On 20 May 2022, the city’s two public transport operators – SWB and SSB – and the Spanish railway manufacturer CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles) signed a contract for the delivery of 22 new light rail vehicles at the „Stadtwerke Haus“ in Bonn. The first of the new tram cars is to be delivered at the end of 2024 and will enter regular service at the end of 2026. In the two years in between, the new trams will be tested and checked for daily service and, above all, accepted by the technical supervisory authority.
A first computer animation of the new trams shows a vehicle that clearly resembles the Bonn Düwag „B-Wagen“ model that have been in service since the 1970s. Of which SWB (Stadtwerke Bonn Verkehrs GmbH) and SSB (Siegburg – Siebengebirgs-Bahn, officially: Elektrische Bahnen der Stadt Bonn und des Rhein-Sieg Kreises GmbH) together have 61 trams of this model. The B-Wagen is a 28-metre-long, six-axle articulated railcar for two-directional operation, which can be used both individually and in multiple traction thanks to two driver’s cabs. A first prototype of this Düwag B-car came to Bonn in mid-1973 (SWB Tw 7351). At the same time, the prototypes 2001 and 2002 went into service in Cologne at the KVB. From 1974 onwards, the series vehicles followed in both cities, with which first the Bonn underground between the main station and Heussallee was opened in 1975, then the joint Bonn-Cologne line 16 (from Bonn-Bad Godesberg, Rheinallee to Cologne-Mülheim, Wiener Platz) in 1978, and from 1985 the former Vorgebirgsbahn of the Cologne-Bonn railways as the joint Cologne-Bonn light rail line 18.
Until 1994, the Bonn railways procured a total of 75 B-Wagen in several series. And since they proved to be very solid and reliable, SWB started a programme to completely rebuild total refurbishment called „Zweit-Erstellung“ (= re-manufacturing) of the B-Wagen in 2010. The bodies were (and are) thoroughly refurbished – so there are new seats, new lighting, new stop bars, a new floor and so on – the running gear and drive technology are modernised as well and in some cases completely renewed. What was initially considered an experiment has since turned out to be an outstanding success story.
In 2003, SWB – in a joint order with Cologne’s KVB – purchased 15 Bombardier Flexity Swift light rail vehicles, known internally as “K 5.000” (“K” for Cologne) – SWB-Tw 0361 to 0375. These Tw had and still have the “flaw” that they can only run with their peers in double traction – and not with the much more numerous B-Wagen.
In Bonn, too, local public transport is to become more attractive. This is to be achieved by having essential branches in the line network (as with the bus) served not by one, but by two lines, which complement each other to form a dense frequency. For example, the connection between Bonn central station and Siegburg station, which is currently only served by line 66 (line 67 is only added during rush hour), will in future be served all day by lines 66 and 67 – line 66 from Olof-Palme-Allee to Bad Honnef, line 67 to Bonn-Bad Godesberg. This will double the number of journeys on the Siegburg Bahnhof – Bonn Hauptbahnhof section (and further to Olof-Palme-Allee). The new train sets now on order are mainly needed for these service extensions.
In many respects, the new trains will be based on the B Wagenches delivered from 1973 to 1994. Like the B cars, they will have four double-width doors on each side, two in front of and two behind the articulation, and they will be 28 metres long. The 51 standard-gauge high-floor light rail vehicles ordered by the Ruhrbahn for Essen and Mülheim from CAF, which are to replace the existing B-cars there, will be very similar in design. This might reduce costs.
Of the 22 new trams, 12 will go to SWB and 10 to SSB. Up to 10 more vehicles are included as options.
At the signing of the contract in the Stadtwerke Haus in Bonn, SWB Managing Director Anja Wenmakers emphasised that CAF had submitted an economical offer. “The offer corresponds to the costs we have provided for in the economic plans.” And she added: “With the modernised light rail vehicles of the second generation, our new low-floor trams and the conversion of the Friesdorf bus depot for our electric bus fleet, we have now well prepared for the future.”
Bonn’s mayor Katja Dörner, who is also chairwoman of the SWB supervisory board, added: “Public transport is attractive when we offer a seamless service. With more vehicles, we can increase the frequency and ensure even more reliability. Thanks to the framework agreement, we have the flexibility to possibly purchase more trains than the 22 vehicles ordered.”
