Subway
Since 1972 the "Pegnitz-Arrows" have been whizzing through Nuremberg's underground. With the inauguration of Germany's first fully automatic subway on June 14, 2008, a new era in the history of Nuremberg's public traffic system has begun.
Innovative right from the start
Right from the start we have been investing in the most advanced technology for our subways. As early as the 1980s we started to employ three-phase traction motors instead of direct current drives in our new subways. The advantage: Three-phase asynchronous motors are more robust and need less maintenance. Furthermore, they are energy-saving because almost a third of the electrical energy needed for drive operations can be re-fed into the power system while braking.
More space, more comfort
With the acquisition of twelve new subway-vehicles of the make DT2 in the years 1993-94 substantial improvements for our passengers have been made:
* The entry area was considerably amplified by sacrificing some seats. Boarding and deboarding has thus been made much easier and there is more room for baby carriages, wheelchairs and bicycles.
- The entry area was considerably amplified by sacrificing some seats. Boarding and deboarding has thus been made much easier and there is more room for baby carriages, wheelchairs and bicycles.
- Pushbuttons at the doors now open both wings at the same time, which also simplifies and eases boarding and deboarding.
- Newly designed grab-poles and -handles make for a better grip.
- Instead of benches single seats give added comfort.
- An emergency intercom system provides direct contact to the driver if need be.
- Automated digital announcement of stops keeps passengers up to date.
The automation of Nuremberg's subway system: a key to intelligent mobility - role model for subway cities all over the world
On June 14, 2008, Germany's first fully automatic subway went operational. VAG's new U3 line will run between Maxfeld station in the north and Gustav-Adolf-Straße in the southwest.
In the first stage the automatic subway will partially be sharing the existing network and six stations of subway line U2 in so-called "mixed operation". This is something unique worldwide.
In a second stage the complete network of U2 (Röthenbach - Airport) shall be switched to automatic operation "under rolling wheel" until the end of 2009.
The new subway line U3
The new U3 consists of a 3,4 km northern branch which will connect Rathenauplatz to the northwestern ring line via five new subway stations. In a first stage the station at Maxfeldplatz will be opened. Stations at Kaulbachplatz and Friedrich-Ebert-Platz are already under construction and due to be opened in 2011. A 4,7 km southern branch between Rothenburger Straße and Gebersdorf will also comprise five new stations. Subway stations Sündersbühl and Gustav-Adolf-Straße have meanwhile been completed. Further development has not yet been decided upon.
Northern and southern branch will be connected by the main track of the already existing subway line U2 between the stations Rathenauplatz and Rothenburger Straße. Its 3,5 km lenght comprises six stations.
Particularly favorable for the automation project is the fact that with only three newly built stations in the first stage of construction, U3 already has a total lenght of 6,1 km with nine stations. Right from the start passengers are being offered an attractive subway section which, according to calculations, will have a positive overall effect on city traffic.
Economical and attractive
In spite of higher investment costs, the fully automatic subway of VAG and the City of Nuremberg, as the responsible body for public transport, has lower running costs than a conventional subway train with a human driver. Automatically driven vehicles consume less energy by optimised acceleration, travel and brake processes. Their turn-around time is significantly shorter and the vehicles can easily be employed according to demand. Furthermore, no new drivers have to be hired to operate U3. This significantly reduces the main part of expenditures - payroll costs. Drivers, whose services aren't required any more due to the automation of U2, will be retrained as qualified service staff and be available to passengers as personal points of contact along the way. This should also reinforce the passengers' subjective sense of security. Members of the new customer and system service will also be on the spot in case of disturbances to solve the problem or organize further help. In case of a breakdown they can also drive the vehicles by hand using the emergency driver's console.
Automatic operation allows VAG to employ trains according to demand. After switching U2 into automatic mode, whenever the number of passengers is very high a service frequency of up to 100 seconds will be possible between Rathenauplatz and Rothenburger Straße. There won't be any long waits and more passengers can be transported.
Favorable starting point for automation
Conditions for introducing an automated subway in Nuremberg were more than favorable. This third subway line had to be built from scratch. It could be equipped for automatic operation right from the start. This brings a marked advantage, considering the inner city lines are already stretched to the limit at rush hour. A certain problem of merging the two lines at the joint between U2 and U3 at Rathenauplatz and Rothenburger Straße would have required some thought about a certain amount of automation anyway.
Regardless of that, VAG had to order new subway trains. First, because the U1 line in Fürth has been extended several times over the past few years. Last of the additions was the subway station Hardhöhe in December 2007. Second, the first couple of vehicles which had been in use since the opening of U1 in 1972 were about to reach the limit of their working life.
The new vehicles - a third generation of "Pegnitz-Arrows"
To service the two lines U2 and U3, thirty-two new vehicles of the DT3 series will be put into operation.
Of course this new generation of cars will again introduce several advancements for the comfort of our passengers, especially the disabled:
* DT3 cars are interconnected, so you can walk through the whole train.
- DT3 cars are interconnected, so you can walk through the whole train.
- The area before and after the passageways is equipped with folding-seats, so passengers take a seat or remain standing according to demand.
- The trains are fully equipped with surveillance cameras which transmit their pictures to the control center around the clock. So if anything adverse should happen immediate action will be taken.
- The seats are not mounted on "boxes" any more, as in the vehicles predecessors, but fastened to the sides of the car and a leg in the middle. Thus there is ample storeroom below the seats and it's much easier to clean the vehicles.
- Since the driver`s cab has become superfluous, the passengers have a clear view ahead.
- Automatic, retractable ramps simplify boarding for handicapped or visually impaired persons. Additionally, they prevent the danger of passengers sliding into the gap between platform and vehicle.
- Shortly before the doors close a flashing light and a beep will sound a warning. The combination of signals makes sure that even the visually impaired or persons with hearing difficulties be alerted to the closure.
For more infos about the new subway-train have a look at www.rubin-nuernberg.de
Modernizing older vehicles
Until the end of 2005 all older vehicles which would continue to be employed after the automation of lines U2 and U3 had been modernized. 61 two-car trainsets of the model ranges DT1 and DT2 were brought up to state-of-the-art standards with a total expenditure of about 6,5 million Euro, adapting them to the U3 vehicles in several respects. They are now equipped with a modern door safety system. Apart from the existing system new touch-sensitive door edges have been implemented to recognize even very thin objects (3mm and upwards).
For protection against damages caused by vandalism the vehicles are equipped with video cameras.
In January 2006 a new system of departure clearance was introduced. Optical and acoustic door signals alert passengers to the closure of the doors. This is substituting the driver's previous "please stand back". Necessary modifications continue to be introduced.
Additionally, vehicles of the DT1 series are being equipped with digital voice recordes. Stops can then be announced automatically, as is already the case in type DT2.
Subway maintenance
After the adjustment of U2 to fully automatic operation (end of 2009), 93 two-car trainsets (DT) will be serviced and repaired in the Subway-Maintenance-Station in Langwasser. Until automation has been fully completed, 20 additional vehicles of older build also have to be maintenanced. About 125 employees keep the wheels turning so there never is a lack of cars for daily operation.
And by the way:
Each subway vehicle covers about 100.000 kilometers a year, which amounts to circling the globe about two and a half times! To provide for a life-expectancy of about 35 years, all vehicles are being meticulously maintenanced at all times.
Additional costs and expenditures of a very different kind arise through vandalism, graffiti and the scratching of window panes. The damages add up to approx. 500.000 EUR per year.
