Erfurt – The state of Thuringia is helping cities to improve their tram services by providing financial injections. Around ten million euros will be provided to Gotha for this purpose, the Ministry of Transport in Erfurt announced. The money will be used to improve the fleet of the Thüringer Waldbahn and Straßenbahn Gotha GmbH.
Four modern trams for Gotha
The company plans to purchase a total of four new low-floor articulated trams in 2025 and 2026. The current fleet is 40 years old and outdated. The total cost is around 20 million euros, of which the state will contribute around half, according to the ministry.
“A convincing public transport service can significantly relieve our cities of private transport and improve the quality of life. That is why we are supporting Thuringian municipalities and transport companies in expanding climate-friendly local transport,” explained Transport Minister Susanna Karawanskij (Left Party) in Erfurt. The EU, federal and state governments have made around 160 million euros available for this purpose in the legislative period ending in September.
According to the ministry, a total of 38 new trams were purchased in Thuringia between 2018 and 2024, 14 of them in Erfurt and 24 in Jena.
240 kilometers of tram network
In the period up to 2027, a further 25 vehicles are to be purchased in addition to those in Gotha, using EU funds – primarily for Erfurt and Jena, but also for Gera. The total costs are expected to amount to 108 million euros. The state is supporting the transport companies with 37 million euros from the EU and 16 million euros from a public transport investment program.
Progress has also been made in the expansion, renewal and repair of tram routes. Between 2019 and 2023, a total of 40 million euros was invested in the basic renewal of the routes in Nordhausen, Erfurt, Jena and Gera.
The entire tram network in Thuringia is more than 240 kilometers long. According to the State Office for Construction and Transport, there are around 100 kilometers in Erfurt, around 50 kilometers in Jena and 45 kilometers in Gera. In the city of Gotha, the number is more than 36 kilometers. In addition to the urban routes, a special feature of Gotha is the Thuringian Forest Railway, an interurban tram to Bad Tabarz. According to the State Office, Nordhausen has the smallest network at 14.5 kilometers.
