Take A Ride: Germany Debuts The World’s Longest Tram
Germany debuts the world’s longest tram
Meanwhile, Germany has debuted the world’s longest tram on a line that connects three cities in the southwest of the country. The train runs on the lines of the Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region, which includes stops at Manheim, Ludwigshafen and Heidelberg. Meanwhile, the reason for its record-breaking length is that it measures exactly 58.61 meters from end to end.
Moreover, the new record-breaking tram can carry 369 passengers at a top speed of 80 km/hr (50 mi/hr), taking commuters and travelers to their destinations in comfort and at speed. The air-conditioned tram serves as a metropolitan train and will handle both urban and inter-city routes
About the new tram
The modular design of the tram makes it easy to split up into sections while performing maintenance or to create different-length trams. Meanwhile, it was delivered to Mannheim in September and was manufactured by Czechia’s Škoda Group. Moreover, this tram is part of a more than €260 million ($274 million) package of trams ordered by the transport operator, to be fully delivered by the end of 2026.
Running the Rhine Neckar Region (RNC) network
Meanwhile, the Rhine Neckar Region has set records before for the length of its trams. It was back in the 1960s that Germany launched a 38.55-meter (126-feet) vehicle, that was the longest tram in the world at that time.
Previous to that, the record was held by a 55.9-meter-long (195-ft-long), nine-section tram in Budapest, Hungary which has run through the city since 2016.
Which country runs the longest-ever passenger train?
While the new Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region tram has broken records, these are dwarfed by several longest passenger trains. Back in 2022, the Swiss railway set a new record for the world’s longest passenger train. Moreover, this train comprised of 100 coaches and 25 engines and had a length of 1,910 meters (6,266 feet). That train weighed an amazing 3,000 tons.
Meanwhile, a train from the Rhaetian Railway (RHB) is set to take the top place for the longest passenger train. The train will feature 4,550 seats, but unlike the speedy trams, it will only travel at some 30 to 35 km/hour. Meanwhile, it measures around 789 meters in altitude from Preda via Bergün to Alvaneu.
Moreover, the 61-km journey along the UNESCO World Heritage Albula Line, took around 46 minutes, while traveling across historic viaducts and up spiraling rails. This train was honored by the Guinness Book of World Records for its amazing length. Rhaetian Railway ran the train in honor of Swiss Railways 175th anniversary in 2022.