Firema T-68

Manchester Metrolink T-68/T-68A
T-68 1011 in Manchester city centre in July 2008
Interior of the prototype T-68
In service	6 April 1992 – 30 April 2014
Manufacturer	Firema, T68A Firema and Ansaldo
Built at	Italy
Constructed	T-68: 1991–1992 T-68A: 1999
Refurbished	2007–2010 midlife refurbishment, T-68 gain retractable couplers and covered bogies 2010–2012 reliability modifications, LCD screens, LED lights, driver's cab air conditioning
Number built	32 (T-68: 26 T-68A: 6)
Number preserved	2
Number scrapped	27
Successor	Bombardier M5000
Formation	2 carriages
Fleet numbers	T-68: 1001-1026 T-68A: 2001-2006
Capacity	82/4 seats, 122 standing per vehicle
Operators	Metrolink
Lines served	Altrincham, Bury, Eccles
Specifications
Car body construction	Steel[1]
Car length	29 m (95 ft 1+3⁄4 in)
Width	2.65 m (8 ft 8+3⁄8 in)
Height	3.7 m (12 ft 1+5⁄8 in)
Articulated sections	2
Maximum speed	50 mph (80 km/h)
Weight	49 tonnes (48 long tons; 54 short tons) per vehicle.[1]
Traction system	T-68A: GTO–VVVF
Traction motors	T-68: 4 × 105 kW (141 hp) separately excited DC motors T-68A: 4 × 120 kW (160 hp) 3–phase AC motors
Electric system(s)	750 V DC OHLE
Current collector(s)	Brecknell Willis high reach pantograph
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The Firema T-68 was a model of light rail passenger vehicle first operated on the Manchester Metrolink network in Greater Manchester, England in 1992. It was constructed by Firema specifically as a high-floor, articulated bi-directional tram to operate solely on the Manchester Metrolink system.

Twenty-six T-68s were manufactured by Firema at their factories in Italy. Six modified variants (known as the T-68A) were produced in 1999 in a joint project by Firema and Ansaldo. All 32 were replaced by Bombardier M5000s between 2012 and 2014.