Testing, testing.

In preparation for the 2022 World Cup, Qatar Foundation is contracting German engineering company Siemens to install an energy-efficient tram system, the company has announced.

The $123 million deal will provide QF with 19 trams to serve 25 stations, covering some 11.5 km of track by the fall of 2015, Siemens said, adding that:

Each Avenio tram can carry up to 239 passengers, and will be specially equipped to cope with the country’s climatic conditions.

In addition to an extra powerful air-conditioning system, special sun shades on the roof will protect the electrical equipment from radiant heat.

This is not QF’s first foray into finding a transportation solution to help students, staff and visitors navigate the sprawling Education City campus, which can be difficult to traverse especially in the summer months.

In late 2010, it introduced silver and gold locomotive style trains to reduce traffic and shuttle people across schools.

But it quickly scrapped the slow-moving, expensive trains, which ran on diesel and was the subject of much ridicule on campus for its amusement-park style feel (it was dubbed the “Hogwarts Express” by some).

QF had also discussed linking Education City and Bahrain as part of a high-speed causeway, but that plan has been shelved for now.

Thoughts?

Credit: Top image courtesy of Siemens; second photo by the Daily Q