List of town tramway systems in Germany

This is a list of town tramway systems in Germany by Land. It includes all tram systems, past and present. Cities with currently operating systems, and those systems themselves, are indicated in bold and blue background colored rows. Those tram systems that operated on other than standard gauge track (where known) are indicated in the 'Notes' column.

Baden-Württemberg

[edit]
Name of System Location Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
  Baden-Baden Electric 24 Jan 1910 28 Feb 1951 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Esslingen Electric 24 May 1912 7 Jul 1944 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Esslingen – NellingenDenkendorf Electric 19 Dec 1926 28 Feb 1978 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Trams in Freiburg im Breisgau Freiburg im Breisgau Electric 14 Oct 1901   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Heidelberg Horse 13 May 1885 7 Oct 1902 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 17 Mar 1903   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
See also: Mannheim.
  Heidelberg – Schwetzingen   ? 4 Jan 1974  
  Schwetzingen – Ketsch Electric 12 Dec 1910 31 Mar 1938 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Walldorf (in Baden) Horse 22 Feb 1902 21 Feb 1907 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 22 Feb 1907 1 Aug 1954 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Separate undertaking to 3 September 1945.
  Wiesloch Horse 1 Sep 1886 4 Jul 1901 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Heidelberg – Wiesloch Electric 24 Jul 1901 16 Jun 1973  
  Heilbronn (am Neckar) Electric 29 May 1897 1 Apr 1955 Original tramway closed in 1955.
  Electric 2001   Heilbronn Stadtbahn: segment reopened as part of Karlsruhe Stadtbahn light rail regional system.
Trams in Karlsruhe Karlsruhe Horse 21 Jan 1877 19 Mar 1900  
Steam 16 Jul 1881 19 Mar 1900  
Accumulator (storage battery) 10 Feb 1900 1903  
Electric 10 Feb 1900    
Karlsruhe Stadtbahn Electric 25 Sep 1992   Light rail
Alb Valley Railway KarlsruheEttlingenBad Herrenalb Steam 1 Dec 1897 1911  
Electric 1 Dec 1898    
Karlsruhe – Ettlingen   1 Dec 1897    
Ettlingen – Bad Herrenalb   2 Jul 1898   Opened in stages, completed 2 July 1898.
Branch BusenbachIttersbach   10 Apr 1899    
  Lörrach Electric 16 Nov 1919 31 Aug 1967 Worked by tramcars hired from Basel Switzerland tramway. Operation suspended 1 September 1939 – 11 May 1947 because of closure of border.
Trams in Mannheim/Ludwigshafen Mannheim Horse 2 Jun 1878 22 May 1902  
Steam 6 May 1884 23 Mar 1914  
Electric 10 Dec 1900   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Operated jointly with Ludwigshafen system (q.v.). See also Heidelberg.
Upper Rhine Railway Company (OGE) Mannheim – Heidelberg Steam 12 Dec 1887 31 Aug 1956  
Electric 10 Dec 1900   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Mannheim – Heidelberg       Opened 1892. Electrified 1928–1929.
Mannheim – Weinheim       Opened 1887; electrified 1915.
Heidelberg – Weinheim       Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Opened 1890; electrified 1949–1956.
  Müllheim Steam 15 Feb 1896 1913 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 7 Apr 1914 22 May 1955 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Müllheim – Badenweiler     22 May 1955  
  Pforzheim Electric 1 Dec 1911 10 Oct 1964 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  RavensburgWeingartenBaienfurt Steam 6 Jan 1888 12 Sep 1911 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 1 Sep 1910 1 Jul 1959 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Reutlingen Steam 1 Nov 1899 24 Jul 1912 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 24 Jul 1912 19 Oct 1974 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Stuttgart Horse 28 Jul 1868 28 Nov 1896  
Electric 26 Sep 1895   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
First tunnel segment opened 1966.
Stuttgart Stadtbahn Electric 28 Sep 1985   Light rail. Stuttgart Stadtbahn operates on standard gauge, after the previous tram system was converted from metre gauge.
  Bad Cannstatt Electric 20 Jul 1899   Separate undertaking to 1 January 1919.
  Feuerbach Electric 30 Dec 1926   Separate undertaking to 1 January 1934.
  Rack tramway Steam 23 Aug 1884 1907  
Electric 1 May 1904    
Trams in Ulm Ulm (an der Donau) Electric 15 May 1897   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)

Bavaria (Bayern)

[edit]
Name of System Location Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
Trams in Augsburg Augsburg Horse 8 May 1881 31 Aug 1898  
Steam 12 Sept 1886 15 June 1887  
Electric 1 Sep 1898   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Bamberg Electric 1 Nov 1897 10 June 1922 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Hof (an der Saale) Electric 5 Aug 1901 14 Nov 1922 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Ingolstadt (an der Donau) Horse 10 Nov 1878 3 Mar 1921  
(Electric)     Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Construction on tramway started, but not completed (c.1914).
  Landshut (in Bayern) Horse 1 July 1902 1913 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 15 Jan 1913 18 Mar 1945 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Closed because of war damage.
Trams in Munich
(owned by MVG)
Munich (München) Horse 21 Oct 1876 1 Nov 1900  
Steam 9 Jun 1883 15 Jul 1900  
Accumulator (storage battery) 1 Jul 1886 17 Jul 1895  
Electric 23 Jun 1895    
Trams in Nuremberg Nuremberg (Nürnberg) Horse 25 Aug 1881 20 Jul 1898  
Electric 7 May 1896     Gauge: 1,432 mm (4 ft 8+38 in) (formerly, since converted to standard gauge)
  Nuremberg – Fürth Steam 7 Dec 1835 31 Oct 1922 Bayerische Ludwigsbahn, Nürnberg – Fürth, first railway in Germany.
Electric ? 21 Jun 1981 Express tramway, built on alignment of closed railway (Ludwigsbahn). Closed, together with remaining tramway lines in Fürth, because of U-Bahn (metro) construction.
  Regensburg Electric 21 Apr 1903 1 Aug 1964 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Schweinfurt Horse 5 May 1895 31 Jan 1921 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Trams in Würzburg Würzburg Horse 8 Apr 1892 4 Oct 1900 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 30 Jun 1900
18 Sep 1924
20 Apr 1920
 
Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Reopened as a new undertaking (in 1924); see also: Trams in Würzburg.

Berlin

[edit]
Name of System Location Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
Trams in Berlin
(owned by BVG)
Berlin Horse 22 Jun 1865 8 Dec 1907  
Steam 5 May 1886 1919  
Accumulator (storage battery) 8 Feb 1895 1902  
Electric 16 May 1881   Note: Berlin tramway divided into East Berlin and West Berlin systems from 16 January 1953. West Berlin tramway lines replaced by motorbus starting from 1954, with final West Berlin tram closure on 2 October 1967. (See Trams in Berlin.) Following German reunification, some tramlines have returned to the western part of the city.
  AdlershofAltglienicke Electric 5 Jun 1909 31 Dec 1992 Separate tram undertaking to 16 April 1921.
  Buchholz Horse 9 Jul 1904 8 Dec 1907  
Electric 8 Dec 1907   Separate tram undertaking to 22 July 1907.
  Heiligensee an der Havel Electric 29 May 1913 1 Jun 1958 Separate tram undertaking to 3 December 1920.
  Köpenick (Cöpenick) Horse 18 Oct 1882 11 Aug 1903  
Electric 11 Aug 1903   Separate tram undertaking to 1 October 1920.
  SchmöckwitzGrünau Petrol 9 Mar 1912 27 July 1912 The planned overhead line was not set up due to public protests regarding a ruined view of the waterfront. Higher than expected passenger numbers caused the management to change quickly its mind and to commission AEG with the installation of the overhead line.
Electric 27 Jul 1912   Separate tram undertaking to 30 September 1924.
  Spandau Horse 5 Jun 1892 17 Mar 1896 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 18 Mar 1896 27 Oct 1907 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Converted to standard gauge.
Electric 28 Oct 1907 2 Oct 1967 Converted from metre gauge.
Electric 18 Mar 1896 2 Oct 1967 Separate undertaking by AEG to 1 August 1920.
  Spandau – Nonnendamm Electric 30 Sep 1908 2 Oct 1967  
  Spandau West – Hennigsdorf Petrol 1 Aug 1923 11 Nov 1929  
Electric 11 Nov 1929 _ Apr 1945  
Grunewaldbahn Steglitz Electric 3 Dec 1905 2 May 1963  
  Berlin-LichterfeldeSteglitzSüdende stationMariendorf line Electric 16 May 1881 14 Feb 1930 Incorporated Gross-Lichterfelde Tramway opened 1881 by Siemens & Halske, as world's first electric tramway.[citation needed]
  Berlin-Lichterfelde – Teltow – StahnsdorfKleinmachnow (Canal lock) Steam 1 Jul 1888 30 Mar 1907  
Electric 30 Mar 1907 2 May 1966  

Brandenburg

[edit]
Name of System Location Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
Trams in Brandenburg an der Havel Brandenburg (an der Havel) Horse 1 Oct 1897 20 Apr 1911 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 1 Apr 1911   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Plaue (an der Havel) Electric 24 Dec 1912 28 Sep 2002 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Separate tram undertaking to 1 October 1952.
Trams in Cottbus Cottbus (Chóśebuz) Electric 8 Jul 1903   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Eberswalde Electric 1 Sep 1910 3 Nov 1940  
Trams in Frankfurt (Oder) Frankfurt an der Oder Electric 23 Jan 1898   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
See also: Słubice, List of town tramway systems in Poland.
  Guben Electric 24 Feb 1904 8 Jun 1938 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
See also: Gubin, List of town tramway systems in Poland.
  Jüterbog Horse 21 Mar 1897 29 Jul 1928 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Küstrin Electric 16 May 1927 30 Jan 1945 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
See also: Kostrzyn nad Odrą;, List of town tramway systems in Poland.
Trams in Potsdam
(owned by ViP)
Potsdam Horse 11 May 1880 1 Sep 1907  
Electric 2 Sep 1907    
  Schöneiche (bei Berlin) Petrol 28 Aug 1910 30 May 1914 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 30 May 1914   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Strausberg Railway Strausberg Steam 17 Aug 1893 15 Mar 1921  
Electric 18 Mar 1921    
  Werder (an der Havel) Horse 27 Jul 1895 7 Aug 1926 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Woltersdorf Tramway Woltersdorf (bei Berlin) Electric 17 May 1913    

Bremen

[edit]
Name of System Location Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
Trams in Bremen Bremen Horse 4 Jun 1875 31 Oct 1911  
Electric 22 Jun 1890    
  Bremerhaven Horse 26 Jun 1881 28 Aug 1908  
Accumulator (storage battery) 21 Aug 1898 31 Jul 1908  
Electric 4 Jun 1908 30 Jul 1982  

Hamburg

[edit]
Name of System Location Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
Trams in Hamburg Hamburg Horse 16 Aug 1866 18 Dec 1922  
Steam 13 May 1878 22 Jun 1897  
Electric 5 Mar 1894 1 Oct 1978 Hamburg is the only major German city with only a U-Bahn (Hamburg U-Bahn), but no extant tram or light rail system. The Hamburg tram network was one of oldest and largest in Germany and largest closed system.
  Hamburg-Harburg Electric 30 Sep 1899 24 Sep 1975  
  Alt-RahlstedtVolksdorf Electric 30 Oct 1906 15 Apr 1923 Town tramway service on local railway (kleinbahn).
  AltonaBlankenese Electric 26 Aug 1899 9 Nov 1921  
Name of System Location Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
  Bad Homburg (vor der Höhe) Electric 26 Jul 1899 31 Jul 1935 Served by line of Frankfurt am Main system to 1971 (this line was upgraded to the Frankfurt U-Bahn line that serves Bad Homburg).
Trams in Darmstadt Darmstadt Horse 25 Aug 1886 31 Mar 1922 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 24 Nov 1897   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  EltvilleSchlangenbad Steam 20 Jun 1895 17 Mar 1933 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Trams in Frankfurt am Main Frankfurt am Main Horse 19 May 1872 17 Jun 1904  
Steam 1 Sep 1888 13 Jul 1929  
Accumulator (storage battery) 1 Jan 1897 9 Sep 1900  
Electric 18 Feb 1884    
  Offenbach am Main Horse 10 Apr 1884 28 Oct 1906  
Electric 27 Oct 1906 3 Nov 1963. Operated as part of Trams in Frankfurt, 31 March 1907 – 3 November 1963. Offenbach am Main served by line of Trams in Frankfurt to 1 June 1996.
  Gießen Electric 20 Nov 1909 31 Mar 1953  
  Hanau Electric 15 Jun 1908 18 Mar 1945 Closed because of war damage.
Trams in Kassel Kassel Steam 9 Jul 1877 10 May 1899  
Horse 27 Apr 1884 28 Feb 1899  
Electric 14 Dec 1898   See also: Kassel RegioTram.
  Kassel – Wolfsanger Horse 24 Sep 1897 20 Oct 1911  
Electric 20 Oct 1911    
Herkulesbahn Kassel – Palmenbad, Brasselsberg, Herkules, Hohes Gras Electric 27 Apr 1903 12 Apr 1966 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Marburg (an der Lahn) Horse 1 Oct 1903 10 Oct 1911 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 28 Nov 1911 17 May 1951 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Wiesbaden Horse 16 Aug 1875 14 Aug 1900  
Steam 18 May 1889 27 Aug 1900 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 16 May 1896 30 Apr 1955 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
See also: Mainz in List of town tramway systems in Germany#Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz).

Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen)

[edit]
Name of System Location Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
  Bad Pyrmont Horse 1 Jun 1879 12 Mar 1925 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  BückeburgBad Eilsen Electric 1918 21 May 1966  
Trams in Braunschweig Braunschweig Horse 11 Oct 1879 24 Sep 1904 Gauge: 1,100 mm (3 ft 7+516 in)
Electric 28 Oct 1897   Gauge: 1,100 mm (3 ft 7+516 in)
  Celle Electric 1 Nov 1907 2 June 1956 Gauge: 1,100 mm (3 ft 7+516 in)
  Cuxhaven Petrol-electric (Benzolelektrisch) 6 Jul 1914 2 Aug 1914  
  Emden Electric 23 Feb 1902 30 Apr 1953 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Göttingen (Electric)     Construction on tramway started, but not completed (1914).
  Hanover Horse 16 Sep 1872 1897  
Accumulator (storage battery) 10 Sep 1895 20 Nov 1903  
Electric 19 May 1893   Converted to light rail – see: Hanover Stadtbahn
  Hanover – Hildesheim Electric 22 Mar 1899 16 Aug 1959  
  Hildesheim Electric 7 Aug 1905 22 Mar 1945 Closed because of war damage.
  Osnabrück Electric 31 Jan 1906 29 May 1960 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Wilhelmshaven Electric 17 Mar 1913 30 Mar 1945 Closed because of war damage.

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern)

[edit]
Name of System Location Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
Trams in Rostock Rostock Electric 16 Oct 1888    
Trams in Schwerin Schwerin Electric 1 Dec 1908    
  Stralsund Electric 25 Mar 1900 7 Apr 1966 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Warnemünde Electric 1 July 1910 30 Apr 1945 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Closed because of war damage.

North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen)

[edit]
Name of System Location Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
Trams in Aachen Aachen Horse 26 Dec 1880 10 Sep 1897  
Caustic soda (Natronmotor) Jun 1884 Mar 1885 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 15 Jul 1895 29 Sep 1974 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Eschweiler Electric 1897 6 Oct 1969  
  Stolberg Electric 1898 8 Jan 1967  
  Bad Salzuflen Horse 1 July 1909 1924 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Bad Salzuflen – Schötmar Horse 15 Jun 1912 1915  
Bielefeld Stadtbahn Bielefeld Electric 20 Dec 1900   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Converted to light rail in 1991.
  Düren Steam 1 Apr 1893 1913  
Electric 20 Nov 1913 30 June 1965  
Dürener Kreisbahn Düren – NörvenichBesenich Electric 6 Oct 1908 30 April 1963 Nörvenich – Besenich closed 31 January 1960. Düren – Nörvenich closed 30 April 1963.
  Gummersbach Electric 1 Oct 1915 4 Oct 1953  
  Herford Steam 10 Aug 1900 10 May 1932  
Electric 26 June 1930 22 April 1966 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Kleve Electric 1 Oct 1911 31 Mar 1962  
  Minden (in Westfalen) Steam 7 Sep 1893 7 Dec 1920 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 9 Dec 1920 29 Dec 1959 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Münster (in Westfalen) Electric 14 July 1901 25 Nov 1954 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Paderborn Electric 11 Nov 1900 27 Sep 1963  
  Detmold Electric 1 Mar 1900 15 Aug 1954 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Separate undertaking to 1920.
  Plettenberg Steam 25 May 1896 1 Jan 1959 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  ReesEmpel Steam 5 Sep 1897 1914 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 28 Feb 1915 30 Apr 1966  
  WeselReesEmmerich (am Rhein) Electric 25 May 1914 30 Apr 1966  
  Siegen Electric 14 Nov 1904 31 Aug 1958  
  Siegen – Kreuztal Electric 14 Nov 1904 29 May 1952  

Rhine-Ruhr (Rhein-Ruhr)

[edit]

Ruhrgebiet (Ruhr Area) towns in geographic order, west to east:

Name of System Location Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
  Moers Electric 1 Oct 1908 25 Sep 1954 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Homberg Electric 1 Apr 1909 25 Sep 1954 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Separate undertaking to 1 January 1925.
Homberg lines extended to: Ruhrort   1913 Mar 1945  
Homberg also served by: Düsseldorf (Rheinbahn) system   1911 20 Oct 1958  
  Krefeld system   1918 2 Nov 1962  
           
  Moers – Kamp – Rheinberg Electric 12 Feb 1915 11 Oct 1952  
           
Trams in Duisburg Duisburg Horse 24 Dec 1881 31 Jul 1898  
Steam 22 Jul 1882 25 Dec 1897  
Electric 3 Aug 1897   First Stadtbahn-like tunnel segment opened 11 July 1992.
Duisburg lines extend to: Ruhrort   24 Dec 1881    
  Hamborn   24 Feb 1898    
  Dinslaken   1 May 1900    
  Mülheim an der Ruhr   1912    
           
  Oberhausen (im Rheinland) Electric 4 Apr 1897
1 June 1996
13 Oct 1968
 
Connects with Trams in Mülheim/Oberhausen system.
Oberhausen lines connected with: Essen system       Now closed.
  Mülheim an der Ruhr system       Closed, now reopened.
  Recklinghausen system       Now closed.
  Duisburg system       No track connection at Duisburg–Holten because of gauge difference. Now closed.
Oberhausen also served by: Mülheim an der Ruhr system     4 Apr 1971  
           
Trams in Mülheim/Oberhausen Mülheim an der Ruhr Electric 8 Jul 1897   First Stadtbahn tunnel opened 3 November 1979 (served by Essen system – see Essen Stadtbahn). First tunnel segment for Mülheim system opened 27 April 1985.
Mülheim an der Ruhr lines connect with: Essen system        
  Oberhausen system        
           
Trams in Essen Essen Electric 23 Aug 1893   First tunnel segment opened 5 October 1967. First Stadtbahn tunnel segment opened 29 May 1977.
Essen lines connect with: Mülheim an der Ruhr system        
  Bochum – Gelsenkirchen system        
  Recklinghausen system       Now closed.
           
Trams in Bochum/Gelsenkirchen BochumGelsenkirchen Electric 23 Nov 1894   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
First tunnel segment (Bochum) opened 26 May 1979. First tunnel segment (Gelsenkirchen) opened 1 September 1984.
BochumGelsenkirchen lines extend to: Herne   23 Nov 1894    
  Wanne-Eickel   20 Oct 1896    
  Gelsenkirchen   3 Nov 1895    
  Buer   24 June 1901    
  Horst   24 Jun 1901 18 Oct 1955 Now closed.
  Hattingen   1 Oct 1902    
  Witten   21 Dec 1900    
  Castrop-Rauxel   20 Dec 1909 8 May 1967  
           
  Hattingen Electric 12 Mar 1914 30 June 1969 Operation suspended 24 October 1923 – 31 May 1924 because of Occupation of the Ruhr. Separate undertaking to 1 October 1932.
Bochum Stadtbahn BochumHerne Electric 2 Sep 1989   Light rail. Gauge: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)
First Stadtbahn tunnel segment (BochumHerne) opened 2 September 1989.
           
  Herne Electric 20 Dec 1906 30 Sep 1959 Lines extended to Castrop-Rauxel, 15 July 1910 – 1 January 1952.
           
  Castrop-Rauxel        
Served by: BochumGelsenkirchen system   1909 8 May 1967  
  Herne system   15 Jul 1910 30 Sep 1959  
  Dortmund system   1 Nov 1910 1 July 1962  
           
  Dortmund Horse 1 Jun 1881 1897  
Steam Feb 1892 1896  
Electric 1 Mar 1894 1984* * First tunnel segment opened 1983, and converted to light rail in 1984.
Dortmund Stadtbahn Electric 1984   First tunnel segment opened 1983.
Dortmund lines extended to: Recklinghausen (Henrichenburg)   1 Nov 1910 1 July 1958 Now closed.
  Castrop-Rauxel   1 Nov 1910 1 July 1962 Now closed.
  Unna   1906 31 Mar 1965 Now closed.
           
  UnnaKamenWerne Electric 1 Aug 1909 15 Dec 1950 See also Dortmund.
  Hamm (im Westfalen) Electric 20 Oct 1898 2 Apr 1961 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)


Name of System Location Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
Vestische Straßenbahn Recklinghausen Electric 26 Feb 1898 30 Dec 1982 Connected with Essen and BochumGelsenkirchen systems.
  Lines extended to:        
  Herten in Westfalen   10 May 1901 30 May 1981  
  Wanne-Eickel   10 May 1901 15 Nov 1975  
  Buer   1907 1 Oct 1980  
  Gladbeck   1909 31 Oct 1978  
  Horst   1909 31 Oct 1978  
  Bottrop   1910 27 Nov 1976  

Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf (Düsseldorf Region) and Bezirksregierung Arnsberg (Arnsberg Region) towns not tabulated above, in geographic order, west to east:

Name of System Location Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
  Mönchengladbach Horse 10 Aug 1881 14 Feb 1900 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 15 Feb 1900 15 Mar 1969 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Lines extended to Rheydt (10 August 1881 – 5 October 1968). Connected with Krefeld system.
  Rheydt Horse 10 Aug 1881 14 Feb 1900  
Electric 15 Feb 1900 31 Jan 1959 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
           
Trams in Krefeld Krefeld Steam 3 May 1883 18 Sep 1901 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Horse 11 May 1883 6 Apr 1901 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 30 Oct 1901    
Krefeld lines extended to: Mönchengladbach (Neuwerk   1910 8 Mar 1954 Now closed.
  Moers   1918 2 Nov 1962 Now closed.
           
Trams in Dusseldorf Düsseldorf Horse 6 Feb 1876 21 Jun 1900  
Steam 5 Aug 1901 30 Apr 1902  
Electric 27 Jan 1896   Lines extend to Neuss (27 December 1901 – ). First tunnel segment opened 4 October 1981. See also Rheinbahn; link to English-language page.
Düsseldorf Stadtbahn Electric 6 Aug 1988   Light rail
  Düsseldorf – Duisburg Electric 31 Oct 1899   New alignment opened 1 May 1926.
  Düsseldorf – Moers Electric 1911 20 Oct 1958  
  Düsseldorf – Krefeld Electric 15 Dec 1898    
  Mettmann Electric 19 Jul 1909 17 May 1952  
  Düsseldorf (Benrath) – Solingen (Ohligs) Electric 1899 15 Apr 1962  
  Düsseldorf (Benrath) – Wuppertal (Vohwinkel) Steam 1899 1900  
Electric 1900 7 May 1961  
  Neuss Electric 24 Dec 1910 7 Aug 1971 Served by Trams in Düsseldorf system (21 December 1901 – )
           
  Solingen Electric 1 July 1897 15 Nov 1959 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Solingen lines extended to: Wuppertal (Vohwinkel)   1899 1 Oct 1958 Now closed.
  Solingen (Ohligs)   19 Nov 1898 1 Aug 1953 Now closed.
  Burg am der Wupper   1908 12 Oct 1959 Now closed.
           
  Remscheid Electric 9 Jul 1893 10 Apr 1969 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Remscheid lines extended to: Burg am der Wupper   12 Jul 1900 31 Jul 1960 Now closed.
  Wuppertal (Cronenfeld)   1901 30 Apr 1965 Worked jointly with Wuppertal system, now closed.
           
  Wuppertal Horse 10 Apr 1874 5 Feb 1896  
Steam 28 May 1891 3 Apr 1903  
Electric 16 Apr 1894 30 May 1987 Towns of Barmen, Eberfeld and several neighboring towns were amalgamated at 1929 as Wuppertal.
Barmer Bergbahn Rack tramway (zahnradbahn), Barmen – Toelleturm Electric 16 Apr 1894 4 Jul 1959 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Wuppertal lines extended to: VelbertEssen (Werden)   15 Mar 1899 1 Feb 1952 Now closed.
  Essen (Steele)   24 Nov 1907 16 Apr 1954 Now closed.
  SprockhövelHattingen   1907 30 Nov 1953 Now closed.
  SchwelmMilspe   7 Aug 1896 3 May 1969 Schwelm – Milpse segment, 18 January 1907 – 28 September 1964. Now closed.
  Remscheid   15 Aug 1901 16 Jun 1954 Now closed.
  Solingen   4 Aug 1914 3 May 1969 Now closed.
  Wülfrath   19 Jul 1909 1 Jun 1952 Now closed.
  Mettmann   19 Jul 1909 17 May 1952 Now closed.
           
  Ennepetal (in Westfalen) Electric 24 Feb 1907 31 Mar 1956  
Ennepetal lines extended: GevelsbergMilspe - Voerde   24 Feb 1907 31 Mar 1956 Now closed.
  GevelsbergHaßlinghausen   19 May 1909 31 Mar 1956 Now closed.
           
  Hagen Horse 13 Nov 1884 1 Jul 1898 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Accumulator (storage battery) 7 Jan 1895 20 Dec 1902 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 18 Nov 1896 29 May 1976 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Hagen lines extended to: Gevelsberg   12 Apr 1900 26 July 1953 Now closed.
  Hagen (Hohenlimburg)   8 May 1900 15 Sep 1968 Now closed.
  Eckesey Horse 7 Jul 1895 189_  
Accumulator (storage battery) 1 Jul 1898 20 Oct 1900  
Electric 21 Oct 1900 26 May 1974  
  Hagen (Haspe)VoerdeBreckerfeld Steam 1 May 1903 1927(?) Opened in stages to 1906. Passenger service withdrawn 1921, restored 1926.
Electric 9 Dec 1927 2 Nov 1963 Separate tram undertaking to 1926.
  Iserlohn Electric 4 Mar 1901 31 Dec 1959  

Note for Rheydt: Amalgamated with Mönchengladbach from 29 July 1929 to 31 July 1933, and again from 1 January 1975.

Note for Mettmann: Line extended Düsseldorf (Auf der Hardt)Mettmann (closed 9 December 1936) – Wülfrath (closed 14 May 1938) – Tönisheide (closed 14 May 1938), and MettmannWieden (closed 17 May 1952). Separate undertaking to 1 April 1937.

Note for Wuppertal: Town tramway system ranked as fifth-largest in Germany, with peak system length of 175 kilometres (109 mi), c.1948.

Bezirksregierung Köln (Cologne Region) towns in geographic order, north to south:

Name of System Location Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
  OpladenLützenkirchen Electric 9 Apr 1914 11 Jul 1955  
  KölnOpladenSolingen (Ohligs) / Solingen (Höhscheid) Electric 22 Jul 1911 10 Jul 1955  
  Cologne (Köln) Horse 28 Apr 1877 22 May 1907  
Steam 13 Nov 1893 1914  
Electric 15 Oct 1901   First tunnel segment opened, and converted to light rail, in 1968.
Cologne Stadtbahn Electric 11 Oct 1968   Light rail
  Wahn, Cologne Electric 6 May 1917 1 Oct 1961  
  Cologne, ZündorfTroisdorfSiegburg Electric 19 Mar 1914 31 Aug 1965 Opened in stages, completed 1 October 1921. Closed in stages from 14 October 1963.
Rheinuferbahn CologneWesselingBonn Electric Sep 1905    
Vorgebirgsbahn CologneBrühlBonn Electric 1 Aug 1897   Opened in stages, (Cologne – Brühl) completed 20 January 1898.
Trams in Bonn Bonn Horse 19 Apr 1891 24 Sep 1909  
Steam 22 May 1892 12 Oct 1911 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 21 May 1902   First tunnel segment opened 22 March 1975.
Bonn Stadtbahn Electric 1975   Light rail
  Bonn – Bad Godesberg Steam 22 May 1892 1911 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 27 Mar 1911   Tunnel segment in Bad Godesberg opened September 1994
  Bad Godesberg – Mehlem Electric 3 Oct 1911 23 Dec 1976  
  Bonn – Siegburg Electric 21 Sep 1911    
  Bonn – KönigswinterBad Honnef Electric 18 Mar 1913   Königswinter – Bad Honnef segment opened 27 September 1925.

Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz)

[edit]
Name of System Location Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
  Bad Kreuznach Electric 11 Sep 1906 5 Jan 1953 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Bingen am Rhein Electric 25 Feb 1906 20 Oct 1955  
  Idar-Oberstein Electric 1 Oct 1900 29 Jul 1956 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Kaiserslautern Electric 18 Dec 1916 1 Jul 1935 Gauge: unknown
  Koblenz Horse 28 May 1887 1 Oct 1899 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 17 Jan 1899 19 Jul 1967 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Ludwigshafen am Rhein Horse 2 Jun 1878 23 May 1902  
Electric 30 May 1902   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Operated jointly with Mannheim (Baden-Württemberg) system (q.v.).
Rhein-Haardtbahn Ludwigshafen – Bad Dürkheim Electric 4 Sep 1913   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Trains operate over town tramway systems in Ludwigshafen and Mannheim (Baden-Württemberg) to serve business centers and main railway stations.
Trams in Mainz Mainz Horse 27 Sep 1883 1 Oct 1904 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Steam 12 Aug 1891 8 Jun 1923 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 15 Jul 1904   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
See also: Wiesbaden (Hesse).
  Neuwied Electric 29 Jul 1901 31 Oct 1950  
  Pirmasens Electric 8 Jun 1905 3 Jul 1943 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Trier Horse 27 Jul 1890[1] 15 Jul 1905  
Electric 13 Oct 1905[1] 14 Sep 1951[1]  
  Worms (am Rhein) Electric 22 Dec 1906 29 Jan 1956 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)

Saarland

[edit]
Name of System Location Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
  Neunkirchen (im Saarland) Electric 13 Sep 1907 10 June 1978  
  Saarbrücken Steam 4 Nov 1890 26 Sep 1899 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 8 Feb 1899 22 May 1965 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Saarbahn Electric 24 Oct 1997   Standard gauge line. International line to Sarreguemines in France.
  RastpfuhlHeusweiler Electric 27 Jan 1907 1948 Separate undertaking to 1 July 1937.
  Saarlouis Electric 20 May 1913 28 Feb 1961  
  Saarlouis – Dillingen (an der Saar)     31 May 1957  
  Völklingen (an der Saar) Electric 3 Sep 1909 18 Apr 1959 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)

Saxony (Sachsen)

[edit]
Name of System Location Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
Kirnitzschtalbahn Bad Schandau Electric 28 May 1898   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Operation suspended from 21 July 1969 following an accident. Operation restored from 24 July 1972.
Trams in Chemnitz Chemnitz Horse 22 Apr 1880 5 Feb 1894 Gauge: 914 mm (3 ft)
Electric 19 Dec 1893 6 Nov 1988 Gauge: 925 mm (3 ft 1332 in)
Electric 8 May 1960   Converted to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
  Chemnitz – Altchemnitz – Stollberg Electric 15 Dec 2002   Operates over DB railway line (Würschnitztalbahn) between Altchemnitz and Stollberg,
Döbeln Tramway Döbeln Horse 10 Jul 1892
9 Jun 2007
20 Dec 1926
 
Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Closed 20 December 1926; reopened as a heritage horsecar line on 9 June 2007.
Trams in Dresden
(operated by Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe)
Dresden Horse 26 Sep 1872 25 Aug 1900  
Gas 28 Jul 1894 31 Dec 1895 Gauge: 1,450 mm (4 ft 9+332 in)
Electric 6 Jul 1893   Gauge: 1,450 mm (4 ft 9+332 in)
  Dresden – Bühlau Electric 22 Aug 1899   Separate undertaking to 1926.
  Dresden-CottaCossebaude Electric 27 Sep 1906 2 Dec 1990 Separate undertaking to 1926.
Lößnitzbahn Dresden-Mickten – Zitzschewig Electric 21 Aug 1899   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
First electric narrow-gauge railway in Saxony, later regauged. Separate tram undertaking to 1926. Initial segment, Mickten – Weißes Roß. Weißes Roß – RadebeulCoswig reopened in stages September 1929 – May 1930. Coswig – Weinböhla reopened 14 November 1931.
Lockwitztalbahn Dresden-NiedersedlitzKreischa Electric 3 Mar 1906 18 Oct 1977 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Freiberg Electric 11 Aug 1902 31 Dec 1919 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Trams in Görlitz Görlitz Horse 25 May 1882 30 Nov 1897  
Electric 1 Dec 1897   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
See also Zgorzelec, List of town tramway systems in Poland.
  Hohenstein-ErnstthalOelsnitz (Erzgebirge) Electric 15 Feb 1913 26 Mar 1960 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Klingenthal Electric 27 May 1917 4 Apr 1964  
Trams in Leipzig Leipzig Horse 18 May 1872 16 Apr 1897 Gauge: 1,458 mm (4 ft 9+1332 in)
Electric 17 April 1896   Gauge: 1,458 mm (4 ft 9+1332 in)
See Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe, Leipzig Tramway Network History.
  Meißen Electric 13 Dec 1899 1 Mar 1936 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Trams in Plauen Plauen (im Vogtland) Electric 17 Nov 1894   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Zittau Accumulator (storage battery) 29 Jun 1902(?) 22 Sep 1902 Gauge: 1,450 mm (4 ft 9+332 in)
Electric 14 Dec 1904 19 Nov 1919 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Trams in Zwickau Zwickau Electric 6 May 1894   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)

Saxony-Anhalt (Sachsen-Anhalt)

[edit]
Name of System Location Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
  Bernburg Electric 1 Apr 1897 19 Apr 1921 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Trams in Dessau Dessau Gas (Petrol?) 15 Nov 1894 24 Mar 1901  
Electric 26 Mar 1901    
  Groß Rosenburg Horse 3 Oct 1884 1 Oct 1922  
Trams in Halberstadt Halberstadt Horse 28 Jun 1887 30 Apr 1903 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 2 May 1903   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Trams in Halle (Saale) Halle an der Saale Horse 15 Oct 1882 14 May 1899 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 24 Apr 1891   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  'Halle – Merseburg Electric 15 Mar 1902   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Separate tram undertaking to 1 May 1951.
Trams in Magdeburg Magdeburg Horse 16 Oct 1877 19 Dec 1899  
Steam 14 Jul 1886 21 Mar 1900  
Electric 18 Jul 1899    
  MansfeldEisleben Electric 10 Apr 1900 2 Dec 1922 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Trams in Naumburg (Saale) Naumburg (an der Saale) Electric 18 Jun 1892   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Operation suspended 19 August 1991 due to poor track condition. Reopened for daily service as a heritage tramline in 2007. Smallest urban tramway in Germany, and one of the smallest in Europe.[citation needed]
  SchönebeckSalzelmen Horse 22 Jun 1886 15 Feb 1917 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Staßfurt Electric 10 Apr 1900 31 Dec 1957 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Stendal Horse 3 Jun 1892 14 Oct 1926 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Lutherstadt Wittenberg Horse 26 Jul 1888 1921 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Zerbst Horse 2 Nov 1891 1 Aug 1928 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)

Schleswig-Holstein

[edit]
Name of System Location Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
  WittdünNorddorf (Amrum island, North Frisian Islands) Steam 1893 1 Nov 1939 Gauge: 900 mm (2 ft 11+716 in)
Electric 10 Jul 1909 _ Aug 1910 Gauge: 900 mm (2 ft 11+716 in)
Use of electric traction ended because generating station was destroyed by fire. Overhead contact system removed 1920. Operation suspended 17 October 1918 – 1920.
  Flensburg Horse 8 May 1881 30 Dec 1906  
Electric 6 Jul 1907 2 Jun 1973 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Trams in Kiel Kiel Horse 9 Jul 1881 11 Apr 1896 Gauge: 1,100 mm (3 ft 7+516 in)
Electric 12 May 1896 4 May 1985 Gauge: 1,100 mm (3 ft 7+516 in)
  Lübeck Horse 1 May 1881 19 Jun 1894 Gauge: 1,100 mm (3 ft 7+516 in)
Electric 12 May 1894 15 Nov 1959 Gauge: 1,100 mm (3 ft 7+516 in)
  Schleswig Horse 1 Jul 1890 31 Dec 1909  
Electric 1 Jan 1910 26 Aug 1936  

Light railway (kleinbahn) operating under tramway (straßenbahn) concession (from 1952–1953):

Name of System Location Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
  Sylt (Sylter Inselbahn)       Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Nordbahn WesterlandList   8 Jul 1888 29 Dec 1970 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Südbahn WesterlandHörnum   1 Jul 1901 30 May 1970 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)

Thuringia (Thüringen)

[edit]
Name of System Location Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
  Altenburg Electric 18 Apr 1895 30 Apr 1920 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Eisenach Electric 3 Aug 1897 31 Dec 1975 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Erfurt Horse 13 May 1883 20 Aug 1894 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electric 1 Jun 1894 1999 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Converted light rail
Erfurt Stadtbahn Electric 1997   Light rail. Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Trams in Gera Gera Electric 22 Feb 1892   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Trams in Gotha Gotha Electric 3 May 1894   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Thüringerwaldbahn Gotha – Waltershausen Electric 17 Jul 1929   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Trams in Jena Jena Electric 6 Apr 1901    
  Mühlhausen Electric 21 Dec 1898 27 Jun 1969 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Trams in Nordhausen Nordhausen Electric 25 Aug 1900   Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
  Weimar Electric 4 Jun 1899 30 Jun 1937 Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Inline citations

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Zenz, Emil (1980). 75 Jahre Städtische Verkehrsbetriebe, 1905–1980 [75 Years of City Transit Service]. Stadtwerke Trier. pp. 20, 96–98.

Bibliography

[edit]

Sources, references and external links: