Photo © User Tramhendi – Wikimedia Commons (image cropped)
Hallesche Verkehrs-AG (HAVAG) has commissioned Ruf Avatech AG to equip 42 existing MGTK tram vehicles with a new, modern emergency intercom system. HAVAG is a company of the Stadtwerke Halle Group in Halle (Saale), the largest city in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt.
VisiWeb Emergency intercom station in the door pillar trim
Refit-Project
This is a refit project in which existing rolling stock, in this case trams built in 2005 or 2014, are being upgraded with the latest technology. The equipment with emergency intercom systems is required by German law. Section 46 of the tram construction and operation regulations (BOStrab) states:
«Passenger vehicles of a train that are not manned by operating staff must have permanently available facilities for an emergency intercom connection between passengers and the driver.»
The vehicles must be equipped with emergency intercom systems by the end of 2024 so that the legal requirement is implemented and they can continue to operate. In order to be able to meet this tight deadline, HAVAG chose a solution that is readily available on the market, which on the one hand has already proven itself many times and on the other hand can be easily adapted to the special, operator-specific requirements by configuration.
Control panel in the driver’s cab
Operator-specific standard solution
HAVAG opted for Ruf’s VisiWeb emergency intercom system, consisting of the intercom stations in the passenger compartment and the equipment in the driver’s cab. Each vehicle consists of two carriages in which a VisiWeb emergency call station is installed directly under the emergency brake at each large door. The narrow design of the call station allows it to be installed even in the often limited space available in trams and underground trains.
The status is clearly signalled by green illuminated symbols.
In the driver’s cab, the VisiWeb emergency intercom system uses the existing gooseneck microphone, but has its own loudspeaker that can never be muted. As the vehicles always run in double traction, the custom-built control panel indicates to the driver whether the emergency call is coming from the leading or guided vehicle. All communication takes place via the on-board Ethernet network.
Easy to operate – very important in case of emergency
The VisiWeb emergency call stations have a large pushbutton with a moulded inscription SOS, which can also be haptically grasped by visually impaired persons. A red illuminated ring indicates that the unit is ready for operation. In an emergency situation, this button is pressed by the passengers, establishing direct voice contact with the driving personnel. The triggering of the emergency call is acknowledged both visually and acoustically at the emergency call station and the call status is signalled by green illuminated symbols.
Trial operation started
After successful commissioning and a functional test by two Ruf System Engineers on site, two highly equipped MGTK vehicles have been in operation since Monday, 10 October 2022 to test the new intercom systems in passenger service. The remaining vehicles will be equipped after completion of the trial operation in the course of 2023
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