet appeared on any more of the trams.
Officials from Alstom were joined by staff from Blackpool Transport for these latest tests which took place on Monday 15th May.
- A video of the trams in action in Blackpool on this day, including this evaluation can be seen on the Podbaba Transport YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbjMu1ShJI4
The second tram to be fitted with the cameras and equipment is 002. We see it here at Wilton Parade. (Photograph by Michael Morton, 15th May 2023)