Plus, it has a unique modular design that allows it to be shortened and lengthened like a train

The longest tram in the world is ready to serve the streets of Germany’s Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region, which includes the cities of Mannheim, Ludwigshafen and Heidelberg. The vehicle, produced by Škoda Group, was delivered earlier this month as part of a package order that includes the production of 114 trams for RNV, the public transport operator of the metropolis.

The champion vehicle in this package, however, is certainly the tram that measures almost 60 metres in length – 58.61 to be exact. The ForCity Smart 38T model, as it’s officially known, also boasts other remarkable specifications.

Its length allows it to carry more passengers – with a capacity of 368 people on board it presents a true mammoth breakthrough in the public transit landscape of the streets of Mannheim.

It can also reach speeds of up to 80 km/h but what is truly noteworthy is its modular design. This means that this tram (and also shorter 40-m trams from the new Škoda batch) can be split into halves, which allows easier depot handling and maintenance. What’s more, the two halves of the longer and the shorter trams can be combined to create a 50-meter-long tram.

Tram-train for the modern urban age

In a sense, the new trams are designed to serve as metropolitan trains, given that they will run routes connecting the three cities in the Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region (itself spanning three German federal states).

The vehicles are designed for both urban and inter-city routes, requiring partial train homologation to meet safety standards.

The contract, won by Škoda six years ago, initially included 80 trams valued at nearly 280 million euros, with an option for an additional 34 vehicles. The full delivery is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.