Socimi Eurotram

Eurotram

Company type	Tram model
Industry	Rail transport
Predecessor	Socimi (original manufacturer)
Founded	1994
Successor	Bombardier Flexity Outlook (E)
Area served	Strasbourg, France; Milan, Italy; Porto, Portugal
Products	Electric trams
Parent	Originally Socimi; later ABB Group, Adtranz, Bombardier Transportation

The Socimi Eurotram—subsequently rebranded as the Bombardier Flexity Outlook (E)—is an electrically powered tram initially created for the Compagnie de Transports Strasbourgeois (CTS) network. Originally manufactured by Socimi, production responsibilities later transferred to ABB Group, then to Adtranz, and ultimately to Bombardier Transportation, which incorporated the model into its 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

Developed expressly for CTS, the Eurotram was engineered to meet specific demands such as a fully low-floor layout, integrated air conditioning, and an improved power-to-weight ratio capable of negotiating the 8% inclines found in Strasbourg’s main station tunnel. Its unique aesthetic was crafted by Belgian designer Philippe Neerman.

Contracts for production were awarded to both ABB Group and Milan-based manufacturer Socimi. However, after Socimi declared bankruptcy, ABB took over completion of manufacturing based on Socimi’s prototype designs. Assembly occurred at ABB’s facilities located at the York Carriage Works and Derby Litchurch Lane Works in England, with components supplied by ABB Trazione in Italy.

The tram’s modular construction consists of driving cabs, passenger compartments, and articulation modules. Strasbourg’s initial seven-module trams were composed of two cabs, three passenger sections, and two articulation joints, resulting in an overall length of . The configuration includes a mix of powered and unpowered bogies equipped with independently rotating wheels mounted on stub axles, radial arm primary suspension systems, and secondary air spring suspensions. The powered bogies utilize three-phase asynchronous motors installed on bogies with parallel axes.

Seating capacity for Strasbourg’s seven-section trams is up to 285 passengers (66 seated), while the extended nine-section variants accommodate 370 passengers (92 seated). Depending on configuration, traction power varies from to .

Following ABB's acquisition by Adtranz and subsequent takeover by Bombardier Transportation, the Eurotram was incorporated into Bombardier’s Flexity Outlook product line.

The Eurotram was evaluated for use on the Nottingham Express Transit system during its 1998 planning stages but was ultimately replaced by the double-leaf door-equipped Incentro tram due to safety regulations impacting door closing times and stop durations.

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

Orders

Between 1994 and 1995, twenty-six 33.1-meter (seven-module) Eurotrams were delivered to Strasbourg's CTS for service on line A. A subsequent order placed in 1996 included twenty-seven units: nine seven-module and eighteen nine-module trams.

The Milan tram operator (Azienda Trasporti Milanesi) procured twenty units from Adtranz.

For Porto’s Metro do Porto system, seventy-two units were manufactured starting in 2001 at Bombardier’s Amadora facility in Portugal.

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

City	Network	Quantity	Fleet Numbers	Manufacturer	Unit Type	Production Years	Additional Notes
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
Milan, Italy	Milano Tram	26	7001–7026	Adtranz	8-axled	1999–2000	Unidirectional operation
Porto, Portugal	Metro do Porto	72	MP-001–MP-072	Bombardier Transportation	8-axled	2001–2006	Units designed for coupling