Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr (rnv) has placed a €250 million order with Škoda Transportation for at least 80 trams to operate around Mannheim, Ludwigshafen and Heidelberg.
The longest of these will be almost 60 metres in length, making them the longest trams in world.
The order includes an option for 34 additional vehicles. Škoda described it as the biggest tram export order the company has ever received.
The new trams will be supplied in three lengths: 31 three-car vehicles, 37 four-car vehicles and 12 six-car vehicles.
Based on the ForCity Smart family of vehicles, the trams will be built in Finland at one of the Transtech factories acquired by Škoda which is currently supplying similar products to Tampere and Helsinki.
Operator rnv said a full-scale mock-up of the new tram will be displayed in September to support the design phase.
Deliveries are due to begin in 2020 and the trams will start going into service in 2021.
Photo licensed under Creative Commons
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