Alstom has developed a range of light rail vehicle technologies offering communities wide flexibility in addressing both their near-term and long-term transportation needs.

 

With its 100 percent low floor design, the Alstom’s Citadis range of light rail vehicles provides fully accessible urban transportation for all passengers—from parents with strollers to senior citizens. The low floor eliminates the need for public transit agencies to provide raised station platforms and combines the downtown capabilities of a streetcar with the speed needed to provide no-transfer suburban connections.

 

Alstom also has developed support technologies for light rail, including: Beyond vehicles, Alstom has developed:

* Off-wire propulsion systems, which can optimize route alignments and preserve a community’s historic character and downtown streetscapes. It uses a safety-proven, in-ground power supply that is only energized when in contact with the vehicle. Alstom light rail vehicles also can be equipped with batteries and super-capacitors for off-wire operation; and  

* Regenerative substations for agencies interested in energy efficiency. Alstom’s “smart substation” can capture up to 99 percent of a vehicle’s recoverable braking energy and transfer it back to the local power grid.