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Adelaide trams battle the snow in surprising historical twist

Adelaide Metro’s Flexity trams, which have become a key part of the city’s public transport system, have an intriguing history, including being tested in snowy conditions.

Feature image, courtesy of SA Infrastructure and Transport shared by The Metro Artist, was taken on 19 December 2005 at 9:47am.

Are you a daily commuter on the tram? If so, you might be familiar with the convenient services Adelaide Metro’s trams provide, connecting the suburbs to the city. But did you know about the fascinating and somewhat unusual history behind these trams that you ride every day?

The Flexity trams, which have become a staple of Adelaide’s public transport system, have a history that stretches all the way back to 2005 when they were first built in Germany, and underwent rigorous testing to ensure they were up to the task of serving Adelaide’s streets. Interestingly, these tests even included real-world conditions and some of the testing occurred in the snow, adding an unexpected twist to their journey.

“Our Flexity trams, purchased in 2005, were all built on the Bautzen production line in Germany,” shared an Adelaide Metro spokesperson.

“The trams then underwent extensive testing in Bautzen including ‘real world’ performance testing external to the manufacturing plant. It is believed that the photo may have been taken during movement between the plant and the test track. This type of testing occurs on all new rollingstock and confirms compliance with all relevant standards.”

That’s right, your eyes do not deceive you. That’s a real picture of our trams in the snow!

“The tram wasn’t necessarily tested to withstand the snow but was put through its ‘real life performance’ test on a day it was snowing.

“After passing all the checks, the trams were transported via road to Hamburg, then by boat to Melbourne where they then arrived in Adelaide on trucks,” the spokesperson shared.

This multi-step journey showcases the level of detail and commitment to quality that went into crafting the trams. So, the next time you hop on a tram, remember that you’re riding in a piece of history that has travelled a long way to get to you.

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