The Dortmund Stadtbahn is a light rail system in the German city of Dortmund and is integrated in the Rhine-Ruhr Stadtbahn network. Its network consists of eight lines and is operated by Dortmunder Stadtwerke, which is operating under the brand DSW21 since 2005.

Dortmund Stadtbahn
Overview
LocaleDortmund and Lünen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Transit typeLight Rail (Stadtbahn)
Number of lines8
Number of stations82 [1]
Website[1]
Operation
Began operation1 June 1881 (tram)
15 May 1976 (light rail)
Ended operation26 April 2008 (tram)
Operator(s)Dortmunder Stadtwerke AG (DSW21)
Number of vehicles126 (B6: 43, B8: 21, B100S: 8, NGT8: 47, B80D: 7)
Train length28 meters (min)
84 meters (max)
Technical
System length75.0 km (46.6 mi)[2]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)
standard gauge
Electrification750 V DC Overhead line
Top speed80 km/h
System map

The light rail system was gradually opened between 1976 and 2008 by relocating the inner-city tram tracks in underground tunnels and opening new express tram routes that are independent of road traffic (e.g. Kirchderne – Grevel). It operates on 75.0 kilometres (46.6 mi) of route (of which 20.5 kilometres (12.7 mi) are underground in tunnels, with the other 54.5 kilometres (33.9 mi) being above-ground in dedicated rights-of-way).[2] It has 23 underground stations and 59 on the surface.[1]

Network

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The system has eight Stadtbahn lines:[3]

Line Route
U41 Dortmund-Hörde – Lünen–Brambauer
U42 Hombruch – Grevel
U43 Dorstfeld – Wickede
U44 Marten – Westfalenhütte
U45 WestfalenhallenDortmund Hbf – (Fredenbaum)
U46 Westfalenhallen – Brunnenstraße
U47 Westerfilde – Aplerbeck
U49 Hacheney – Dortmund Hbf – (Hafen)

The U41 and U47 rail lines connect with bus 490, which travels to Dortmund Airport.[4]

Rolling stock

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Train type Number of vehicles Manufacturer Years built Operation (regular) Lines Notes
B80C; B6 (six-axle B-Wagen; high-floor) 43 Duewag, BBC 1986–1993 1987–present U41, U42, U45, U46, U47, U49 All B6 cars will be completely refurbished in future.
B80C; B8 (eight-axle B-Wagen; high-floor) 21 Duewag, BBC, Adtranz 1994–1999 1996–present U41, U42 (occasionally), U45, U46, U47, U49 The first ten B8 cars (344–354) were built from former B6 cars. All B8 trains will be completely refurbished in future, with No. 348 being the first refurbished car delivered in 2024.
B100S (six-axle B-Wagen; high-floor) 13 (10 for passenger service, 3 for spare parts reservation) Duewag, Kiepe 1973–1974 2005–2024 U42 Former light rail vehicles from Bonn. Three cars were sold to the Dortmund Fire Department, while the remaining cars were scrapped in 2024.
B80D (six-axle B-Wagen; high-floor)[5][6] 34 HeiterBlick, Kiepe 2021–2026 2024– U41, U42 New-built B-Wagen fleet equipped with three-phase traction motors; replacing B100S.
NGT8 (Bombardier Flexity Classic; low-floor) 47 Bombardier Transportation, Vossloh Kiepe 2007–2013 2008–present U43, U44
N8C (high-floor with step-entrance) 54 Duewag, BBC 1978–1982 1979–2011 Entire network Partially sold to the Gdańsk tram network as of 2007. No. 902 (formerly No. 142) remained in Dortmund in use as a departmental vehicle.
GT8 (high-floor with step-entrance) 91 Duewag, Hansa Waggonbau, Kiepe 1959–1974 1959–2001 Partially sold to Wuppertal, Karlsruhe, Hiroshima and Reșița. Three GT8 trains have been preserved: No. 76 (Hiroshima), No. 87 and No. 13 (Dortmund Local Transport Museum).
T4, B4 (high-floor with step-entrance) 6, 6 Duewag, Credé, Kiepe 1953–1954, 1958 1954–1992 Six four-axle prototype tramcars (T4) based on the PCC model with six four-axle trailer cars (B4). No. 304 was converted into a departmental vehicle (No. 904) in 1982, which is currently being restored at the Dortmund Local Transport Museum.
GT4 (high-floor with step-entrance) 27 Hansa Waggonbau, Kiepe 1954–1957 1955–1980 No. 431 was converted for railway operation in 1978 and is still in service around the Dortmund Local Transport Museum on the Hansa railway line.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Robert Schwandl. "Dortmund". Urban Rail. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Betriebsstrecken" [Operating distances]. Stadtbahnbauamt (in German). Stadt Dortmund. Archived from the original on 2012-03-14. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  3. ^ "Fahrpläne zum Download: U-Bahn". Fahrpläne (in German). Bus & Bahn Für Dortmund. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  4. ^ "Travelling by public transport". Dortmund Airport. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  5. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9EeJ7WIsnE Documentary about the new B80D fleet for the Dortmund Stadtbahn (Part 1)
  6. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD2azFnUec0 Documentary about the new B80D fleet for the Dortmund Stadtbahn (Part 2)
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