In June 2025, Ruhrbahn, STOAG Oberhausen and SWK Mobil (Krefeld) jointly published a Europe-wide tender for the procurement of new low-floor tram cars under the future type designation NF 5. The three transport companies have agreed to work closely together on the joint procurement of modern low-floor trams. The aim of the cooperation is to achieve economic advantages through bundled demand and to efficiently advance the expansion and modernisation of local transport in the respective cities.
The details are as follows:
• Ruhrbahn Essen/Mülheim
- Firm order: 40 NF 5 cars, each around 40 m long
- Options: up to 10 additional 40-metre cars + up to 6 30-metre cars
• STOAG Oberhausen
- Firm order: 4 NF 5 cars, each 30 metres long
- Options: 1 additional 30-metre car and up to 5 additional 40-metre cars
• SWK Mobil Krefeld
- Firm order for 6 new NF 5 cars
- Option for up to 7 additional 30 m cars
Ruhrbahn had already ordered 51 new high-floor trams (type HF 1) from CAF in 2021 and began test operations with two pre-series vehicles in July 2024. Series delivery will start in early 2025, with fleet renewal to be completed by 2026. SWK Mobil successfully tested an NF 4 tram car from Ruhrbahn in Krefeld in June 2024.
Objectives of the joint tender
The new low-floor trams NF5 will replace Ruhrbahn’s first generation of low-floor NF1 trams from the 1990s, while the remaining Essen high-floor M light rail vehicles are already in reserve. The new vehicles are expected to be used primarily on lines 103, 105, 107 and 108. At STOAG in Oberhausen, the six Düwag low-floor cars from 1996 are due to be replaced – most cars of the same design have already been taken out of service by other transport companies. Future options are planned in case of route expansions. SWK in Krefeld will initially replace the remaining Düwag M8 high-floor trams built new in the 1980s.
The new vehicles will feature air conditioning, multifunctional seats, visual and acoustic door signals, external cameras instead of exterior mirrors and various driver assistance systems. By issuing a joint tender, the three transport companies expect to achieve efficiency gains through economies of scale and scope in procurement and greater uniformity in maintenance and spare parts management.
The future manufacturers have the option of bidding for a single lot or for several lots at the same time. The vehicles put out to tender are to be delivered with bogies in a bi-directional design with doors on both sides for use in single traction. The key requirements include a low-floor area of at least 70 per cent and a minimum total passenger capacity of 214 people for the 40-metre vehicles and 166 people for the 30-metre vehicles.
Joint spare parts pool foreseen
The cooperation is to continue beyond the procurement phase: while maintenance and repair will remain the responsibility of the respective transport companies, the formation of a joint spare parts pool is planned.
12.06.2025
