Stadler Variobahn (London Trams)

Six of these trams were ordered from Stadler to augment the existing fleet of Flexity Swift CR4000s on what was at the time called Croydon Tramlink (now called London Trams). These trams entered service in 2012. Four more trams were ordered in 2015 and the final two in 2016 [1]. The Variobahn trams are slightly longer than the CR4000s (with a slightly higher capacity) and have five sections instead of three.

2564 at Morden Road



Information
Number built: 12
Built: 2011-16
Builder: Stadler
Motor: 8 Stadler traction motors
Power: 480 hp (360 kW) 
Wheel arrangement: Bo-2-Bo

Although the Variobahn trams can be seen through the London Tram network, the preference is to use them on the longer Line 2 route.

2562 departs Morden Road

2562 arrives at Mitcham

Both types of tram operated by London Trams meet at Morden Road



[1] Robert Prichard & Alan Yearsley, UK Metro & Light Rail Systems (Platform 5, 2019) p. 130