Bucharest Articulated Tramcar

ITB V2A/V3A/V2B/V3B
V3A-93 number 175 in Drumul Taberei, Bucharest
In service1972–2007 (V3A-71)
1982–2010 (V2A and V2B)
1993-present day (V3A-93)
2006-present day (V3A-10)
ManufacturerURAC (Uzina de Reparații și Atelierele Centrale),
Electroaparataj, IRA Grivița
DesignerLinke-Hoffman-Busch, West Germany West Germany
AssemblyLizeanu, Bucharest, Romania Romania
ReplacedSTB pre-WW2 trams
Constructed1971 (V3A, prototype)
1972–1990 (V3A, series)
1982–1989 (V2A, series)
1984–1985 (V3B, conversions)
1986 (V2B, series)
1992 (V2A, metre gauge)
Entered service1972–1990 (Bucharest)
1984–1990 (other cities)
Refurbished1993–2007 (V3A-93 modernization)
2006-present day (V3A-10 modernization)
Scrapped1995–2008 (V3A-71)
2005–2010 (V2A)
2016-present day (V3A-93)
Number builtsee list below
Number preserved1 V2B unit (no 4042)
1 metre-gauge V2A unit (in Iași)
Number scrappedall V3A-71 series and a few V3A-93, scrapped for modernization
PredecessorElectroputere V54/V951, ITB V56/V58
SuccessorBucur LF
Formation3 (V3A/V3B) or 2 (V2A/V2B) carriages
Fleet numbers001-362 (Bucharest, V3A)
4001–4049 (Bucharest, V2A)
for other cities see below
Capacity34 seated, 249 standing
OperatorsITB/RATB/STB București, IJTL Constanța, Prahova, Brașov, Cluj, Bihor, Brăila, Botoșani, RATP Iași
Specifications
Car body constructionwelded
Train length26,210 mm (85.99 ft) (V3A)
27,180 mm (89.17 ft) (V3A) (over couplers)
19,500 mm (64.0 ft) (V2A)
Width2,300–2,390 mm (7.55–7.84 ft)
Height4,200 mm (13.8 ft)
Low-flooronly on V3A-10 models, and only the middle section
Doors4–5 (V3A)
3–4 (V2A)
folding doors (V2A and V3A-71), pop-out doors (V3A-93 and V3A-10)
Articulated sections2 or 3
Maximum speed55 km/h (34 mph)
Weight35,000 kg (77,000 lb) (V3A)
27,500 kg (60,600 lb) (V2A)
Traction motors2 × TE 022 H / UMEB TN-A10
Power output2 × 120 kW DC or 2 × 240 kW AC
Acceleration0.8 m/s2
HVACheating: yes
ventilation: no, only hopper windows
air conditioning: added on V3A-CH-PPC
Electric system(s)750 V DC
Current collector(s)pantograph
UIC classificationB′(2)′(2)′B′ (V3A)
B′(2)′B′ (V2A)
Braking system(s)electrodynamic service brake
shoe contact emergency brake
electrohydraulic stationary brake
Track gauge
  • 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)
  • 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) (Iași)

The Bucharest Articulated Tramcar series is a series of tram vehicles produced between 1971 and 1992 by URAC, the main workshops of the Bucharest Transit Company (Întreprinderea de Transport București (ITB)). Various modernized variants have also been delivered since 1993. For the last 50 years they have been the backbone of the tram network in Bucharest, replacing motor-trailer formations that had run in the city since the introduction of electric trams.