Jena orders another nine Stadler Tramlink Trams

Jena is a small city (population 111 400) in eastern Germany, but boasts both a university and a world-renowned optical industry. 

 

Like several small cities in the former German Democratic Republic (DDR), it is served by a modest tramway system that might not have survived in a different economic environment, but since re-unification, the political will was there for modernisation and extension. Indeed a further extension is planned. 

 

Metre-gauge electric trams first came to Jena in 1901 and today the system covers 23.6km with five lines. Based on the slogan Jena, City of Light, they are called Lichtbahn and their fleet are built in Valencia, Spain, with half the funding coming from the state and EU. 

 

Rolling stock until 2022 consisted of 33 ADtranz GT6M low-floor trams built in 1995-2003 to replace the two-axle DDR-era sets, plus five Solaris Tramino delivered in 2013. In 2020 the first move to replace the ADtranz cars was taken with a EUR 92M order for 24 Stadler Tramlink 100% low-floor trams, 16 seven-section 42m and eight five-section 32m, with delivery in 2023-2024. 

 

The Thuringia Ministry of Infrastructure and Agriculture has now committed funds (from the European Regional Development Fund) that will permit an option in the original contract for nine more Stadler Tramlink to be exercised. These will be the 32m version and should arrive in 2026. At that time, the last of the ADtranz trams will leave the system.  

 

The 32m trams carry 180 passengers (58 seated) and have a maximum speed of 70km/h.