Tram Potsdam
YouTube name: Klingl3r.
Language: German.
Date: September 2011.
City: Potsdam (Germany).
The video shows
Verkehrsbetrieb Potsdam (ViP)
Operational
Potsdam tram line 91: Bhf Rehbrücke - Bhf Pirschheide (ex A, 1)
Operational
Potsdam low-floor articulated tram 411 "Basel", manufacturer Siemens, type Combino, series 401-416, manufactured 1998-2001, in the direction of Bhf Rehbrücke.
Potsdam tram line 92: Kirschallee - Marie-Juchacz-Str. (ex B, 2)
Operational
Signed Bornstedt, Kirschallee.
Potsdam tram line 93: Bhf Rehbrücke - Glienicker Brücke (ex 3 & C)
Operational
Potsdam articulated tram 150 (ex Potsdam articulated tram 069), manufacturer Tatra, type KT4Dm, signed Bahnhof Rehbrücke, interconnected with:
Potsdam tram line 96: Marie-Juchacz-Str. - Campus Jungfernsee (ex 6)
Operational
Potsdam articulated tram 250 (ex Berlin articulated tram 219-522), manufacturer Tatra, type KT4Dm.
Potsdam school tram 301 (ex Potsdam articulated tram 067), manufacturer Tatra, type KT4Dm.
Description
Potsdam nearby Berlin has a tram system with 7 lines and 28,9km length. It was opened in 1880 and electrified in 1907.
Today the fleet consists of these types:
Tatra KT4D - Potsdam was the first city which used this tram type in 1974, they also own the prototype as heritage car. Some KT4D were bought from Berlin.
A lot of the trams were modernised in the 90thies with new doors, front and interior, most of them got chopper steering instead of accelerator. The modernisation wasn't as extensive as in Berlin, however in my opinion I don't see a reason for an extensive modernisation if it is already planned to withdraw the trams some years later.
So it is planned to replace the KT4D with Stadler Variobahnen (variotram) in the next years. Some of the KT4D were already sold. Only the vehicles with 1xx number have modernised drivers cabin, the ones with 2xx not, so they are used as 2nd car in a traction. Some 2xx cars are already withdrawn so there are some 1xx tractions.
The Siemens Combino was delivered from 1998-2001. Potsdam ordered 48 cars in first place for replacing the whole high-floor fleet, however due to the "Combino crisis" in 2004 all trams of this type were taken out of service and send to renewal to Siemens which was finished in 2008.
The order for more trams was canceled, so today Potsdam has 16 cars of regulary production and the 1996 built prototype for normal gauge of this tram type which was renewed for use in passenger service but often is not in service due to technical problems.
The new low-floor tram type ordered for replacing the KT4D is from Stadler and the first trams are already delivered. More will follow the next years. At the time of the recording of this film they weren't in service yet.
The film also features the drivers school tram no. 067 and the KT4D traction with 130 on the front which had an accident after the day this film was recorded and I doubt that it will ever come back to passenger services as it was heavily damaged.
