Berlin Trams

[LouJ]

Just a quick mesaage to say I have uploaded another gallery of trams. These images were taken over 20 muinutes or so at Alexanderplatz in Berlin and show what investment in trams can achieve.

http://www.world-railways.co.uk/gallery/gallery.php?id=156

There are also some other tram galleries on the site including some vintage trams from Porto.

 

[valenta]

Really nice pictures, beautiful trams.

 

[HST Power]

Very nice photos! I've never seen German trams posted before, but I liked these!

 

[Pete2210]

Thanks for those pictures Lou, Berlin has changed a bit since I was last there in 1997

 

[WestCoast]

Excellent photos there.

Yes, the Berlin tram is very extensive, I used it quite a lot when I was there last August. I'm also a fan of the Cologne Stadtbahn which is a sort of hybrid Tram/U-Bahn system.

Berlin in the type of place where trams take the role of buses, its a common concept in Europe and is also the traditional British version of trams.

My favourite tram system of all time has to be Amsterdam though - I really like the extensiveness and the Siemens Combinos with seated conductors.

 

[gordonthemoron]

The class 6000s pre-date the fall of the berlin wall, are high floor and not wheelchair friendly. The class 2000s we also have in Munich, they're not bad, more modern and low floor. Berlin was supposed to be getting trams like those in Nottingham, but they ain't got any money

 

[WatcherZero]

My favourite tram system of all time has to be Amsterdam though - I really like the extensiveness and the Siemens Combinos with seated conductors.

Your lucky to have travelled on it previously, from what I hear its about to undergo a Beeching style axe.

 

[WestCoast]

Your lucky to have travelled on it previously, from what I hear its about to undergo a Beeching style axe.

I have travelled on the system an awful lot, having lived in the area for a short time when I was younger and also being a regular visitor to the area.

I have heard about the various strikes and cuts - shows that austerity measures aren't necessarily UK-centric when it comes to transport. The problem is public transport is so heavily subsidised in that part of Europe, so any cuts are going to hurt badly.

I would also mention that "Beeching-style axe" is a little dramatic, it's not going to be removed suddenly you know! All the busy routes will be kept, and I suspect quieter services will be merged or curtailed. GVB are looking at 3 out of 16, if my reading of the Dutch articles is right (I'm not good at Dutch now!), however that is merely a threat. Line closures will be in quiet parts of the network and should only be partial - the core of the city wont really be affected. It will still be far more extensive than anything the UK has currently.

 

[route101]

Great Photos ! I was in Berlin Last September and never managed to travel the trams . Been on plenty in Eastern Europe and in Melbourne!

 

[northwichcat]

Your lucky to have travelled on it previously, from what I hear its about to undergo a Beeching style axe.

The Berlin tram system is a bit of a strange one because in West Berlin the tram lines were ripped up and replaced by buses, while in East Berlin the trams remained with no attempts to recreate a Berlin wide tram system.

 

[WatcherZero]

The Berlin tram system is a bit of a strange one because in West Berlin the tram lines were ripped up and replaced by buses, while in East Berlin the trams remained with no attempts to recreate a Berlin wide tram system.

Was refering to Amsterdam where they are about to undertake a massive lines closure and reduction in frequency of services.

 

[WestCoast]

Was refering to Amsterdam where they are about to undertake a massive lines closure and reduction in frequency of services.

It won't be anywhere near as bad as that. The changes are not confirmed - there will be cuts with the possibility of three - six lines going (depending on who you believe!) - but if you know the system a lot is interlinked and the "massive streches" probably will still be served. When they say lines going - they mean "shortened".

The buses are going to be affected considerably more than the trams.