D-class Melbourne tram

D1 class (3-section) D2 class (5-section)
D1-class tram in Swanston Street
Manufacturer	Siemens
Assembly	Düsseldorf, Germany
Constructed	D1: 2002–2003 D2: 2003–2004
Number built	D1: 38 D2: 21
Number in service	D1: 38 D2: 21
Fleet numbers	D1: 3501–3538 D2: 5001–5021
Depots	Malvern, Southbank
Specifications
Articulations	D1: 2 D2: 4
Length	D1: 20.04 m (65 ft 9 in) D2: 29.85 m (97 ft 11 in)
Width	2.65 m (8 ft 8 in)
Height	3.65 m (12 ft 0 in)
Weight	D1: 30.8 t (30.3 long tons; 34.0 short tons) D2: 35.3 t (34.7 long tons; 38.9 short tons)
Passenger capacity seats	D1: 32 D2: 56
Traction motors	4 x 100 kW (130 hp)
Gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)

The D class, or Combino is a type of electric tram operating in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. They were built by Siemens in Düsseldorf, Germany. The D1 class was introduced between 2002 and 2004, and the D2 class was introduced in 2004. The D1 class was introduced by M>Tram, but have been operated by Yarra Trams since they took control of the entire tram network following National Express Group walking away from their Victorian contracts, handing control back to the state government in late 2002.

Variants: D1 and D2

D class trams comes in two variants; the D1 class which is a three-section tram, and D2 class five-section tram. The trams feature plug-type doors, next-stop display and several other features. The trams are built '100% low-floor.'

The D1 class entered service in 2002 and are operated on Melbourne's southeastern and inner tram routes and are based at Malvern tram depot. The D2 class entered service in 2004, they mainly operate route 96 and are based at Southbank tram depot.

Cab controls

All D-class trams have a traction braking controller with an integral deadman's trigger that the driver must release and reapply every minute. If this is not done, an alarm sounds. If the alarm sounds for more than a few seconds then the disc brakes are applied firmly, stopping the tram.

Originally the driver could hold it down continuously while the tram was moving, if the driver took their hand off, an alarm would sound, followed soon by track brake application. If after four minutes it had been held-down continuously and the tram stopped, the driver would get an audible warning and the tram would not move until the driver had released it. There was also an alternative deadman's button on the side of the armrest. Drivers discovered that if the armrest were dropped low enough, this button would stay pressed without the driver applying any pressure, they still had to be released every four minutes when coming to a stop. But as soon as the management discovered this, their reaction was "vigilance control," actually a dead-man's vigilance device, and hence the notice in the cab "Vigilance control now fitted, release and reapply every minute, if an alarm sounds, release and reapply immediately."

Reception

Originally the D1 and D2 trams were welcomed as a new, modern and comfortable addition to the network's fleet. In recent years they have been derided as having badly designed seating configurations and being extremely noisy, both inside and outside.^{[citation needed]}

Fatigue Cracking

In 2009 the D class tram fleet had to undergo structural strengthening to prevent the spread of metal fatigue in the trams aluminium frame, including removal of seats to make room for the required strengthening work, leaving D1 class trams with 32 seats and D2 class trams with 56.

Use

D1-class trams are currently used on the following routes:

• 5 - Malvern to Melbourne University
• 6 - Glen Iris to Melbourne University
• 8 - Moreland to Toorak
• 16 - Kew to Melbourne University
• 72 - Camberwell to Melbourne University

D2-class trams are currently used on the following routes:

• 16 - Kew to Melbourne University
• 96 - East Brunswick to St Kilda Beach
• 112 - West Preston to St Kilda

In Kaohsiung

A Melbourne D2 class tram on a Kaohsiung demonstration line.

A Melbourne D2 class tram operated on a demonstration track in Central Park, Kaohsiung. The Kaohsiung City Government organised the line to demonstrate the concept of light rail.

Gallery

• 

  D1-class tram at the Arts Centre

• 

  The interior of a Combino tram

• 

  D2-class tram in St Kilda

External links

• List of D1-class trams at VicSig
• List of D2-class trams at VicSig
• Note on operation of dead man alarms and brake