Škoda trams enter service in Cottbus

 

On 15 August the German city of Cottbus (population 94 800) put the first of its new Škoda single-ended 47T ForCity Plus air-conditioned trams in to passenger service, the first new delivery to the city for 34 years. The seven metre-gauge trams due to arrive here are part of a joint order with Brandenburg and Frankfurt-an-der-Oder placed in 2021; Cottbus has exercised an option for 15 more. They are the city's first fully low-floor trams, 29m long and 2.4m wide, accommodating 158 passengers (67 seated). They will replace the Tatra KTNF6 trams from the 1980s (but fitted with a low-floor centre section in 1993-94). Costing EUR 2.68M each, funding has come from the Brandenburg State Investment Bank (15%), city council (45%), the state of Brandenburg (35%) and the federal government (5%). The new trams restart the fleet number series at 1. 

 

Electric trams have operated in Cottbus since 1903 and today the 20.1km system is worked by four lines using 22 trams.