Trams in Darmstadt

Darmstadt tramway network

Tram at Willy-Brandt-Platz
Operation
Locale Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany
Steam tram era: 1886 (1886)–1922 (1922)
Status Converted to electric traction
Operator(s)
Propulsion system(s) Steam
Electric tram era: since 1897 (1897)
Status Operational[1]
Lines 9
Operator(s)
Track gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in)
Propulsion system(s) Electricity
Stock 48 (including 38 low-floor trams)
Track length (total) 94.6 km (58.8 mi)
Route length 42 km (26 mi)
Stops 162
Darmstadt tramway network (2010).
Website HEAG mobilo

The Darmstadt tram network is a light rail transit network and the backbone of public transport within Darmstadt, a city in the federal state of Hesse, Germany. As of 2014 nine lines on four main routes (42 kilometres (26 mi)) are serving 162 stops, including 92 low-floor stops.[2] It operates as an integral part of the RMV, the public transport system of the Rhein-Main-Area.

History

Trams have operated continuously in Darmstadt since 1886, with the opening of a steam tram line. The network has been operated since 1912 by Hessische Eisenbahn-Aktiengesellschaft (HEAG) either directly, or, more recently, through one of its subsidiaries. Since then the trams have become a distinctive part of Darmstadt's character and are widely used by people from all walks of life as a safe and fast way of transportation within Darmstadt and its suburbs. At the Hauptbahnhof station the tram system and the Frankfurt S-Bahn-System meet. While some older lines like the Oberwaldhaus-/Martinsviertel-/and Ostbahnhof lines were closed, new sections were built, following the development of new residential areas, e.g. the new lines to Kranichstein, Arheilgen north and Alsbach south. Since the 1990s the tram system has gradually been modernised. All lines (except for line 3) have since been less of a classical tram and more of a light rail transit system with a private right-of-way and separate stations with "same-level-platforms".

Lines

The central hub of the Darmstadt tram network is the "Luisenplatz", at which eight of Darmstadt's nine tram lines stop. On the main routes the hours of operation are usually from around 5:00 am until 1:00 am. The network is currently made up of the following lines:

Line Route Monday–Friday Monday–Friday (peak times) Saturday Sunday Late evening and Sunday morning Notes
1 Hauptbahnhof ↔ Rhein-/Neckarstr. ↔ Eberstadt 30 Min 30 Min – – –
2 Hauptbahnhof ↔ Luisenplatz ↔ Böllenfalltor – 15 Min – – – only at peak times on school days
3 Hauptbahnhof ↔ Willy-Brandt-Platz ↔ Luisenplatz ↔ Lichtenbergschule 15 Min 10 Min 15 Min 15 Min 30 Min at peak times on school days, at 10 min. intervals
4 Griesheim ↔ Luisenplatz ↔ Kranichstein – 15 Min – – – only at peak times on school days
5 Hauptbahnhof ↔ Luisenplatz ↔ Kranichstein 15 Min 15 Min 15 Min 15 Min 30 Min at peak times, when line 4 is not operating: 7/8 min. intervals
6 Arheilgen ↔ Merck ↔ Luisenplatz ↔ Eberstadt ↔ Alsbach 15 Min 15 Min – – – „Schnelle 6“, Mo-Fr, 5–19 Hours (express line, does not stop at all stations)
7 Arheilgen ↔ Merck ↔ Luisenplatz ↔ Eberstadt 15 Min 15 Min 30 Min 30 Min – runs at 30 min. intervals, when line 8 is running
8 Arheilgen ↔ Merck ↔ Luisenplatz ↔ Eberstadt ↔ Alsbach 15 min – 30 min 30 min 30 min runs only when line 6 is not running
9 Griesheim ↔ Luisenplatz ↔ Böllenfalltor 15 Min 15 Min 15 Min 15 Min 30 Min at peak times, when line 2 is not operating: 7/8 min. intervals

All lines run – unless otherwise stated – at 15-minute intervals (at night and on Sunday mornings at 30-minute intervals). On the southern route between Eberstadt and Alsbach, service intervals are 15 minutes during peak hours and 30 minutes in the evenings. Since many stations are being served by more than one line, service intervals are 3 to 7 minutes at the central stations, especially in the city centre.

Inside a tram in Darmstadt

See also

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ HEAG Facts and Figures 2012 Retrieved 23 October 2014
  2. ↑ HEAG Facts and Figures 2012 Retrieved 23 October 2014

Media related to Trams in Darmstadt at Wikimedia Commons

Coordinates: 49°52′N 08°39′E / 49.867°N 8.650°E / 49.867; 8.650

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