Germany’s new tram breaks the world record at 58 metres long

The world’s longest tram has made its debut on a line connecting three cities in the southwest of Germany.

Running along the lines of the Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region which includes Manheim, Ludwigshafen and Heidelberg, the giant tram measures exactly 58.61 metres from end to end – a world record.

It carries 368 passengers, has air conditioning and can travel at a speed of 80km/h.

Serving essentially as metropolitan trains, these record breaking trams will travel along both urban and inter-city routes. A modular design means it can be split up into sections for maintenance or the creation of different length trams.

The tram, which was delivered to Mannheim in September, was manufactured by Czechia’s Škoda Group. It is part of a more than €260 million package of trams ordered by the transport operator which is due to be fully delivered by the end of 2026.

The Rhine Necktar Region (RNV) network is no stranger to setting records for the length of its trams. Back in the 1960s, its 38.55-metre vehicle was also the longest tram in the world at the time.

Previously the record was held by a nine section, 55.9 metres long tram in Budapest which has run through the city since 2016.

What is the world’s longest ever passenger train?

These extra long trams are dwarfed by record-length trains.

In 2022, a Swiss railway company set a record for the world’s longest passenger train which was made up of 100 coaches and 25 engines for a length of 1,910 metres. Altogether the train weighed nearly 3,000 tonnes.

As if this was not impressive enough, it navigated up some 789 metres in altitude from Preda via Bergün to Alvaneu. Onboard are 4,550 seats but – unlike the speed trams – it could only travel at around 30 to 35 km/h.

The entire 61-kilometre journey along the UNESCO World Heritage Albula Line took around 46 minutes, travelling along historic viaducts and up spiralling rails. The train was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for its incredible length.

Rhaetian Railway ran the world record-breaking train in honour of Swiss Railways 175th anniversary in 2022.