New LRV for Gothenburg: Felix Caspari Provides Insight into the Flagship Project

1. Felix, what exactly does your role as overall project manager entail? 

As the overall project manager, I am responsible for the entire coordination of the project—from the initial planning phase to the final commissioning of the LRV. This process includes several critical phases: the development of electrical equipment, procurement and production of all components, validation and approval, and, finally, the commissioning and handover of the trams to the customer. My focus is on coordinating the various teams and partners, ensuring quality standards, and adhering to time and budget requirements. There are always unforeseen challenges that we must handle. I see myself as an “entrepreneur within the company” – I have the freedom to make many decisions independently and thus assume significant responsibility for my work area.

2. What do you see as the biggest challenges in this project? 

One of the biggest challenges is the large number of stakeholders with whom we work closely – various contacts at our customers and the partner Alstom, external suppliers, and, of course, the internal departments at KIEPE. We are responsible for all the electrical equipment, from traction and systems to vehicle wiring and systems like air conditioning, displays, and cameras. That’s quite a lot of electric equipement in a 45-meter-long modern rail vehicle. Another exciting challenge comes from the international nature of the project: we work across multiple countries, speak three different languages, and operate in diverse cultural contexts. A small but striking example: all operating manuals and documentation must be delivered in Swedish. Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic also brought some unexpected challenges. The project team did an incredible job here. Despite these hurdles, we are currently successfully pushing ahead with the delivery of the M34 as quickly and smoothly as possible.

3. Where do you see KIEPE's particular strengths in such projects? 

KIEPE is characterized by its flexibility – we are not a cumbersome corporation with complex structures. The flat hierarchies and fewer contact points allow us to act quickly and agilely. Both in product design and in desired changes, we can respond individually and flexibly. Another major advantage is the extensive expertise that KIEPE brings to the field of vehicle control and monitoring system. It always impresses me how we convince customers through functionality and reliability with our technology and gain their satisfaction.

4. What was your personal highlight in this project? 

My personal highlight was definitely the successful approval of the new M34 LRV and the start of passenger operations for the first four vehicles in Gothenburg at the beginning of 2025. It is always a special moment for me to be on-site and experience the progress of the project up close. I am particularly proud that we have not only improved passenger comfort but also made a significant contribution to more sustainable and environmentally friendly mobility in Gothenburg.

You can find the original article on the topic of "Superspårvagnen" in Gothenburg via the following link:

Erste „Superspårvagnen“ in Göteborg am Start: 45-Meter-Straßenbahn mit KIEPE-Technologie nimmt Passagierbetrieb auf - Kiepe Electric