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On 12 April 2003 a 4.6 km tram route opened in the south of the Hanseatic city of Rostock in northern Germany. This new section includes a 350 m tunnel under the tracks of the central station including the underground stop Hauptbahnhof on level -2 at a depth of 11 m below ground. Direct lifts link the tram platforms to the mezzanine and the platforms for long distance and regional train services. The underground station is illuminated by daylight falling in through skylights. The tunnel route is currently served by tram lines 3 (Neuer Friedhof - Dierkow, only in service when line 4 is out of service)and 4 (Rügener Straße - Dierkow), as well as line 5 (Südblick - Rügener Str.) and line 6 (Mensa - Neuer Friedhof).

The lastest section to be opened in Aug. 2006 was a 1.1 km link between Kröpeliner Tor and Platz der Freundschaft with intermediate stops at Schröderplatz and Goetheplatz.

Since the mid-1990s, the Rostock tram network has been significantly extended and modernised. About 92% of all routes are on a separate right-of-way, only short stretches from the northern ramp at Hauptbahnhof to Steintor, and between Doberaner Platz and Maßmannstraße / Saarplatz are embedded in the roadway. All stops provide stepfree access into the vehicles, even those along on-street sections, where the car lane is raised and thus a 24 cm high platform is created.

The rolling stock has also been modernised. Most trams are of the 70% low-floor class 6NGTWDE manufactured by DUEWAG (40 vehicles, 30.1 m long and 2.3 m wide). The fleet is complemented by 24 older high-floor TATRA trams which operate with 22 low-floor trailers, which were built by Bombardier and have a 29 cm floor at the doors.

Total length of the network: 35.5 km (2007)
Number of stops: 64
Track gauge: 1,435 mm

Besides the high-standard tram network, S-Bahn line S1 between Rostock and Warnemünde is worth mentioning. During peak hours there is a train every 10 minutes on the 13.1 km route with 9 stations. During other times a 15-minute headway is provided. The S1 is operated with electric double-deck push-pull trains. Lines S2 (Warnemünde - Güstrow/Bützow, electric) and S3 (Rostock Hbf - Seehafen Nord, diesel units) run only hourly and are like normal regional services.

Photos © Jan Bartelsen

1881 - horse tram
May 1904 - electric tram
1930/36 - tramway to Marienehe and Neuer Friedhof
1948 - tramway to Dierkow
1961 - new route along Lange Straße
1987-90 - new route to Dierkow and Toitenwinkel

24 June 2000 - Marienehe - Thomas-Morus-Straße
07 July 2001 - Thomas-Morus-Straße - Rügener Straße
12 April 2003 - Hauptbahnhof - Südblick / Mensa (4.6 km - including tram tunnel)
28 Nov. 2003 - Rügener Straße - Mecklenburger Allee (1.4 km)
14 Aug 2006 - Doberaner Platz - Platz der Freundschaft (1.1 km)

Lines 1, 4, 5 and 6 operate every 12 minutes during weekday daytime hours, and line 2 every 15 minutes, so the underground stop at Hauptbahnhof offers a tram every 4-5 minutes in each direction. On Saturdays lines 1, 2, 3 and 5 operate every 20 minutes, line 6 only every 30 minutes. On Sundays lines 1, 2, 3 and 5 run every 30 minutes. Line 3 is only in service during evening and weekend service, replacing line 4 and partly line 6.

Rostock is integrated into the tariff system 'Verkehrsverbund Warnow'. Rostock city (including Warnemünde) constitutes zones 1-6 out of 18 zones. For this area there is a flat fare (2007):

Kurzstrecke (short trip) - 1.20 €
Einzelfahrschein (single) - 1.60 €

Tageskarte (Day ticket) - 4.00 €

Wochenkarte (weekly pass) - 14.50 €
Monatskarte (monthly pass) - 45.00 €

Rostocker Straßenbahn incl. network map

Verkehrsverbund Warnow

Rostocker Straßenbahn bei Wikipedia (German)