Innovations on rails

The latest Belarusian tram is making its way through the cities of Belarus and Russia

The Minsk-based enterprise BKM Holding, formerly known as Belkommunmash, has developed an innovative tram that sets new standards for comfort, safety, and environmental friendliness in this segment of urban public transport. A closer look at the new model, designated T811, reveals exciting features.

New tram model T811 by BKM Holding                BKM Holding

The first thing that captures attention is the pointed nose of the carriage. Its avant-garde design resembles that of a high-speed train, but it serves a crucial function: its shape prevents distracted pedestrians from getting under the tram’s wheels. Furthermore, the tram driver now has an unobstructed view of the front of the vehicle, aided by an additional mirror that enhances visibility.
Upon entering the tram, passengers are welcomed with a completely flat floor that is nearly level with the stop surface, without the traditional step. Boarding is now as effortless as entering a subway carriage. For passengers with reduced mobility, a foldable ramp is available with the simple press of a call button for the driver. This accessibility feature allows these passengers to settle in on the designated space opposite the entrance doors, alongside passengers with prams, suitcases, and other bulky items.
And, of course, what would modern transport be without electronics? Air conditioning, charging ports for gadgets, and cameras transmitting images from the interior and the driver’s cabin to the dispatch centre are all part of the familiar reality. 
When the doors open, they glow with green lights, while a warning red signal illuminates during closing, accompanied by an audible alert. There’s no need to worry about getting caught in the closing doors. The door leaves are designed to avoid any injury, and in extreme situations, the tram will not move until it is safe. The introduction of so-called ‘hot buttons’ allows passengers to open the doors at their discretion.
Driver comfort, especially in the bustling city traffic, has been given special attention. They now have access to a state-of-the-art control panel loaded with indicators and buttons, displaying real-time imagery of what’s happening inside and around the tram. Electronic assistants reduce psychological strain for the driver and can halt the tram in emergency situations. In the event of a contact network failure, the tram can travel up to a kilometre using energy storage systems.
The tram runs astonishingly quietly, allowing for conversations without raising one’s voice. “The T811 model implements various measures aimed at noise reduction,” explained Oleg Bytsko, Deputy General Director for Innovation Development at BKM Holding. “These include several stages of spring suspension; rubber inserts between the wheel rim and its hub eliminate direct metal contact. I would like to underscore that key components — such as low-floor bogies, the chassis, and most of the electronics — have been developed by our company, drawing on global achievements as well as the experience of our Russian colleagues.

We strive to localise as much of our production as possible within our facilities and at associated enterprises in Belarus. For example, the Mogilevliftmash plant has supplied prototype engines that will be tested in the trams for Minsk. Additionally, the rail brake for the bogie is our collaborative development with Minsk Electrotechnical Plant named after V. I. Kozlov.”

This year, BKM Holding plans to deliver two dozen bright turquoise innovative trams to Minsk. Similar vehicles — in white, red, and other colours — are already in operation on the rails in the Belarusian city of Mozyr, as well as in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Krasnodar, and Barnaul. This experience has been taken into account in the manufacture of trams for the Belarusian capital city. “Passenger feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. We hope that residents of Minsk will also appreciate the new vehicles,” concluded Oleg Bytsko. Next in line is the delivery of innovative carriages to Vitebsk.
The updated electric bus Vitovt from BKM Holding also showcases progressive innovations. It is expected that in the coming year, the enterprise will supply around 150 units of electric transport to the Belarusian capital city, with increasing deliveries to allied Russia.

TO THE POINT

BKM Holding is already considering autonomous urban public transport. According to research conducted across 16 countries, Belarus ranks seventh in this field, while Russia is among the top three leaders. By combining efforts, even greater results can be achieved.

By Vladimir Yakovlev