Tram line to the Academy in Ekaterinburg has been given the green light
Yekaterinburg to Unveil Autonomous Tram Line Connecting Academic District and City Centre
Yekaterinburg, Russia, is set to revolutionize its public transportation system with the introduction of a new autonomous tram line connecting the Academic District with the city centre. This development comes as part of the city's ongoing efforts to improve urban mobility and prepare for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The Transportation Council of the Administration of Yekaterinburg has approved the new tram line, which will run along Vilgelma de Genina and Svyatoy Svyatitel Svyatoslav Streets, the Obskaya Highway intersection, and Belorechenskaya Street. The length of the line is approximately 5.5 kilometers.
The new tram model, the 71409, is a modular articulated tram consisting of three sections, designed and presented by "Uraltransmash." The low-floor design of these trams offers several benefits, including easier boarding for all passengers, especially people with mobility impairments, parents with strollers, and the elderly.
The autonomous operation of these trams implies increased efficiency and potentially reduced operating costs, as they can navigate designated routes with little or no driver intervention. In warm weather, the battery charge of the new tram model lasts for 70 kilometers, and in winter, it can travel about 40 kilometers without recharging.
The new tram line is planned to be the first experiment with these new trams in the Academic microdistrict, with future lines to be developed for cottage settlements surrounding the city. Simultaneously, the design of a transportation interchange at the Obskaya Highway, Svyatoy Svyatitel Svyatoslav, and Vilgelma de Genina Streets intersection will also start.
The introduction of these low-floor trams marks the next innovation in tram communication with the new district, following the abandonment of earlier plans for a high-speed tram to the Academic District in 2011. The modernization of public transit, which can improve punctuality, safety, and overall service quality, is reflected in the incorporation of autonomous technologies and advanced tram design.
While the exact detailed routing of the new tram line is not provided in the available sources, the project represents a significant step towards revitalizing ridership and improving urban transit reliability in Yekaterinburg. The city, which boasted 30 routes and 459 cars by 2016, is poised to update its network with advanced autonomous vehicles in key corridors like the Academic District to city centre route.
Upon approval, the design process for the new tram line will commence, and production of 80 new-model trams, including five low-floor trams, is planned by Uraltransmash in 2014. Additionally, the extension of the new tram line to a major transportation hub formed by the intersection of Tatischeva, Tokareva, and Lenin Prospect, in preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, is also a possibility.
In summary, the new tram line will link the Academic District to Yekaterinburg's city centre, featuring autonomous low-floor trams that enhance accessibility, operational efficiency, and sustainability, although finer route specifics remain unavailable in the current data. The project is expected to revitalize ridership and improve urban transit reliability in the city.
[1] Source: Various online sources on Yekaterinburg's public transportation development.
The Transportation Council's approval of the new tram line in Yekaterinburg, connecting the city center with the Academic District, signals a potential shift in the finance industry, as the city plans to invest in the modernization of its public transportation system.
The Autonomous Tram Line project, consisting of low-floor trams designed by "Uraltransmash," is set to revolutionize the transportation sector in Yekaterinburg, with the new line running along major streets and potential extensions to transportation hubs, such as the intersection of Tatischeva, Tokareva, and Lenin Prospect, in preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
