It was a long nail-biting ride: after years of uncertainty, the Thüringer Waldbahn und Straßenbahn Gotha GmbH is finally set for modernisation. The traditional metre-gauge tramway, which connects Gotha with Bad Tabarz through the Thuringian Forest, is to receive four to ten new low-floor vehicles – an important step for the preservation and future viability of the historic network.
Vehicle procurement between financing issues and politics
It had been clear for years that the existing fleet, in particular the used Tatra vehicles acquired in the 1990s, Düwag GT8Ns from Mannheim and, most recently, six eight-axle articulated wagons from the Schindler wagon factory (built 1978-81) belonging to Baselland Transport AG (BLT), was getting on in years. Maintenance is becoming increasingly complex and spare parts are hard to come by. At the same time, the route via the single-track mountain railway between Waltershausen and Bad Tabarz is of great importance both for tourism and regionally – a backbone of local transport in the region.
However, the search for funding and political backing proved difficult. For a long time, it was unclear whether and how the necessary funds could be raised. The municipal budget situation, state political priorities and the requirements for barrier-free, modern vehicles led to ever new discussions.
Breakthrough after long preparation
A breakthrough now seems to have been achieved: The state of Thuringia has signalled that it will contribute significantly to the financing of the new vehicles – a prerequisite for the Europe-wide tender, which is to be prepared in the coming months. The initial plan is to purchase four vehicles, with an option for up to six more. This would ensure long-term operation on the entire route, including the municipal lines in Gotha.
Stadler Tramlink for Gotha and the Thuringian Forest Railway
The plan is to supply a total of four modern low-floor trams with an option for six more vehicles. In addition to low entrances and modern technology, attention will also be paid to the possibility of designing the vehicles for mixed operation between urban and rural areas – a challenge that places special demands on the running gear, traction and comfort.
Now that the financing has been secured and the decision of the Supervisory Board of Thüringer Wald- und Straßenbahn GmbH (TWSB) has been favourable, the order for the four (plus six) Stadler Tramlink trams has been confirmed. These are five-car bi-directional vehicles, which are reportedly based on the Tramlinks (so-called light rail vehicles) in Jena. Jena has now ordered 33 light rail vehicles, 16 of which are seven-section vehicles 42 metres long and 17 of which are five-section vehicles 32 metres long. The first vehicles have been in operation there since December 2023. We recently reported on the order of a further nine vehicles for Jena here:
According to the visualisation in the yellow-blue design of the TWSB, the front mask (nose) will also be adopted from Jena. Although the neighbouring city of Erfurt will also receive tramlinks, these are not designed as bidirectional vehicles – the modification effort from a unidirectional to a bidirectional vehicle would therefore be greater. Both the vehicles for Jena and for Erfurt are manufactured in the Spanish Stadler plant in Valencia – it can therefore be assumed that the vehicles for the TWSB will also be manufactured in Valencia.
Other manufacturers were also interested in the tender. For example, a Škoda vehicle from Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH (RNV) was tested on the TWSB in September 2023.
A signal for the region
The vehicle procurement is not only a technical project, but also a sign of transport policy. At a time when rural public transport is being cut back in many places, Gotha is focusing on expansion and modernisation – supported by a broad alliance of the city, district and state of Thuringia. The Waldbahn, which could celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2024, is therefore on the verge of a new era.
02.06.2025
