Passenger service of the Rhein-Neckar-Tram (RNT), the new generation of trams operated by Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH (rnv), began on 14 April 2023. rnv had received the approval notice for the first tram of the new type on 12 April. The first vehicle is on the road in the Mannheim part of the rnv network and will be used, among other things, on the BUGA 23 Express. Over the next few months, the area of operation will gradually be extended to the rest of the network.
Order volume: 265 million euros
As a first batch, the rnv has ordered a total of 80 vehicles in different length classes (30, 40 and 60 metres) from Skoda Transportation. The total investment is 265 million euros. All vehicles are bi-directional. 31 three-section 30-metre trams (Skoda type 36T), 37 four- section 40-metre trams (Skoda type 37T) and 12 60-metre six-section trams (Skoda type 38T) will be delivered. In addition, an option for up to 34 further vehicles was contractually agreed. The four- and six-unit vehicles can be separated in the middle with reasonable effort if a workshop stop is necessary for one part of the vehicle.
In the coming months, more and more trams will gradually be delivered to the rnv and put into service. The delivery of the first batch should be completed by the end of 2025. The next steps in the project are the expansion of the operational area to Ludwigshafen and Heidelberg, the commissioning of the longer vehicle variants and the approval for railway operation. The new trams will of course also be used on the future new lines in the Rhein-Neckar region.
“The procurement of the RNT is the largest investment in the history of the rnv and that is not the only reason why today marks a milestone for us. The vehicle that is starting passenger service for the first time today will become a real driving force for public transport in the region in the coming years,” says Christian Volz, Commercial Managing Director and Labour Director of the rnv. “If the transport turnaround is to succeed, we need well-trained people, an efficient infrastructure, but also comfortable, reliable and modern vehicles. We are sure that our passengers will take the RNT to their hearts, because it also marks a clear step forward in terms of ride comfort and accessibility,” explains Volz. “I have to give a lot of praise to our colleagues, especially our ‘Vehicles’ department, who have worked with great dedication over the last few years to bring this project to a good conclusion.”
“We have completed over 10,000 kilometres with the new vehicles in the last few months and can say that the tests went practically without a hitch. That is the exception rather than the rule in projects of this kind,” reports Frank Ehemann, RNT project manager and division manager for vehicles at rnv. “The vehicle now has to prove itself in passenger service, but the impressions from the test drives make us very confident. My thanks go not only to my team but also to my colleagues at Skoda Transportation, who have pulled out all the stops over the past year to get the RNT on the rails as quickly as possible. We also coordinated very closely with the regulatory authorities on this project from the very beginning, which also contributed to its success.”
16.04.2023