Flexity Freedom

Flexity Freedom
Ion unit 501, at Ion OMSF during public tour event
Ion unit 501 at Ion OMSF during public tour event
Manufacturer
Built atThunder Bay and Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Family nameFlexity
Entered serviceJune 21, 2019[1]
Number under constructionToronto: 76
Number in service
Capacity135–275 depending on configuration[5][6]
Specifications
Car length20.0–40 m (65 ft 7 in – 131 ft 3 in) depending on configuration[5][7]
Width2.65 m (8 ft 8 in)[5]
Height3.6 m (11 ft 10 in)[5]
Doors6–10 (3–5 on each side)[5][6]
Articulated sections3–7[5][6]
Maximum speed80 km/h (50 mph)[5]
Electric system(s)750 V DC from overhead trolley wire[5]
Current collector(s)Pantograph
UIC classificationBo'2Bo' (5-section)[8]
AAR wheel arrangementB-2-B (5-section)[8]
Minimum turning radius25 metres (82.02 ft)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The Flexity Freedom is a low-floor, articulated light rail vehicle developed by Bombardier Transportation (and later Alstom) for the North American market. It is marketed as part of the Bombardier Flexity family which includes other models of trams (streetcars) and light metro vehicles. They are produced in facilities in Thunder Bay and Kingston, Ontario, which once produced rolling stock under the names of Canada Car and Foundry (CC&F) and Urban Transportation Development Corporation (UTDC), respectively.

The Flexity Freedom is used on the Ion rapid transit in Kitchener and Waterloo, Ontario, and the Valley Line in Edmonton.[9] It is planned for use on the Line 5 Eglinton light rail system under construction in Toronto.[10]

Being entirely low-floor, these vehicles directly compete with the Flexity Swift, Alstom Citadis, Siemens S70, CAF Urbos, and Kinki Sharyo LRVs. However, as they are designed for light rail rather than streetcar applications, they also compete against, to a lesser extent, low-floor streetcars from Škoda/Inekon and Brookville Equipment Corporation, among others.

  1. ^ "LRT delayed until spring". Waterloo Region Record. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on January 9, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ion-15 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Fida, Kashmala (July 26, 2018). "First LRV train arrives in Edmonton on time and on budget". StarMetro Edmonton. Archived from the original on August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  4. ^ Phil, Heidenreich (October 24, 2023). "Valley Line Southeast LRT to finally open for Edmonton passengers after nearly 3-year delay". Global Edmonton. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Cite error: The named reference BombardierFlexityFreedomBrochure was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b c Ramsay, Caley (July 27, 2018). "Edmonton's new Light Rail Vehicle for Valley Line LRT on display". Global News. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  7. ^ Thompson, John (August 10, 2018). "First Flexity low-floor in Edmonton". railwayage.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Bombardier Transportation Seminar" (PDF). October 11, 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  9. ^ "Bombardier Wins Order to Supply Light Rail Transit System for City of Edmonton's Valley Line in Canada". Bombardier Transportation. Archived from the original on February 16, 2016. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference LeLezard2011-10-03 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).