ADtranz Eurotram

Socimi Eurotram

Company type	Tram vehicle
Industry	Rail transport
Founded	1994
Founder	Socimi
Fate	Production taken over by ABB Group, then Adtranz, then Bombardier Transportation
Successor	Bombardier Flexity Outlook (E)
Headquarters	Milan , Italy
Products	Electric trams (Eurotram)
Parent	Socimi (original), ABB Group, Adtranz, Bombardier Transportation (successive)

The Socimi Eurotram—later rebranded as the Bombardier Flexity Outlook (E)—is an electric tram initially created for the Compagnie de Transports Strasbourgeois (CTS). Originally manufactured by Socimi, production was taken over by ABB Group after Socimi's bankruptcy, then continued by Adtranz, and ultimately by Bombardier Transportation, which incorporated it into their Flexity Outlook series.

These Eurotram vehicles are currently in service on the Strasbourg tramway in France, the Azienda Trasporti Milanesi network in Italy, and the Porto Metro system in Portugal.

History and design

Conceived expressly for CTS’s Strasbourg tramway, the Eurotram features a fully low-floor layout, integrated air conditioning, and a power-to-weight ratio optimized to manage the line’s demanding 8% inclines. Its unique styling was crafted by Belgian designer Philippe Neerman.

Production contracts were initially split between ABB Group and Socimi (based in Milan). However, following Socimi's insolvency, ABB finalized manufacturing using Socimi’s original designs. Assembly occurred at ABB’s facilities in England, specifically at the York Carriage Works and Derby Litchurch Lane Works, with key components supplied by ABB Trazione in Italy.

The tram’s modular construction consists of driver cabs (2.575 m), passenger modules (7.550 m), and articulation segments (2.350 m). In Strasbourg, the first trams were composed of seven modules: two cabs, three passenger sections, and two articulation parts, totaling 33.1 meters in length. The wheel arrangement includes both powered and unpowered bogies equipped with independently rotating wheels mounted on stub axles; suspension combines radial arm primary elements with air spring secondary systems. Each powered wheel is driven via a gearbox connected to a three-phase asynchronous motor mounted on the bogie.

Strasbourg’s seven-module trams can carry up to 285 passengers, including 66 seats, while nine-module versions accommodate up to 370 passengers with 92 seats. Traction power varies between 324 kW and 416 kW depending on the specific configuration.

After Bombardier acquired Adtranz, the Eurotram was incorporated into the Flexity Outlook lineup.

In 1998, the Eurotram was evaluated for use on Nottingham Express Transit but was ultimately not selected due to safety concerns related to door-closing mechanisms and delays caused by its slow single-leaf doors; instead, Nottingham opted for the Incentro tram featuring double-leaf doors.

In December 2002, Porto tram number 018 was exhibited in Sydney before operating as a seven-section tram on Melbourne’s network until March 2003.

Orders

Between 1994 and 1995, Strasbourg’s CTS received twenty-six 33.1-meter (seven-module) Eurotrams for line A service. A subsequent order in 1996 included twenty-seven additional units: nine seven-module and eighteen nine-module trams.

The Milan tram operator Azienda Trasporti Milanesi purchased twenty vehicles from Adtranz.

From 2001 onwards, seventy-two trams were produced at Bombardier’s Amadora plant in Portugal for Porto’s Metro do Porto network.

In total, over 150 Eurotram units were manufactured between 1994 and 2004.

City	Network	Number	Unit-Numbers	Built by	UnitType	Year Built	Other
Strasbourg, France	Tramway de Strasbourg	26 10 17	1001–1026 1031–1040 1051–1067	ABB Adtranz Adtranz	8-axled 8-axled 10-axled	1994–1995 1998–1999 1999–2000
Milano, Italy	Milano Tram	26	7001–7026	Adtranz	8-axled	1999–2000	Unidirectional
Porto, Portugal	Metro do Porto	72	MP-001–MP-072	Bombardier	8-axled	2001–2006	Units can be coupled