Dresden Transport Authority

The Dresden Transport Authority (Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe AG/DVB) has a large tramway network. The origins of the Dresden tramway can be traced back to the year 1872, when the first horse-drawn line opened between the city centre and the former village of Blasewitz, now a borough of Dresden.

The tramway system is the backbone of public transport in Dresden. DVB operate thirteen routes on a 200 km network. [Dresden Transport Authority: [http://dvb.de/untnehm/unnehm.htm Profile] ] On the major lines through the inner city, where different routes intertwine, vehicles run up to every two minutes. Different routes can be identified by a route number scheme, which also extends to local and regional bus services, as well as a colour code which has by now only been applied to the official network diagram of DVB. On all tramway routes, a general 10-minute headway is offered on weekdays, extending to 15 minutes on Saturday, Sunday and in the evening. The system boosts a daily 24h service.

The fleet is being renewed to replace the ageing Czech Tatra trams. Today many of the low floor vehicles are up to 45 metres long and produced by Bombardier Transportation in Bautzen. The newest trams are vehicles of the Flexity Classic XXL series that are adjusted to the topography of Dresden. [Dresden Transport Authority: [http://dvb.de/untnehm/tblatt/bahn/NGTD12DD.htm NGTD12DD data sheet] ]

The Dresden tramway is a mixed system of traditional street running, especially in the inner city boroughs close to the city centre, and modern light rail. While many tracks in the system are on separated roadbeds (often with grass grown around them to avoid noise) some tracks are still placed on the streets in the midst of individual traffic. Contrary to many other German cities of comparable size, no tunnel sections exist.

In recent years, street running has been replaced by independent right-of-way arrangements wherever possible. Many stations are now fully accessible to physically disabled persons, in compliance with the purchase of low floor rolling stock.

The CarGoTram is a tram that supplies Volkswagen's Transparent Factory, crossing the city. The two trams, up to 60 meters long, are the longest vehicles allowed to use roads in Dresden. The connection by tram was established to reduce the number of trucks used. The transparent factory is located not far from the city centre next to the city's largest park. [Dresden Transport Authority: [http://dvb.de/untnehm/gbahn.htm CarGoTram] ]

External links

* [http://www.dvbag.de Webpage of the DVB] with route maps, construction works, facts, news and more]
* [http://www.dresdner-nahverkehr.de/ History of tram routes]
* [http://public-transport.net/bim/Dresden.htm Collection of photos of different trams]
* [http://dresden.stadtwiki.de/wiki/Kategorie:Straßenbahn Kategorie:Straßenbahn im "Dresdner Stadtwiki"]