Following a Europe-wide tendering process, Mainzer Stadtwerke selected Škoda to supply 22 new trams for Mainz city worth over EUR 100 million. Škoda will deliver the ForCity Smart fleet between 2028 and 2030.
“To ensure the long-term reliable operation of the tram network in Mainz, the new vehicles are absolutely essential. At the same time, the new trams, with their increased capacity, will help to manage the growing number of passengers and meet today’s standards for accessibility, modernity, and climate control,” Jochen Erlhof and Florian Wiesemann managing directors at Mainzer Stadtwerke said.
The new vehicles will replace six high-floor vehicles built in 1984 and 16 low-floor trams operating since 1996.
In 2024, the number of passengers reached the record figure of approximately 56.9 million, the same as in 2019, prior to the pandemic, and the public transport company anticipates further increases in the next years.
The procurement will be financed primarily by Mainzer Stadtwerke and in addition, there will be subsidies from the City of Mainz, along with financial support amounting to EUR 5 million from the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Mobility to promote innovative components in the new trams for Mainz. The City of Mainz had allocated an investment grant of EUR 12 million in its 2024 double budget. This amount has since been carried over into 2025 and is now available for the purchase of the new vehicles.
The new trams for Mainz will be approximately 43.5 metres long and feature five double doors to ensure smooth and efficient boarding and alighting. Each tram will have a capacity of 258 passengers, including 96 seated. For comparison, the high-floor M8C trams, which are soon to be retired, accommodate around 139 passengers, while the GT6M-ZR low-floor trams by Adtranz carry 143.
The Škoda trams offer full step-free access thanks to their continuous low-floor design, making them fully accessible. They also feature spacious multi-purpose areas with four designated wheelchair spaces and significantly more room for the increasing number of prams, walking frames, and bicycles. For passenger comfort, the trams are equipped with Wi-Fi, USB charging points, and large information displays. The vehicles are fully air-conditioned, and all lighting is energy-efficient LED technology.
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