Almost too good to touch: the mock-up of the future Brussels tram.
On the occasion of its 150th anniversary, the Brussels public transport company STIB presented a mock-up for the next generation tram, built by the colleagues of ROBUR Prototyping in Chemnitz.
The order of the Brussels public transport company, to build a detailed mock-up for the next generation of trams, to the ROBUR Prototyping & Materials GmbH in Chemnitz has been exciting in many ways. The design by the Belgian designer Axel Enthoven for the new cars by the Canadian manufacturer Bombardier was deliberately demanding in accordance with STIB’s specifications. Good, valuable design is not only a matter of taste, but it also determines the attractiveness for users and, as studies show, it contributes to significantly less vandalism. Comfortable seats with leather upholstery, light-optimized and climate-optimized ceiling panels with wooden elements, specially developed colors, and last, but not least, ergonomically crafted handrails, are designed to create an ambience that makes every ride with the new tram an experience.
The mock-up should not only display the design 1:1, but make all elements actually walkable and tangible. Room layout, seats, handrails, lights, walkways, information systems, etc. were brought to life and could also be subjected to extensive testing. Even the driver’s cab had been constructed in detail and could be extensively tested in the course of a detailed trial with 12 drivers. Ergonomics, for both tall and small people, were examined as well as the functionality, by testing all driving techniques.
In addition to the already excellent design specifications, the knowledge gained in the practical tests then flowed into further planning and production. An advantage when working with mock-ups: Many optimizations complete the planning and do not have to be changed or retrofitted later on (which would usually be much more expensive) when the production has already started or is completed.
Other demanding requirements of the customer STIB: The mock-up has to be mobile, it will be presented at several locations and it had to be transported and positioned by a crane for the first presentation due to the local conditions on the Place Royale in Brussels. This made the construction a bit more complex and the mock-up a whole lot harder – a challenge which the colleagues at ROBUR Prototyping were able to master.
Furthermore, the colleagues are delighted that after the planned presentations at various locations in Brussels their work will receive a final location at the local traffic museum.
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