French rolling stock manufacturer Alstom has unveiled the design for the Citadis trams bound for a four-line tramway network in the Lusail area of Doha, Qatar, under plans by Qatar Rail.
The design of the Lusail tram, with its front shaped like the bow of a vessel, is inspired by dhows, the traditional boats of the Gulf, while the tram’s ‘seabed turquoise’ tones reflect the sea – a design choice aimed at inviting passengers to climb aboard for the cool break from the heat of Qatar.
The interior design likewise echoes the architecture of the area, while incorporating touches of yellow that recall the Lusail flower.
The Citadis trams for Lusail are 33m in length and can accommodate 207 passengers in the carriages, which can be coupled to double the capacity. The trams features permanent magnet motors to reduce energy consumption and will be powered by connections at ground level for all lines at grade.
Eng. Abdulla Al Subaie, MD of Qatar Rail, noted: “Across our projects, our build and design stages have been guided by the powerful coming together of tradition with modernity.
“Deeply entrenched in Qatari culture and heritage, the Lusail tram designs celebrate the convergence of our country’s history with ground-breaking technologies and cutting-edge solutions to create a seamless consumer journey and experience built around the local community’s needs and values.”
Gian Luca Erbacci, senior VP for Alstom MEA, added: “There are currently more than 1,800 Alstom light rail vehicles in operation throughout the world. Each Citadis has its own specific design and is customised to reflect its city’s image and culture. We are very happy to have partnered with Qatar Railways to develop a unique design that will certainly please the passengers and residents of Lusail.”
As part of a consortium, Alstom was awarded the contract for the Lusail integrated tramway system by Qatar Railways in June 2014. The four tram lines on the project total 38km in length (10km underground) with 30 stations.
With 17 integrated tramway solutions projects awarded, Alstom is the world leader in this field. The Lusail trams will be manufactured in La Rochelle, France, for the first five trams, before the remainder are completed in Barcelona, Spain.
