The Brussels public transport company MIVB has unveiled the Tram New Generation (TNG) that will take to streets next year. At 42 metres long, the new trams are longer than the trams currently in service on the MIVB network. Before they can enter service, they must first be tested.
The trams have been built by Alstom at their factory in the Austian capital Vienna. The first of the trams arrived at MIVB’s Haren Depot on Tuesday. The Brussels public transport company says that the tram is a “modern and comfortable tram with greater capacity” than the smaller version on the TNG.
The tests that the tram still has to undergo include a compatibility test with MIVB's infrastructure, tests on the performance of the tram’s brakes, communication and dispatching system and its heating. "Everything must be in order before the vehicle can enter service", MIVB says.
The new tram is more spacious and comfortable than those currently in service. It has wide doors and a low floor. The vehicle was designed with easier access for people with mobility issues and increased comfort for passengers in mind.