Škoda Wins Tram Contract for Mainz, Expands German Presence
New deal for up to 30 ForCity Smart trams brings Škoda’s footprint to 11 cities, cementing its role in Germany’s sustainable mobility push.
www.skoda.cz
Škoda Group continues to strengthen its position in the German market. A new contract to supply up to 30 trams (the base contract for 22 + 8 optional) to the western German city of Mainz confirms its strong and growing presence in one of Europe's most important markets. With this contract, Škoda becomes a key supplier for nine public transport providers operating tram services in 11 German cities. In addition to trams, the Czech engineering company has supplied double-deck NIM Express trains connecting the busy high-speed route between Nuremberg and Munich. Furthermore, Škoda manufactures trolleybuses for one of Germany's three trolleybus operations, specifically for the city of Esslingen. Since entering the German market, Škoda has secured contracts for nearly 300 vehicles.
The new trams for Mainz will be built on the ForCity Smart platform. They will feature a bi-directional design with pivoting bogies, a length of 43.5 meters, and a track gauge of 1,000 mm. Notable features include panoramic windows around the tram's perimeter, offering passengers enhanced views.
"Mainz is a city with a rich tram tradition, and it's great to see how this heritage is being embraced by modern, sustainable vehicles. This contract is an important step for us, as it means our trams will now be operating in the 11th German city. This contract also reinforces our leadership position as the supplier of trams for narrow-gauge tracks in Germany. We are ready to support Mainz with reliable vehicles that will serve its residents for many years to come," says Jan Christoph Harder, President Region West & North Škoda Group.
Unique Trams, Battery-Powered Trolleybuses, and Long-Distance Trains
Nine public transport providers operating tram services in 11 German cities have ordered a total of 242 trams from Škoda Group. Among these deliveries are unique models such as the Škoda 38T for the rnv public transport provider, which, at a length of 60 meters, is the world's longest tram, and the Škoda 41T for the city of Bonn, which received the prestigious Red Dot Design Award for its timeless design. Additionally, Škoda is the largest supplier of trams for narrow-gauge tracks (1,000 mm) in Germany. Apart from trams, Škoda manufactures 46 battery-powered trolleybuses for Esslingen. The company has also delivered six push-pull train sets connecting the cities of Nuremberg, Ingolstadt, and Munich. These sets were put into operation in 2020 and 2021, with each set having already covered over 1.5 million kilometres. In the coming years, Škoda Group will undertake their major overhauls.
"Our continued expansion into the German market is an important step for us. With this contract and other projects, we have in Germany, our vehicles will be present in a total of 15 cities, further strengthening our position in the German market. We have become a key player in this dynamic and diverse market. Our vehicles are not only technologically advanced but also environmentally friendly, helping cities achieve their goals in sustainable mobility," adds Jan Harder.
German Cities That Have Ordered Trams from Škoda Group:
- Mannheim
- Heidelberg
- Ludwigshafen
- Frankfurt (Oder)
- Cottbus
- Brandenburg an der Havel
- Bonn
- Chemnitz
- Schöneiche
- Kassel
- Mainz
