Light Rail for Bielefeld

When a father and son team up to transport a light rail vehicle across Germany, smooth operations are practically guaranteed—especially for Universal Transport. In early December, our skilled drivers, Rene and Alexander Wobst (24), joined forces to transport a Vamos series tram manufactured by Heiterblick in Leipzig to the moBiel light rail fleet in Bielefeld. Accompanying them in the escort vehicle (BF3) was colleague Thomas Bennarndt.

For this mission, a heavy-duty truck equipped with a low-bed trailer and an overall length of 50 meters was deployed. The low-bed trailer features a rail track bed on the trailer that can be individually adjusted to match the railway track gauge. This unique design allows the light rail vehicle to be smoothly winched from the tracks onto the trailer via a ramp and subsequently unloaded directly from the trailer onto the tracks at destination. This method eliminates crane costs and the need to disconnect overhead power lines. Paderborn-based Universal Transport is proud to operate Europe’s largest fleet of vehicles custom-designed to handle this specific transport category.

The prompt and reliable delivery of the light rail system, measuring approximately 34 meters in length and weighing 55 tonnes, was made possible by several weeks of meticulous planning and preparation. Universal Transport took on the master contract, assuming responsibility for the entire organization, including route surveys, securing all necessary permits, truck dispatching, police coordination, and arranging escort vehicles. Subsequently, another Vamos train is scheduled for delivery approximately every four weeks. In total, 24 second-series Vamos trams are expected to be delivered to Bielefeld by 2022.