Škoda Group was awarded a contract to supply up to 30 new trams for Mainz city, in western Germany between 2028 and 2030.
The contract, with a value of EUR 100 million, covers the delivery of up to 30 trams, with a firm order for 22 vehicles and an option for 8 additional light rail vehicles. Notable features include panoramic windows around the tram’s perimeter, offering passengers enhanced views.
In the tender process for new trams, Mainzer Verkehrsgesellschaft (MVG), the public transport operator of the city, opted for vehicles with bogie technology, as these are quieter in operation compared to those with rigid axles. With Škoda’s ForCity Smart model, a proven and reliable tram type was selected. The trams are built on ForCity Smart platform, are bi-directional with pivoting bogies, and will operate on track gauge of 1,000 mm lines.
In Mainz, the vehicles will be approximately 43.5 metres long and feature five double doors to allow swift boarding and alighting. Each light rail vehicle will have a theoretical capacity of 258 passengers, including 96 seated. For comparison, the high-floor existing trams of type M8C, which are set to be retired in the medium term, can carry around 139 passengers, while the low-floor GT6M-ZR trams accommodate 143 passengers.
The Škoda trams offer step-free access throughout, making them fully barrier-free, and they include four wheelchair spaces and significantly more room for the growing number of prams, walking frames, and bicycles, thanks to spacious multi-purpose areas.
Passengers will benefit from Wi-Fi, USB charging ports, and large information displays. The trams are air-conditioned, and all lighting will use energy-saving LED technology.
The exact interior design will now be defined in collaboration with Škoda, tailored to the specific requirements and expectations of MVG and its passengers.
Tram contract financing
With an investment exceeding EUR 100 million, this tram order represents the largest single investment in the history of Mainzer Verkehrsgesellschaft (MVG), the public transport operator of the city.
“Trams clearly hold advantages over buses as they are comfortable, fast, environmentally friendly, and efficient that even for a financially strong company like Mainzer Stadtwerke AG [municipal utility company owned by the City of Mainz], acquiring 22 trams at over EUR 100 million represents a significant financial effort. We are therefore very grateful for the financial support from the city and the state of Rhineland‑Palatinate,” Daniel Gahr, the CEO of Mainzer Stadtwerke, said.
As already reported, the City of Mainz has allocated a EUR 12 million investment subsidy in its 2024–25 budget, which will be used for the new vehicles. Mainzer Stadtwerke AG will largely finance the procurement and maintenance, and the Ministry of Mobility of Rhineland‑Palatinate is contributing an additional EUR 5 million to support innovative features of the trams.
“With around EUR 5 million in funding, we support MVG in acquiring these innovative vehicles. As a former transport commissioner and daily user of Mainz’s public transport, I look forward to experiencing these new vehicles in action in a few years,” Rhineland‑Palatinate’s Climate Protection and Mobility Minister, Katrin Eder, added.
The new vehicles will replace 22 current trams including six high-floor M8C models from DÜWAG built in 1984, and 16 low-floor GT6M-ZR models from ADtranz dating from 1996.
“The new trams for Mainz will ensure the long-term reliability of tram operations, something that would no longer be possible with the old rolling stock. The Škoda trams are over 43 metres long with significantly increased passenger capacity, enabling them to meet rising demand,” MGV’s Managing Directors Jochen Erlhof, and Florian Wiesemann, stated.
In 2024, MVG’s passenger numbers reached a record level of approximately 56.9 million, achieving the pre-pandemic figures (from 2019) and trams play a central role in Mainz’s public transport as their dedicated tracks allow for fast journeys and they remain highly popular with passengers.
With the delivery of new trams for Mainz city Škoda becomes a key supplier for nine public transport providers operating tram services in 11 German cities. In addition, the manufacturer has supplied double-deck NIM Express trains connecting the busy high-speed route between Nuremberg and Munich.
Nine public transport providers operating tram services in 11 German cities have ordered a total of 242 trams from Škoda Group.
Škoda also 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.
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