Charleroi Trams Rolling Stock

Charleroi Trams Rolling Stock

Charleroi Trams Passenger Cars

Charleroi's LRV cars are bi-directional articulated trams which were supplied by La Brugeoise et Nivelles (BN) (with ACEC providing the motors and the electrical/electronic components) from 1980 to 1982. They are similar to the trams operated on the Belgian coast tram line (although those have doors on only one side) and, to a lesser extent, to the first generation trains of the Manila Light Rail Transit System yellow line.

According to an official statement by TEC Charleroi, 44 of these trams are operational, the future network with the completed downtown loop and the Gilly branch extension requiring 22, then 35 when the Gosselies branch opens.

Each unit has a length of 22.88 m (75 ft 1 in) and a width of 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in), and is capable of carrying 44 seated and 148 standing passengers (6 pax/m2), totalling 192 passengers. It is powered by two electric engines providing a total power of 456 kW (612 hp). Their maximum speed is 65 km/h (40 mph). They can theoretically be coupled to form trains of up to three trams, however the single tram configuration is the preferred one on the Charleroi network, with only a few peak hour services on line M4 being operated by 2 trams coupled together.

Most trams carry the distinctive bright yellow, red and grey livery of TEC Charleroi and are identified by a 4 digit number starting with 74. Six trams (7404, 7426, 7428, 7448, 7453 and 7454) wear a temporary special livery to celebrate the new lines created on 27 February 2012. Prior to that date, several trams were still wearing the old SNCV livery with an orange bottom and beige top separated by a blue line (with a 4-digit fleet number starting with 61).

Charleroi Trams Work Cars

• Type S – SNCV Hainaut – work car
• Type SJ – SNCV Hainaut – passenger cars – acquired 1984
• Esslingen/Schorling tram – track scrubber – acquired 1981

Charleroi Trams Overview

Charleroi Trams Owner: Opérateur de transport de Wallonie
Charleroi Trams Locale: Charleroi, Hainaut, Belgium
Charleroi Trams Transit Type: Semi-metro (Light rail)
Charleroi Trams Number of Lines: 4
Charleroi Trams Line Number: M1, M2, M3, M4
Charleroi Trams Number of Stations: 48 (incl. 26 tram stops)
Charleroi Trams Headquarters: Place des Tramways, 9/1 6000 Charleroi
Charleroi Trams Began Operation: 21 June 1976; 48 years ago
Charleroi Trams Operator(s): TEC Charleroi
Charleroi Trams Number of Vehicles: 48
Charleroi Trams System Length: 33 km (21 mi)
Charleroi Trams Track Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge
Charleroi Trams Electrification: 600 V DC overhead