On Monday 11 December 2023, Gera’s public transport operator GVB and Stadler signed a contract for the manufacture and delivery of six new TINA trams. According to current plans, the first trams are to be delivered in 2026. A further three vehicles can be ordered as an option.
The name “TINA” stands for “totally integrated low-floor drive” and describes the latest tram generation of Stadler. During development, particular attention was paid to passenger comfort. The entire vehicle, which is barrier-free throughout, can accommodate 270 passengers – 101 of whom are seated. Each vehicle has five spacious multifunctional areas that offer sufficient space for two passengers in wheelchairs, pushchairs or for transporting bicycles. The trams are fully equipped with modern air conditioning systems. A driver assistance system with emergency braking and blind spot cameras also increases road safety. The six five-car low-floor vehicles for the GVB will replace some of the non-accessible high-floor Tatra vehicles from the 1980s. The order is worth almost 38 million euros and the Free State of Thuringia is supporting the procurement of the new vehicles with 17.07 million euros. This is being co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the 2021-2027 funding period. The city of Gera is supporting the project with 7.2 million euros.
“The signing of the contract for six new trams is a huge step forward for the citizens, for the city of Gera and for local public transport. The aim is to combine lower emissions with comfortable and reliable local transport. The state government and the city are investing 38 million euros in this – public transport is an environmentally friendly public service,” said State Secretary Prof Schönig at the signing of the contract.
“The fact that mobility is a key issue of our time is also reflected in the demands placed on it: Mobility services should be flexible, modern, barrier-free and sustainable in order to be perceived as attractive options by users. With the six new trams, Gera is once again taking an important step forward. They not only modernise the GVB fleet, but also set an important course for the future of public transport in our city,” explained Lord Mayor Julian Vonarb.
“Without the intensive support of the state of Thuringia and the city of Gera, it would not have been possible to procure modern trams for Gera. I would like to thank them for this on behalf of the future users. Nevertheless, it was a long struggle before we were finally able to sign a contract with Stadler today for the delivery of six new low-floor trams, each 43 metres long. Just for comparison: the twelve newer low-floor trams from 2006 to 2008 have a length of 30 metres. With today’s new order, we are taking a major step towards complete accessibility, which has been a legal requirement in public transport since 1 January 2022,” explains GVB Managing Director Thorsten Rühle, adding: “The contract signed today also includes an option to purchase three more trams. Provided we receive further funding, we intend to exercise the option in 2025 so that we can then also replace the remaining non-accessible Tatra vehicles, which are over forty years old.”
“We are delighted that “TINA”, a state-of-the-art tram, will now also be used in Gera. I personally particularly like the spacious interior concept, which, in combination with the huge panoramic windows and a high ceiling, creates an open feeling of space,” enthuses Sebastian Krapp, project manager for tram procurement and head of maintenance at GVB. “As part of this vehicle supply contract, the delivery of spare parts packages and the organisation of training courses for our drivers and workshop staff were also agreed. We will therefore be ideally equipped for the operation and maintenance of the new trams,” adds Krapp.
Dirk Schillings, Chief Technical Officer for Light Rail Vehicles at Stadler, says: “The “TINA” vehicle platform is winning over more and more transport companies. With today’s signing of the contract in Gera, we have now won over our sixth customer for the ultra-modern tram. We are convinced that the new low-floor vehicles will meet the high standards of innovation demanded by passengers and staff alike. We would like to thank the Free State of Thuringia and GVB for their confidence in our product.”
The «TINA» tram
The special feature of the new “TINA” tram family is its high level of flexibility combined with a high degree of standardisation. Its newly designed bogie can be used for a wide variety of vehicle types and requirements. Whether axle drive, loose wheels, rotating or non-rotating bogies, different track gauges and vehicle widths – the TINA platform offers a solution for all tram concepts.
The new “TINA” platform is characterised in particular by its spaciousness, generous passage widths, plenty of foot and legroom, panoramic windows, multifunctional panels and a new design specially tailored to the needs of passengers. The optimised passenger compartment allows barrier-free access to the seats from any vehicle door. In terms of energy efficiency, it scores points with an optimised drive system and low vehicle weight.
We reported on the deployment of the first TINA vehicles in Darmstadt here:
