On 10 August the German city of Mainz stated running trams on the new 300m tram line linkingbMünsterplatz and Alicenplatz in the city centre. An official opening ceremony took place on 15 August. The line is intended to provide relief for the congested (three trams/minute) Hbf (main railway station) forecourt, where all tram services have run until now, and shorten the journey between the western districts and the city centre. Passengers on the diversion can still reach Hbf West stop, just a short walk from the station. Construction started in June 2024 and soon revealed many archeological remains that delayed completion. Now it is used by tram line 53 (Lerchenberg–Schillerplatz). Relief of the busy tracks in front of the Hbf gives the opportunity for further extensions of the city’s tramway network.
Mainz introduced horse trams in 1884, replaced by electric trams from 1904 (there were also steam trams from 1891 to 1923). Today there is a 30km metre-gauge network with five lines operated by 36 low-floor trams. In July 2025 an order was placed with Skoda for 22 ForCity Smart 43.5m trams with delivery in 2028-2030.
Mainz Stadler Variotram on the new line. (D. Budach)
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