Good news for the tram systems in Cottbus, Frankfurt/ Oder and Brandenburg. The joint tender for 24 new trams for the three cities is eventually progressing. The tender has been launched in 2018 and it was the first time that the three tram operators have jointly procured low-floor trams. Originally, the first vehicles were to be delivered in 2020. The decision had been delayed due to a competitor’s objection. On 2 June, the Brandenburg Higher Regional Court declared the decision to award the contract to the Czech manufacturer Škoda to be lawful.
24 trams to be delivered within 2 or 3 years
Cottbusverkehr will receive seven new trams. 13 vehicles are destined for Frankfurt/ Oder and four for Brandenburg/ Havel. There are options for a further 21 vehicles, including 13 trams for Cottbus and another eight for Brandenburg. In all three cities, the new trams will replace older Tatra ČKD KT4D and KTNF6 models. The tram fleet in Cottbus consists exclusively of 21 KTNF6 trams built between 1981 and 1988 with a low-floor middle section. Brandenburg uses 10 similar KTNF6’s. Frankfurt still has 17 KT4D trams built between 1987 and 1990 in operation.
The decision was welcomed by all stakeholders. Ralf Thalmann, Managing Director of Cottbusverkehr, commented of the court’s decision: “Today’s decision of the court is a milestone for our operations and local transport in the city of Cottbus. After more than two years of intensive work on the joint order with colleagues from Brandenburg and Frankfurt/ Oder, we can now finally commission a manufacturer with Škoda. We are now doing everything we can to place the order as quickly as possible. We will get modern and comfortable trams from Škoda – and I’m particularly pleased for our employees and our passengers.“
Frankfurt/ Oder currently operates a fleet of 17 KT4D trams I © UTM 
Cottbus’ tram fleet entirely consists of 21 KTNF6 trams I © UTM
The decision was welcomed by all stakeholders. Ralf Thalmann, Managing Director of Cottbusverkehr, commented of the court’s decision: “Today’s decision of the court is a milestone for our operations and local transport in the city of Cottbus. After more than two years of intensive work on the joint order with colleagues from Brandenburg and Frankfurt/ Oder, we can now finally commission a manufacturer with Škoda. We are now doing everything we can to place the order as quickly as possible. We will get modern and comfortable trams from Škoda – and I’m particularly pleased for our employees and our passengers.“
According to experts, the vehicles will be three-section ForCity Smart Artic vehicles with 70% low-floor and a length of 28 metres. The vehicles for Cottbus will have a width of 2.4 m whereas the series for Frankfurt and Brandenburg will be 2.3 m wide. It is not yet known whether the vehicles will be based on the Škoda trams in Schöneiche near Berlin, where three Škoda low-floor trams already operate, or the ForCity Smart Artic Trams for Bonn. So far, Škoda has delivered low-floor trams in Germany to Chemnitz and Schöneiche. The company has orders for the RNV network in Mannheim, Ludwigshafen and Heidelberg as well as for Bonn.
We recently reported on the new Škoda trams for Schöneiche here:
