Trams Of Karlsruhe, Germany. Finest in the world?

Trams of Karlsruhe, Germany, are regarded by experts as being the finest in the world. Why? See this video to find out how they solved a complex technical problem so elegantly that its almost boring!

The trams are fully legally qualified both as street cars running under 750V DC under visual direction, and also as heavy rail trains running under 15KV power on the main line DB system under the DB signalling system. Drivers have to be qualified for both systems.

This means that they can zoom between cities at high speed, then cruise through the very streets, picking up passengers!

Brilliant way to make mass trasit more attractive.

My number one recomendation, go see it, you will be inspired!

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Trams
• light
• rail
• dual
• voltage
• Karlsruhe
• streetcar
• statbahn
• DB
• Heilbron
• schnellban

[Brenteff]

Great video, camerafloss! We are trying to get tram-train in Wellington, New Zealand, and this sort of information about the pioneer system is priceless. Thank you.

[camerafloss]

Thanks. The big challenged was not so much the technical one of dual voltage vehicles, but more the political will to get the heavy rail and light rail operators to agree to allow this to happen at all. I believe that Karlsruhe has shown that it is possible and desirable, Karlsruhe had very littel road traffic and passengers seemed very happy with the system, see the remark from 2agentsmith2.

[2AgentSmith2]

i rather liked your video and instantly noticed that you are from england^^. i am very glad that our public transport system appeals to you so much. frankly i am myself very proud of having the oppurtunity to use it every day. i've got a 9 min video, it's called tram-compilation, if you're intrested. anyway i enjoyed your video and rated it 5*, saving it as a favorite is understood.

[camerafloss]

Thanks, I have wanted to visit karsruhe for some time now to see it for myself. It really is a marvel and no wonder that experts from all over the world flock to see it. Well done Karlsruhe!

[Puntopower1]

we love our trams, but we have to much tram taffic in the city. every second you can see a tram woh cross the street. it´s crazy but that´s the karlsurher way of life and we love it!

[slinter]

about the trams in karlsruhe... never in any german city i lived in have i noticed so many trams breaking down and wittnessed so many accidents with cars. but i guess you mean the technical stuff, not the management of the whole thing and the kvv.

[Arabhacks]

NYC it is expensive to park a car, but look at the cost of public transportation, and, 600VDC, 750VDC, not much of a jump, but to 15KVAC? THAT is a jump! In Texas Houston has gone light rail and Dallas has medium but none has been that much of a success. Austin tried the "Dillo", a mixed use rail project that has proven a massive failure, the train operators were not qualified and there were far too large a number of accidents. This has to do with the labor unions.

[blehblehbleh86]

@BelijaNero Now you can get a monthly ticket for under €40, providing you don't ride during rush hour.

[blehblehbleh86]

@RossofAmiga The trams do run on certain lines 24/7, and the buses are always driving around.

[RossofAmiga]

@lilatasche Depending on the tram, I don't think it's 24/7, but it is very close to being 24/7!

[lilatasche]

@AriusDural

"Less trains during the night": Karlsruhe is one of only a few cities in Germany which offer public transport 24/7. So moaning is not appropriate. Have a look at Berlin - last train from Alexanderplatz to Potsdamer Platz on weekdays departs at half past 1.

"a guy lose his skateboard": he better should have paid attention. So what?

"pricy": No. Pricing is average. And absolutely appropriate for what you get.



[moffig1]

Bananas

[kevinatucla]

Are you a British Spy thinking to copy our German technology?? Don't worry we won't bomb London anytime soon!!

[isomolle]

A minor correction: the urban network is actually powered at 750 Volts, which is now frequently used on urban tramways. The old "standard voltage" is 600 V