Saarbrücken, Germany

Delivery: 1997-2000

Since 1997 15 dual system light rail vehicles, with a 48% low-floor, have been in operation with the Stadtbahn Saar GmbH (SBS). 13 new light rail vehicles joined them at the end of 2000. Together the dual system light rail vehicles have now proven themselves on the 46 kilometres long route with a running distance of over 4 million kilometres.

These vehicles run on completely new routes in the centre of the city and on a DC 750 V line. Outside of the city, in suburban or regional traffic the vehicles change to existing railway lines of the DB AG (Deutsche Bahn AG i.E. German Railway) which have been adapted according to requirements, with a line voltage of AC 15 kV/16 2/3 Hz. Between the electric traction networks of the DB AG and those of SBS are earthed phase breaks. When the vehicle leaves one network an automatic changing over to the other network system takes place. For the operation in the network of the DB AG a transformer and two four-quadrant controllers in IGBT technology reduce and rectify the voltage for the DC 750 V equipment The 15 kV equipment and propulsion electronic Systems installed are trendsetting regarding weight energy consumption and maintenance. Recuperation for both systems, 750 V and 15 kV operation, is possible.

The topographic conditions in the Saarland require the application of an allwheel driven vehicle. For the 750 V operation Kiepe has developed a traction inverter which sets the standard for three-phase AC traction systems by consequent use of all advantages of modern components for power and control electronic.

The GTO pulse inverter fed directly from line voltage and controlled by the microprocessor drive/brake control unit in combination with a robust and maintenance-free three phase asynchronous motor represents the latest state of the technical art. When designing the traction equipment greatest importance was attached to economical operation and energy consumption.

Down to temperatures at the freezing point, the energy for heating is, for example, completely generated by braking operations. For the on-board power supply a newly developed Static Converter in modular System equipped with IGBT-technology is used which is provided with a diagnostic system, like the other electronic Kiepe products.

Most of the control wiring is superfluous, as the electrical devices are controlled via the serial data bus system developed by Kiepe, which only needs a double pole ring circuit. As the vehicles run on two different systems they are equipped with two independent radio systems, INDUSI Equipment (automatic train stop) for the network of the DB AG and ZUB Systems (automatic warning systems) for the network of SBS.

Kiepe is responsible for the engineering and supply of the electrical equipment, e.g.:
- Direct Pulse Inverter
- Auxiliary Static Converter
- Traction motors and gear-box units
- Electronic Traction and Braking Controller
- Main Control Unit 
- 15 kV equipment
- On-board Information and Control System
- Diagnostic System
- Master Controller
- Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning System
- Passenger Information System
- ATP (automatic train protection)
- Train Control System
- Other components and devices, such as braking resistors, contactors,
  lighting etc.

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