SIEMENS Infrastructure & Cities has been commissioned to set up a turnkey tram system in Qatar’s capital city Doha. In addition to 19 trams, the scope of delivery to customer Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development also includes signal and communication technology, the rail electrification system and equipping a depot. The order is worth more than 100 million euros ($125 million), and the trams will start running from fall 2015.

They will be in operation without overhead contact lines (OCL) on an 11.5 km track with 25 stations. They will be equipped with an energy storage system from Siemens with recharging at the stations even on the shortest stops. In addition, up to 30 per cent of the energy used can be reused for driving the trams by recovering braking energy. The cars will also be adapted to cope with the extreme climatic conditions in the region. A powerful air conditioning system and special insulation on the roof will provide protection from the sun’s rays and high outdoor temperatures.

The order is part of Qatar’s preparations for the 2022 Soccer World Cup. By then, around $60 billion will have been invested in expanding the country’s infrastructure. Qatar is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and the Institute for International Finances (IIF) in Washington expects 8.2 per cent growth in GDP for 2012.

The Qatar Foundation is a regional centre of excellence in education and research that will help transform Qatar into a knowledge-based society as part of the Qatar National Vision 2030. It will house a unique cluster of top universities and world-class research and technology centres.

The Siemens Infrastructure & Cities Sector is helping to improve the quality of life over the long term for people in urban areas through its sustainable technologies. One example of this is the turnkey tram system in Doha, for which various units in the sector are pooling their know-how in order to optimise mobility for the people, use energy more efficiently and save CO2.

Vehicles have been ordered that are based on the Avenio platform, the most up-to-date tram in the world. The low-floor technology and ergonomic design offer passengers a high level of comfort. In addition, the energy storage system for optimising energy consumption and the OCL-free operation make Avenio a role model for sustainable, rail-bound local transport. The 19 cars that Siemens will supply will each have three cars and be able to accommodate up to a maximum of 239 passengers.

The Siemens Infrastructure & Cities Sector (Munich, Germany), with approximately 87,000 employees, offers sustainable technologies for metropolitan areas and their infrastructures. Its offerings include integrated mobility solutions, building and security technology, power distribution, smart grid applications, and low- and medium-voltage products. The sector comprises the divisions Rail Systems, Mobility and Logistics, Low and Medium Voltage, Smart Grid, Building Technologies and Osram AG.