On Saturday, 22 February 2025, Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH (rnv) used non-accessible old tramcars for the last time on the interurban circular line 5 between Mannheim, Weinheim and Heidelberg (with a branch to Heddesheim) – the route of the former Oberrheinische Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft (OEG). They were gradually being replaced by the ongoing delivery of new Skoda vehicles of the Rhein-Neckar-Tram (RNT) type. We have already reported on the commissioning of the new RNTs here:
The end of an era
The old GT8 vehicles were the characteristic appearance of the former OEG lines for almost six decades and proved to be robust and reliable. Over time, these interurban tramcars became very popular with both passengers and drivers.
Nevertheless, they were no longer up to date: the lack of accessibility proved to be a disadvantage in daily operation. Since the mid-1990s, low-floor trams have been running on the lines of today’s RNV – the continuous delivery of additional and newer trams has significantly reduced the proportion of old vehicles in overall transport in recent years.
Rhein-Neckar Tram (RNT) takes over
The continuous delivery of new Rhein-Neckar-Tram vehicles now enables the last non-accessible old vehicles to be decommissioned. Compared to older generation trams, the RNT has a number of advantages. In addition to barrier-free entrances, where there are spacious multifunctional areas with sufficient space for wheelchairs, pushchairs or walking frames, the passenger information system in the vehicles is state-of-the-art. Customers can read details about the journey and the next stops on several displays inside the vehicle. Connections, information on service disruptions and planned construction work are also displayed in real time.
Decomissioning
In the end, only the usually traction-coupled trams 4098 and 4110 (ex OEG 98 and 110) were still operational, until a few days before the final retirement of tram 4144 (ex OEG 114). There were two round trips on 22 February 2025 for the farewell tour, in the morning from Mannheim Käfertal via Main Station, Edingen, Heidelberg, Schriesheim, Weinheim, and in the afternoon in the opposite direction.
The OEG had procured a total of 35 GT8 vehicles from Düwag:
- No. 82-89 – built in 1966
- No. 90-97 – built in 1969
- No. 98-110 – built in 1973/4
- No. 111-116 – built in 1988
Only car 82 is currently still in service as a driving school car. To make room for the new trams, various old vehicles from the RNV predecessor companies HSB, RHB, OEG and MVG were scrapped in November 2024.
The first six low-floor trams of the V6 type, which were also the last new acquisition of the former OEG in 1996, will also be replaced by the new RNTs from Skoda. They were the pre-series of the Vario trams and bear the numbers 4117-4122 (ex 117-122); the manufacturer was Adtranz. Decommissioning of further vehicles from the 1990s will follow.
