Suddenly everything was different on the rails of Zurich. The Cobra-Trams with the inscription “Glattalbahn” went to Albisrieden instead of the airport of Zurich, the Trams were slower, step-free Boarding was rarely possible. Ten days has it been since the VBZ have declared a state of emergency, because they had to check all of the hinge rods of the Cobra-Trams. Today is Monday share: Review completed. All 88 of the Cobra vehicles are back at the normal speed on the road.
176 joint rods checked the VBZ with external support, 2 per Cobra Tram. “A total of 13 joint rods for defects due to material were found to be fatigue,” wrote the VBZ in a message. These are not serious shortcomings. Nevertheless, the respective joint rods had been replaced. Fractures had been found, no further,
the cost question needs to be resolved
such A fracture triggered the large-scale Review. On Christmas eve, 2018, an employee discovered a crack in the hinge rod, as a Cobra Tram to the Depot of import. In the worst case, a breakage may result during the trip to the derailment of Trams.
the Tests with the battered joint rod by the Swiss Federal laboratories for materials testing and research (Empa) revealed that it was a production error, but a fatigue fracture that could occur in the case of all the Cobras. Actually, it is estimated that the life of the Cobra-Trams from the manufacturer Alstom, Bombardier, to around 40 years. The local Cobras, however, were taken between 2002 and 2010.
The defective joint bars have replaced the VBZ. Who’s paying for this, is still unclear. “Cost and liability issues which cannot yet be answered because the appropriate analyses have to take place”, means in the message.
The VBZ regretted the inconvenience which had arisen for passengers in the past few days. (sip)
Created: 01.04.2019, 12:50 PM
