Regensburg considers modern tramway

This Bavarian city (population 170 000) has been served only by buses since 1964; the original 12.3km metre-gauge tramway was opened in 1903 but never progressed beyond two-axle cars. 

 

The university city is relatively flat with a BMW factory on the edge of town. Public transport has only a 10% share of the modal split and the city is among the 60-70 German cities with the highest emissions. The city launched a 'clean air masterplan' in 2020 which contained a number of ideas to promote public transport and low-emission alternatives to the motorcar. One of those ideas was the plan to re-introduce the city's tram system which has been de-commissioned since the 1960's. 

 

After a series of route proposals that proved unfeasible, the city council has backed tramway proposals formulated by the Interessengeminshaft Historiscje Strassenbahn Regensburg ev for the battery operation of a two-axle tram set from the original tramway that spent some time in Darmstadt before being restored in Kraków. 

 

This could be the precursor to a modern tramway on a north–south route linking the railway station and university, with consultation in progress, and a town hall meeting scheduled for 11 October. The cost is estimated to be EUR 246M and the aim is to start service in 2030.