Trams in Hamburg

Summary

The Hamburg tramway network (German: Straßenbahnnetz Hamburg) once formed part of the public transport system in the city and federal state of Hamburg, Germany. Opened in 1866, the network lasted until 1978.

Hamburg tramway network
A tram of line 2 in the Rathausmarkt, 1975.
Operation
LocaleHamburg, Germany
Horsecar era: 1866 (1866)–1922 (1922)
Status Closed
Operator(s) Pferde-Eisenbahn Gesellschaft
(1866–1881)
Hamburg-Altonaer Pferdebahn
(1878–1896)
Straßen Eisenbahn Gesellschaft
(1880–1919)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Propulsion system(s) Horses
Route length 1879: 28 km
1881: 66 km
1896: 100 km
1909: 167.17 km
Steam tramway era: 1878 (1878)–1897 (1897)
Status Closed
Operator(s) Pferde-Eisenbahn Gesellschaft
(1878–1880)
Straßen Eisenbahn Gesellschaft
(1880–1897)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Propulsion system(s) Steam power
Route length 1879: 28 km (17 mi)
1881: 66 km (41 mi)
1896: 100 km (62 mi)
Electric tram era: 1894 (1894)–1978 (1978)
Status Closed
Routes 1955: 19
1965: 11
1970: 10
1974: 5
1978: 1 (line number 2)
Operator(s) Hamburger Hochbahn
(1920–1978)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Propulsion system(s) Electricity
Electrification 500 V DC overhead line
(initially)
550 V DC
(later)
Route length 1909: 167.17 km (103.87 mi), 1955: 217 km (135 mi)[1][circular reference]
Hamburg tramway network, 1955.
Website Hamburger Hochbahn (in German)

Overview edit

Hamburg's first tram service was with horsecars, beginning on 16 August 1866.[2] Operation of steam-powered trams began on 13 May 1878 and continued until 1897, while horsecar service continued on some lines (with the last one surviving until 1922).[2]

Electric tram service was introduced on 5 March 1894 and continued until 1978, with the system closing on 1 October 1978.[2]

Proposed 21st century system edit

A similar style of transport, light rail, was to have been provided by the Hamburg Stadtbahn project, but following the Hamburg state election, 2011, the newly elected First Mayor of Hamburg, Olaf Scholz, announced that that project would not be going ahead.


See also edit

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ de:Straßenbahn Wuppertal#Wuppertaler Stadtwerke AG
  2. ^ a b c Tramway & Light Railway Atlas – Germany 1996. London: Light Rail Transit Association. 1995. p. 262. ISBN 0-948106-18-2.

Further reading edit

  • Höltge, Dieter; Kochems, Michael (2008). Straßen- und Stadtbahnen in Deutschland [Tramways and Stadtbahnen in Germany] (in German). Vol. 11: Hamburg. Freiburg: EK-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-88255-392-5.

External links edit

  Media related to Trams in Hamburg at Wikimedia Commons

53°33′01″N 09°59′32″E / 53.55028°N 9.99222°E / 53.55028; 9.99222