The Kassel tramway network is a

network Network, networking and networked may refer to: Science and technology * Network theory, the study of graphs as a representation of relations between discrete objects * Network science, an academic field that studies complex networks Mathematics ...

tram A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...

ways, forming part of the

public transport Public transport (also known as public transportation, public transit, mass transit, or simply transit) is a system of transport for passengers by group travel systems available for use by the general public unlike private transport, typical ...

system in

Kassel Kassel (; in Germany, spelled Cassel until 1926) is a city on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Regierungsbezirk Kassel and the district of the same name and had 201,048 inhabitants in December 2020 ...

, a city in the north of the

federal state A federation (also known as a federal state) is a political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a central federal government ( federalism). In a federation, the self-governi ...

Hesse Hesse (, , ) or Hessia (, ; german: Hessen ), officially the State of Hessen (german: links=no, Land Hessen), is a States of Germany, state in Germany. Its capital city is Wiesbaden, and the largest urban area is Frankfurt. Two other major histor ...

, Germany. , the Kassel tram network is made up of seven regular tramlines. Opened in 1877 as a steam tramway from Wilhelmshöhe the Königsplatz (Royal Square), the network has been operated since 1897 by

Kasseler Verkehrs-Gesellschaft Kasseler may refer to: * Kassler Kassler or Kasseler in German cuisine is the name given to a cured and slightly smoked cut of pork similar to gammon. It can be either hot or cold smoked. Pork necks and loins are the most often used cuts altho ...

(KVG), and is integrated in the

Nordhessischer Verkehrsverbund The Nordhessischer Verkehrsverbund (NVV) is a transport association that organises the cooperation of more than 40 North Hessian transport companies, such as supra-regional public transport and regional rail passenger transport. The ''Verkehrsverbu ...

(NVV). The

track gauge In rail transport, track gauge (in American English, alternatively track gage) is the distance between the two rails of a railway track. All vehicles on a rail network must have wheelsets that are compatible with the track gauge. Since many d ...

is . There existed also a narrow gauge network to the Hercules monument. The network was extended gradually into the surrounding area, partly as conventional tramways, and partly as a

tram-train A tram-train is a type of light rail vehicle that meets the standards of a light rail system (usually an urban street running tramway), but which also meets national mainline standards permitting operation alongside mainline trains. This all ...

RegioTram The Bogotá suburban rail (''Spanish: Tren de cercanías de Bogotá''), also known as RegioTram, is a transportation project to create a mass and rapid transport system to connect Bogotá with surrounding cities. The railways of the former Bogotá ...

'' network.

History

In the summer of 1870 a horse-drawn omnibus line opened as part of an industrial exhibition from 1 June to 5 October 1870. The growth of the city made it attractive to operate a steam tram which was opened in 1877 by the English company "Jay & Comp. London". With the first two steam locomotives and four passenger cars they brought visitors to the Royal Palace in Wilhelmshöhe. Soon other vehicles, including locomotives made by Henschel, were added to the rolling stock. The Kassel steam train is considered to be the first tramway in Germany not pulled by horses. In 1881 the company was taken over by another company from Berlin which invested in its electrification in 1897. The "Hercules Rail" was operated separately until 1927 bringing tourists to the Hercules monument.

System

Tram lines

, the Kassel tram network is made up of seven regular and one additional tramline.

RegioTram

In addition, Kassel is served by the three lines of the

system.

Rolling stock

Historic fleet

Until 1900 54 railcars were ordered at Van Zypen & Charlier and Crede. From 1955 to 1958 the railcar types "260", "261-288 (2 +2 Tw)" designed by Duewag and built in Kassel were put in service. They were in regular service until 1991. Ten vehicles were given to Gorzow in Poland and later scrapped, one of them went to the Warsaw tram friends. Other presented railcars are in two Dutch railway museums one in Hanover and one in Kassel. The next generation 301-317 and 351-366 was produced by Wegmann in Kassel in the 1960s and in service until 2003. Some of them still exist but are not in regular service any more.

Current fleet

* 417-422 (N8C): 16 units produced in 1981 and 6 in 1986 by Duewag - 401-416 sold to ZTM Gdańsk - 417, 419, 422 transported to Gdańzk in 2019 - only 3 operational units remaining in Cassel - 418, 420, 421 * 451–475 (NGT6C): 15 units produced from 1990 to 1991 and 10 in 1994 by Duewag * 601–622 (8ENGTW): 22 units delivered by Bombardier from 1999 to 2000 * 631–640 (8ZNGTW): 10 units delivered by Bombardier in 2001 and 2003 * 651-672 (NGT8): 22 units delivered by Bombardier from 2011 to 2013 Tram near Willemshohe station, Kassel - geo.hlipp.de - 4525.jpg, Tram in 1995 Art-straba-kassel.jpg, Tram no 458 with ''

art – Das Kunstmagazin ''Art – Das Kunstmagazin'' is a monthly art magazine founded by Wolf Uecker and first published by Gruner + Jahr in 1979. Its original editor-in-chief, Axel Hecht, was replaced by Tim Sommer in 2005. The magazine features both new and estab ...

wrap advertising Wrap advertising or a vehicle wrap is known as the marketing practice of completely or partially covering (wrapping) a vehicle in a vinyl material, which may be for a color change, advertising or custom delivery. The result of this process is e ...

, for

documenta X documenta X was the tenth edition of documenta, a quinquennial contemporary art exhibition. It was held between 21 June and 28 September 1997 in Kassel, Germany. The artistic director was Catherine David. This was the first time a woman was ap ...

, 1997 KasselKoenigsplatzStrassenbahn2477.jpg, An 8(Z)NGTW unit at 'Königsplatz' Kassel asv2022-02 img34 Friedrichsplatz tram.jpg, An Alstom RegioCitadis of the Kassel RegioTram

References

Inline references

Bibliography

External links

*
Kasseler Verkehrs-Gesellschaft (KVG) - official site

Track plan of the Kassel tram system
* * {{coord, 51, 19, , N, 09, 30, , E, region:DE_type:railwaystation_source:enwiki, display=title Kassel

Transport in Hesse