Bombardier M5000

Bombardier M5000
A coupled pair of M5000s, nos 3120 (Foreground) and 3085 (Background) approaching Holt Town
Interior of a 60 Seat M5000
In service16 December 2009 – present
Manufacturer
Built at
Family nameFlexity Swift
ReplacedT-68/T-68A
Constructed2007–2022
Number built147
Formation2 carriages
Fleet numbers3001–3147
Capacity52/8 seats (3001–3074), or 60/6 seats (3075–3147), 146 standing per vehicle
OperatorsMetrolink
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium
Car length28.4 m (93 ft 2+18 in)
Width2.65 m (8 ft 8+38 in)
Height3.67 m (12 ft 12 in)
Floor height980 mm (3 ft 2+58 in)
Platform height955–899 mm (3 ft 1+58 in – 2 ft 11+38 in) (empty, new wheels–loaded, wheels worn)
Articulated sections2
Wheel diameter660–580 mm (26–23 in) (new–worn)
Wheelbase1,800 mm (5 ft 10+78 in)
Maximum speed50 mph (80 km/h)
Weight39.7 t (39.1 long tons; 43.8 short tons) per vehicle
Axle load10.45 t (10.28 long tons; 11.52 short tons)
Traction systemKiepe Electric UTA 111 IGBTVVVF
Traction motors4 × Traktionssysteme Austria TMR 36-30-4 120 kW (160 hp)
Power output480 kW (640 hp)
TransmissionQuill drive (Voith MGU 120-SV-SZH418 gearbox); 6.29 : 1 gear ratio (2-stage reduction)
Acceleration1.08 m/s2 (3.5 ft/s2)
Deceleration
  • 1.03 m/s2 (3.4 ft/s2) (service)
  • 2.54 m/s2 (8.3 ft/s2) (emergency)
Electric system(s)750 V DC overhead catenary
Current collector(s)Pantograph
UIC classificationBo′+2′+Bo′
BogiesFLEXX Urban 2500
Minimum turning radius
  • 25 m (82 ft 0 in) (horizontal)
  • 400 m (1,312 ft 4 in) (vertical)
Safety system(s)ATS, VRS
Coupling systemScharfenberg
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Notes/references
Sourced from except where noted.

The Bombardier M5000 is a model of high-floor passenger light rail vehicles. It is part of the Flexity Swift range of vehicles, built specifically as a high-floor, articulated bi-directional tram to operate solely on the Manchester Metrolink system in England. The Metrolink system is the only tram network in the United Kingdom capable of running services made up of numerous tram sets, and consequently, the M5000s can operate as either a single vehicle or coupled together to form a "double" unit.

A total of 147 trams were ordered between 2007 and 2018, with the first M5000 entering service on 16 December 2009. Following the withdrawal of the last T-68 and T-68A trams in May 2014, the M5000s have operated all Metrolink services.