Frankfurt T-class tram returns to service

In the German city of Frankfurt-am-Main 17 August saw the return to service of a T-class tram, 320, after an operating licence was issued on 13 August. Operator VGF took delivery of the first of these Alstom-built low-floor trams in December 2022, but later it was determined that the 14 vehicles delivered by November 2024 did not meet contractual requirements in respect of technical functions. All were withdrawn and it was eventually agreed that Alstom would take them back and carry out refit work at its Görlitz factory to bring them up to standard. The first to be returned to the city was car 320 and after extensive tests VGF has agreed that contractual requirements have been met, hence the return to passenger service. The 14 cars already built will be re-delivered once the approved technical improvements have been incorporated, and then the production run resumed. 

 

The original order was for 58 trams (based on the Citadis SX05 design), 24 three-section 31.5m and 34 five section 40m. They will be used on lines 16-18, permitting the withdrawal of the last high-floor P-class trams and the start of replacement of the 40 R-class.