Tramscape Tramway
Photographs
Halle, Germany
: 24th March, 1997
Halle has an extensive
metre-gauge tramway system operated by a large fleet of modernised
Tatra T4D trams, but augmented by Esslingen-built GT4s purchased from
Stutgart and Freiburg between 1990 and 1992. Delivery has also been
taken of new low-floor trams of the "Bochum" type from Duewag.
In common with many tramways in the former German Democratic
Republic, the 1990s saw a rapid modernisation of route alignments and
rolling stock and by 1996, Halle's system presented a modern and high
quality appearance. The network will also be extended, with a link to
Halle Neustadt now under construction. Unusually, this enormous urban
development of around 80,000 inhabitants to the west of Halle and
across the River Saale was not given a tramway link when it was
developed in the 1970s. Construction work began in April 1998 to
build a link along the wide street "Magistrale" to the existing Heide
route at Rennbahn with two branches serving the western part of Halle
Neustadt. The second phase of the development involves building a new
line through the city centre to Hauptbahnhof via Glauchaerplatz and
Franckeplatz. This new line not only provides the east-west
cross-city route hitherto missing in the Halle network, but also
allows the main railway station to be better served by trams. As part
of the development, the existing north-south line which runs through
the middle of a large street roundabout at Riebeckplatz will be
realigned to run closer to the Hauptbahnhof
Click
here to see the Halle Tramway Photograph Catalogue
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