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The T-68 is a model of light rail passenger vehicle that operated on the Manchester Metrolink network in England between 1992 and 2014. It was part of the Firema range of vehicles, built specifically as a high-floor, articulated bi-directional tram to operate solely on the Manchester Metrolink system. The T-68s were constructed by the Italian manufacturer AnsaldoBreda at their factory in Naples Italy, entering service in 1992.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Metrolink Trams )〕 The vehicles are atypical of vehicles used on light rail systems throughout the world, in that they are accessed by doors at a height of from the ground, in order to be compatible with standard high-floor heavy railway platform, as were inherited by Metrolink. Six modified variants of the T-68 (known as the T-68A) were added in 1999. In July 2012 it was announced by Transport for Greater Manchester that all T-68 and T-68A vehicles would be replaced by M5000s by 2014. The last T-68 was withdrawn on 26 May 2014. ==T-68== A single car prototype bodyshell numbered 1000 and given the name ''The Larry Sullivan'' was built in Italy in 1990 and delivered to Manchester for public exhibition to promote the system. It featured an orange and white Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive livery. It was later reliveried in the first Metrolink livery and it is now preserved and displayed at the Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester. The first T-68s entered service on 6 April 1992. Initially 25 (1001-1025) were ordered, with a further one ordered to simplify scheduling problems. When the Eccles line opened three (1005, 1010 and 1015) were modified to run alongside the new T-68As. Later all bar 1018 - 1020 were similarly modified. All the modified T-68s were designated T-68-M (Modified) but this designation was rarely used publicly. The modifications included retractable couplers, covered bogies, and several other electronic modifications. All the T-68s were built with retractable steps; this is because Manchester's city stops were originally low height at the rear of the platform and passengers alighting from the rear unit of a double tram would need assistance from one of these steps. They were therefore only accessible from the rear tram of a double unit, although since then, the city centre stops have been rebuilt meaning that the only chance passengers had to use these steps was at Mosley Street, though this stop closed in May 2013. Vehicle 1007 had non standard seating with higher backs and more rounded grab handles. The tram was named East Lancashire Railway at a ceremony at Bury Interchange by Pete Waterman on 31 May 2009. The final three T-68s were withdrawn on 10 February 2014.〔(Manchester Metrolink ) British Trams Online〕 Another vehicle 1003 was later given the new Metrolink livery. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「T-68」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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