Bombardier Cobra

In 1992, a consortium of Swiss rolling stock manufacturers proposed a new design of low-floor articulated tram.

The design was targeted for Zürich and Basel, but manufacturers hoped other tram operators would be interested.

The wheel pairs of the trucks are not connected by axles but pivot individually and are steered into curves.

It was hoped that this individual pivot design would reduce wear and noise and increase passenger comfort.

The tram body would have been manufactured by Schindler Group, who proposed to make it from a synthetic material.

In order to convince potential buyers and gain experience with the design, the manufacturing consortium set about creating a prototype.

Basel was lost as a potential customer when the city opted for the Combino design by Siemens.

Following the loss of business to Combino, the design of Cobra was reassessed and it was found necessary to modify the construction again.

Many questioned the choice of Schindler's Cobra over the already tested Combino series from Siemens which had been selected by both Basel and Bern.

The first models of the Cobra prototype were delivered in May 2001 after organisational changes within Schindler, Adtranz and Bombardier caused delays and renegotiations.

The subsequent problems with structural weakness and noise within the new trams caused them to be quickly withdrawn from service.