On 6 June 2024, after a 4-year project period, the first tram of the new generation of trams was received at the Cottbusverkehr GmbH site in Cottbus. Ulrich Thomsch, authorised signatory of Cottbusverkehr, is moved, as he can still remember the start of the old Tatra trams in Cottbus: ‘Today is a special day in the 120-year history of the Cottbus tramway. After 34 years, a new tram is back on the tracks for the first time. This marks another milestone in securing the future of the tramway in our city. It is particularly noteworthy that we were able to organise the tram procurement together with our colleagues from Brandenburg and Frankfurt/Oder using the existing funding opportunities. Our passengers now have a modern, barrier-free and air-conditioned low-floor tram at their disposal. At the same time, the working conditions for our drivers will also improve.”
The trams for Cottbusverkehr are being procured in cooperation with the transport companies in Frankfurt/Oder and Brandenburg an der Havel. The total of 47 trams will be manufactured by the Skoda Transportation Group in Pilsen, of which they will deliver 22 to Cottbus and distribute the rest to Frankfurt Oder and Brandenburg an der Havel. We reported on the completion at the factory here: https://www.urban-transport-magazine.com/en/new-trams-for-frankfurt-oder-brandenburg-cottbus-nearing-completion/.
The new trams of the ForCity Plus model series are 20 centimetres wider than the previous models of the Tatra series and, with their length of 29 metres, will offer passengers significantly more freedom. There are 61 seats and 6 additional folding seats as well as a total capacity of 158 passengers. Two wheelchair spaces and an additional multi-purpose space for pushchairs and walking frames have been installed so that families and people with restricted mobility will have more space available in future. The extension of the low-floor section to 70 per cent of the length of the train also improves usability for passengers with reduced mobility and enables level access via 4 of the 6 doors. This is complemented by a sophisticated audio system for visually impaired passengers and an extended digital information system, so that all passengers can reach their destination safely and easily at all times. All trams are equipped with extendable ramps to enable all passengers to board even at unbuilt stops.
The first seven trams are being financed to a significant extent (45%) by the city and 35% by the state of Brandenburg via the city. The federal government is also contributing 5% of the funding via the city. The remaining 15 trams can be financed as part of the project ‘The tram as a building block for structural development’ with funding from the Investment Bank of the State of Brandenburg with a funding rate of 90% from the Coal Regions Investment Act.
Managing Director Ralf Thalmann from Cottbusverkehr is clearly delighted: ‘We at Cottbusverkehr are delighted to finally be able to see and try out the fruits of our labour here live on site after such a long and intensive planning and activity with many ups and downs.’
In the coming months, all that remains to be done is the approval and commissioning process on site so that the first passengers can soon use the new trams on scheduled services.
All pictures: © Cottbusverkehr GmbH
