The Nordhausen tramway network (german: Straßenbahnnetz Nordhausen) 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
Mathematic ...
of
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 ...
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, typi ...
system in
Nordhausen, a city in 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-gover ...
of
Thuringia
Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a state of central Germany, covering , the sixth smallest of the sixteen German states. It has a population of about 2.1 million.
Erfurt is the capital and lar ...
, Germany.
Opened in 1900, the network is currently operated by Stadtwerke Nordhausen, and has three lines, including one linking Nordhausen with nearby
Ilfeld, running 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 al ...
on the tracks belonging to the
Harz Narrow Gauge Railways.
Tram-train
Nordhausen also practices a unique model of
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 al ...
operation, in which dual-power railcars operate using electric power in the town, and change to diesel-electric to operate on the
Harzer Schmalspurbahn (HSB) line to Ilfeld.
On HSB’s centenary in September 1999, HSB and Stadtwerke Nordhausen signed a declaration of intent for the development, and work began in 2002. A track was built connecting the Bahnhofsvorplatz tram stop along Oskar-Cohn-Straße to the Harzquerbahn sidings at Nordhausen Nord station.
Since the HSB is not electrified, new
dual-power vehicles had to be procured. On 3 June 2000, as part of the centenary celebrations of the Nordhausen tram, the first such vehicle was presented. Dubbed the ''Twino'', it was a
GT4 railcar fitted with a five-cylinder passenger car diesel engine, and was used for practical testing of dual-power operation. The municipal utilities bought three
DuoCombino trams, fitted with
BMW M67
The BMW M67 was an automobile diesel engine, used in the BMW 7 Series. It was first introduced in 1998, and used until 2009. The engine is a common rail turbodiesel
The term turbo-diesel, also written as turbodiesel and turbo diesel, refers ...
3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engines.
On 1 May 2004, route 10 was launched. It follows the course of route 1 from the Südharz Klinikum hospital through Nordhausen town centre to the station forecourt, and then along the
Harzquerbahn track to Ilfeld Neanderklinik, a distance of 11.4 km.
Lines
Since 2004, Nordhausen has had the following three tram lines:
See also
*
List of town tramway systems in Germany
*
Trams in Germany
References
*
*
External links
*
*
*
Nordhausen, Thuringia
Nordhausen
Transport in Thuringia
Metre gauge railways in Germany
Nordhausen
{{Germany-transport-stub