Valmet Nr II

Nr II
An MLNRV class tram (Nr II refitted with low-floor midsection) at Hakaniemi, Helsinki
In service	1983–present
Manufacturer	Valmet
Built at	Valmet airplane factory, Tampere
Constructed	1983–87
Entered service	1983
Refurbishment	1996–2005 2006 onwards (addition of low-floor middle section)
Number built	42
Number in service	42
Fleet numbers	71–112
Capacity	39 seats, 100 standing (original) 49 seats, 120 standing (low-floor)
Operator(s)	Helsinki City Transport (HKL)
Line(s) served	All HKL tram lines
Specifications
Car length	20 m (65 ft 7 in) original construction 26.50 m (86 ft 11 in) with low-floor midsection
Width	2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
Height	3.7 m (12 ft 2 in) with pantograph
Floor height	0.91 m (3 ft 0 in) 0.39 m (1 ft 3 in) low-floor section
Maximum speed	60 km/h (37 mph)
Weight	27.2 t (26.8 long tons; 30.0 short tons) (original) 33.5 t (33.0 long tons; 36.9 short tons) (low-floor)
Traction system	2×Strömberg GHCU / H6232
Power output	2 × 130 kW (original) 2 × 156 kW (low-floor)
Braking system(s)	track/disc/electric
Track gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in)

Nr II is a class of articulated six-axle (B′2′B′ wheel arrangement), chopper-driven tram operated by Helsinki City Transport (HKL) on the Helsinki tram network. All trams of this type were built by the Finnish metal industry corporation Valmet between the years 1983 and 1987.

Between 1996 and 2005 all trams in the class were modernised by HKL and redesignated as Nr II+ class. From 2006 onwards all trams of this class will be rebuilt with a low-floor midsection. Currently, when all the units have been rebuilt with a low-floor midsection, the whole class has been redesignated as MLNRV II.

The Nr II class was a further development of the Nr I class built by Valmet for the HKL between 1973 and 1975 (the Nr I was in turn based on the popular Düwag-built GT6 class). The Nr I and Nr II classes are virtually identical in their exterior and interior designs, with exception of the tail lights.

The first three Nr II class trams were delivered to Helsinki City Transport (HKL) in 1983, followed by an additional 11 in both 1984 and 1985, further ten in 1986, and the final seven in 1987.

The first tram in the class entered service for HKL in July 1983.

Between 1996 and 2005, all trams in this class were modernised with updates to the technics, changes to the interior layout, addition of electronic displays displaying the name of the next stop, as well as replacement of the original seats with new ones. Following the modernisation, the class was re-designated as Nr II+.

On July 21, 2003, one of the Nr II-class trams derailed at high speed in the junction between Mannerheimintie and Aleksanterinkatu in central Helsinki, and collided with a motorcycle, which resulted in the death of the motorcyclist.

An investigation into the causes of the accident revealed, that the driver of the tram had lost consciousness shortly before the collision due to extreme heat in the cockpit of the tram. As a result of the accident, HKL redesigned the windshield of the Nr II class trams, adding a large vizor that contains an air conditioning unit, which also shields the driver from direct sunlight.