Improvements
When designing and ordering the Rhein-Neckar-Tram, a wide range of interests were taken into account. On the one hand, operational and technical requirements such as metre gauge, swivel joints, low wear, operational safety and a high passenger capacity in the face of constantly growing passenger numbers. On the other hand, we also considered the requirements that the diversity of our passengers brings with it, namely accessibility and comfort in the vehicles. The latter were determined in the course of a dialogue process in cooperation with numerous associations for people with disabilities as well as during roadshows with the RNT mock-up - a full-size walk-in model - with our passengers.
The identified requirements were scientifically evaluated, prioritised and harmonised with the framework conditions. The results were incorporated into the exterior and interior design of the RNT. With the new Rhein-Neckar-Tram generation, rnv offers passengers modern and comfortable mobility in an appealing ambience and also expands the much sought-after capacities in rail transport.
In addition, longer vehicles will be purchased for all parts of the transport area, meaning that some of the current 30-metre-long vehicles in Mannheim, Ludwigshafen and Heidelberg will be replaced by new 40-metre-long vehicles.
Instead of today's 40-metre-long trams, 60-metre-long units will increasingly be on the move in future, which will allow a significant increase in capacity and thus more seats for passengers.
Exterior: Timelessly Elegant Design and Modern Technical Accents
At first glance, the Rhein-Neckar-Tram stands out with its clear, unagitated and timelessly elegant exterior design. It sets an accent in the cityscape and at the same time blends harmoniously into the respective spatial context, in the urban city centre as well as in the rural suburbs.
Colour Scheme and Design
The colours of the rnv brand identity can be found in longitudinal stripes on the vehicle. The exterior design is defined by the striking vehicle front, which is characterised by modern LED lighting units. At the same time, the front of the vehicle fulfils all operational and legal requirements such as compliance with railway and tram crash standards, a sufficient field of vision for drivers and ensuring optimum pedestrian protection.
Innovative Door Lighting and Proven Door Buttons
The door areas of the new Rhein-Neckar-Trams have new light labelling to improve the boarding and alighting situation. The colour-coded door panels also make it easier to find the doors on the vehicle.
Green indicates that the door is open and boarding is possible. Red indicates that the door is closing. Further access is no longer possible.
The colour-coded door buttons for regular (yellow) and extended (blue) door opening are located both inside the vehicles and on the outside of all doors. The blue buttons initiate the extended door opening, which enables customers with limited mobility in particular to board and alight the vehicle safely and comfortably.
Interior: High Quality of Stay and Functionality
The interior of the new Rhein-Neckar-Tram is clearly structured and visually appealing in order to offer passengers a pleasant ambience and a high quality of stay. The surfaces and panelling are finished in light grey. The upholstery of the seats features a triangular motif that echoes the spatial structures of the Rhine-Neckar region: the three federal states, the three regional centres and the regional triangle of tracks served by the rnv.
Comfortable Seats in Upholstered and Wooden Versions and Innovative Seating Concept
Using public transport should be as comfortable as possible. The design of the seats plays an important role in the comfort and well-being of passengers, especially on longer journeys.
The new Rhein-Neckar-Trams therefore feature ergonomically optimised seats in an innovative and particularly customer-friendly arrangement:
Seating Groups
Wherever it is structurally possible, the adjacent seats of a four-seater group are installed slightly offset. This means that the aisle seats are slightly offset in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle compared to the directly adjacent window seats - a small measure with a big effect. This makes it easier to reach the window seats. At the same time, the seats are more comfortable as the shoulders of the passengers no longer touch each other.
Seat Design
The upholstered seats have a new surface design. The main colour of the textile upholstery is in classic rnv blue. Some of the seats have a natural wood surface. This innovation is based on the results of the dialogue process. In a mobile presentation exhibition between October and December 2018 in the city centres of Mannheim, Ludwigshafen, Heidelberg and Viernheim as well as in the Rhein-Neckar-Tram Infocenter, interested citizens were able to take a live look at the various seat designs, try them out extensively and give feedback on their preferred upholstery colour and the wooden seats, which performed well.
Efficient Air Conditioning For Hot Summer Days
The new vehicles are equipped with powerful air conditioning systems to ensure that customers are as comfortable as possible on hot summer days.
In addition, a large proportion of the humidity is removed from the air, which further improves the interior climate. For cooling operation, special consideration was given to the climate changes to be expected during the service life of the vehicles in order to ensure noticeable cooling of the vehicles even when temperatures rise in summer.
Each vehicle segment is supplied by its own air conditioning unit. If an air conditioning unit is unavailable due to a technical fault, the remaining units in the other vehicle segments can provide a partial replacement. In winter, the air conditioning units act as energy-efficient heat pump heaters to ensure a pleasant and constant temperature.
Innovative Ambient Lighting
The two light strips on the vehicle ceiling ensure uniform illumination of the interior and can also be controlled in terms of their colour temperature. Depending on the situation, the LED lights can be shifted to a bluish-cool colour value in the morning, which has a more stimulating effect. In the evening, a warm colour range can be selected that has a calming effect.
Multimedia Passenger Information in Real Time
One of the central functions of every bus and every tram is good and easy-to-understand passenger information to enable passengers to board the right vehicle.
Display Fields
The line number and destination of the Rhein-Neckar-Tram are displayed in large, high-contrast orange LED lettering at both ends of the vehicle and in all vehicle segments in the display panels in the upper part of the body. As before, important intermediate stops and information on diversions or replacement services are also displayed.
TFT Displays
In the interior, high-resolution TFT displays offer a comprehensive range of information on the current journey: destination, line number, upcoming stops, transfer options and general information are familiar contents that can be offered in the new trains in an easy-to-read design.
Real-Time Information
The displays can also show dynamic real-time information on connections, planned diversions, construction work or current service disruptions. This function makes it easier to find your way around the current operations of the rnv network and ensures an optimum supply of information relevant to your journey at all times.
Infotainment and No Outdoor Advertising
In addition to the classic passenger information, the new vehicles will be equipped with additional infotainment screens in the area of the articulations and transition portals, which can be used for additional information, news tickers or advertising content. In return, there will be no external advertising.
Wi-Fi
In order to provide passengers with a modern communication network, the Rhein-Neckar-Tram will be equipped with Wi-Fi hotspots.