Trams in Graz

Graz tramway network
Variobahn at Kaiser-Josef-Platz (2020)
Operation
Locale	Graz, Styria, Austria
Status	Operational
Lines	6[1]
Owner(s)	City of Graz
Operator(s)	Holding Graz (since 2007 (2007))
Infrastructure
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Minimum curve radius	17,5 m
Electrification	600 V DC
Depot(s)	Remise I (Alte Poststraße), II and III (Steyrergasse)
Stock	86[2]
Statistics
Route length	70.4 km (43.7 mi)[2]
Stops	95
Average speed	70 km/h (43 mph) max.
2012	53.56 million[2]
Horse tram era: 1878–1899 Owner(s) Grazer Tramway Operator(s) Grazer Tramway Propulsion system(s) Horses
Electric tram era: 1899 (1899)–present Status Still running Operator(s) Holding Graz (since 2007 (2007)) Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge Propulsion system(s) Electricity Electrification 600 V DC
Overview Map of the Graz tram network, 2021.
Website	http://www.holding-graz.at/linien.html Holding Graz Linien (in German)

Historical Line 2 (Circle line) Hauptbahnhof - Hauptbahnhof
Overview
Native name	Linie 2 (Ringlinie)
Termini	Hauptbahnhof Hauptbahnhof (until 1962) Keplerbrücke (until 1963) Wormgasse (until 1971)
Stations	17 (1899-1953) 18 (1954-62) 14 (1962-63) 12 (1963-71)
Color on map	red (until March 25, 1911 (1911-03-25))
History
Opened	August 21, 1888 (1888-08-21) as horse tramway July 24, 1899 (1899-07-24) as electric tramway
Closed	December 31, 1953 (1953-12-31) connection Hbf June 5, 1962 (1962-06-05) Keplerstraße November 14, 1963 (1963-11-14) Wickenburgg. January 17, 1971 (1971-01-17) remaining parts
Technical
Line length	6.0 km (3.7 mi)
Route map km Tracksheme 1950 0,0/~6,0 Südbahnhof (Hauptbahnhof) 1 ← 5 to Eggenberg, 7 to Wetzelsdorf → from 1953 on separate stops at Hbf 0,3 Annenstraße 1 5,7 Babenbergerstraße 0,6 Esperantoplatz 1 5 7 5,5 Marienplatz 5,4 right mill canal 5,0 Lendplatz 3 to Gösting 0,9 Roseggerhaus 1 5 7, 3 to Krenngasse 0,9 mill canal Elisabethstraße 1,3 Südtirolerplatz 1 5 7 1,4/4,6 Mur Erzherzog-Johann-bridge/Keplerbridge 4,5 left mill canal (until 1977) terminus from 1962 4,5 Schloßbergplatz/Keplerbrücke 4 to Andritz 1,7 Hauptplatz 1 4 5 7 4,1 Grabenstraße 3 to Gösting, 6 to Puntigam 2,2 Jakominiplatz 1 3 4 5 6 7 4 to Liebenau, 5 to Zentralfriedhof 3 to Krenngasse, 6 to St. Peter terminus from 1963 3,9 Wormgasse 2,6 Kaiser-Josef-Platz 1 7 3,7 Geidorfplatz 2,8 Rechbauerstraße 1 7 3,3 Zinzendorfgasse until 1971 1 to Mariatrost, 7 to St. Leonhard/LKH

The Graz tramway network is a network of tramways forming an important part of the public transport system in Graz, which is both the capital city of the federal state of Styria, Austria, and the second largest city in Austria.

In operation since 1878, the network presently has six daytime lines, and five evening and Sunday lines. As of 2012^[update], the Graz tram network ran on an almost 60 kilometres (37 mi) of route, and served 53.56 million passengers.^[2] It is operated by the Graz Linien division of Holding Graz, the city owned utility company who also operate the city's bus network and the Schlossbergbahn funicular railway. The trams form part of the styrian integrated fare system which covers all modes of public transport in Graz and Styria.

The Tramway Museum Graz, at the terminus of line 1 in Mariatrost, holds many exhibits relating to the system.^[3]

History

The first electric tram in 1899

The first trams to run in Graz were horse trams in private ownership, with service commencing in 1878. The lines were electrified from 1899. In 1939, the tram network was acquired by the city.^[3]

In 1941, the narrow gauge electric railway that had linked Graz with the suburb of Mariatrost since 1898, was converted to standard gauge and became part of the tram network. The resulting long outer section of tram route 1 still retains many light railway features, with its off-street routing and long stretches of single track.^[3][4]

Graz trams in 1977

Subsurface tramstop at Graz main railway station from 2012

The Graz tram network reached a peak in 1950. Growing car ownership, and the growth of residential areas in outer reaches of the city not served by the trams, led to a fall in tram usage and eventually, after 1950, the closure of several tram routes. The city introduced trolleybuses in 1941 to serve the outer areas of the city, but these were replaced by motor buses by 1967.^[3]

In the 1990s, with the city's narrow central streets proving ill-suited to large quantities of private car traffic, the city adopted a policy of improving and expanding public transport, with modernisation and extension of the tramway. The area around Jakominiplatz was developed as the main tram and city bus interchange from 1995, whilst extensions to Puntigam, Liebenau/Murpark and St Peter followed in 2006 and 2007.^[3]

In 2001, Graz was the launch customer for the Bombardier Transportation's Cityrunner design, with the acquisition of 18 27 m (89 ft) long five-section trams. These were the city's first 100% low-floor trams, although the concept was introduced in 1999 by the fitting of new low-floor centre sections to 12 existing trams.^[3]

In 2007, Graz ordered 45 Stadler Variobahn trams for delivery between 2009 and 2015. These vehicles proved controversial, with complaints over noise and vibration levels. Initially confined to the north–south axis lines 4 and 5, the trams started operating on the east–west axis in 2013, after modifications and imposition of a speed limit.^[3][5]

In 2012, new tram tunnels were built to serve the city's main railway station (Graz Hauptbahnhof), which was previously the terminus of two tram lines and some distance from the main westbound tram route. Trams on the main line now stop in a new subsurface tram station in the station forecourt area. This allows the station to be served by four of the city's six lines.^[3]

In 2016 a new extension of line 7 in order to serve the new medical campus of the University of Graz in Stiftingtalstraße was constructed and opened to the public on 11 September 2016. The line was extended by one stop from the previous terminus at St. Leonhard.^[6]

Operation

Line 1 Eggenberg/UKH - Mariatrost
Overview
Native name	Linie 1
Termini	Eggenberg/UKH Mariatrost
Stations	32
Color on map	light blue
History
Current route since	September 10, 1990 (1990-09-10)
Technical
Line length	11.2 km (7.0 mi)
Route map km m (AA) Göstinger Straße 0,0 Eggenberg/UKH (emergency hospital) 380 0,4 Alt-Eggenberg 376 0,5 Baiernstraße 0,8 Schloss Eggenberg 369 0,8 Schloßstraße 1,2 Auster Sport- und Wellnessbad (public pool "Oyster") 366 1,5 Vinzenzgasse 365 1,7 Georgigasse 365 1,7 Alte Poststraße 1,7 Georgigasse 365 2,0 turnaround Laudongasse (Laudongasse) 365 2,2 Asperngasse (Access to Hbf S 1-S 7) 365 2,2 6 to Smart City 364 2,4 4 to Reininghaus, 7 to Wetzelsdorf 2,5 Köflacher Gasse/PVA 4 6 7 ( S 61 S 7) 362 2,5 ← Köflacher Gasse/→ Waagner-Biro-Straße 2,7 Sublevel section local transport hub Hauptbahnhof 2,7 Südbahn and Köflacherbahn/Graz Hauptbahnhof 364 2,9 Hauptbahnhof 4 6 7 S 1-S 7 357 3,0 ← Eggenberger Gürtel/→ Bahnhofgürtel 3,1 sublevel section ramp 3,1 Annenstraße 3,3 Esperantoplatz/Arbeiterkammer 4 6 7 355 3,3 ← Idlhofgasse/→ Hans-Ressel-Gasse 3,6 Roseggerhaus 4 6 7 351 3,6 ← Elisabethinergasse/→ Volksgartenstraße (line planned) 3,6 right to river Mur mill canal 3,8 construction of city center relief route (until 2025) 350 4,0 Südtirolerplatz/Kunsthaus 4 6 7 350 4,1 ← Grieskai/→ Lendkai 4,1 Mur Erzherzog-Johann-bridge 351 4,1 ← Marburger Kai/→ Franz-Josef-Kai 4,3 3 5 to Andritz 350 4,4 Hauptplatz-Congress 3 4 5 6 7 350 Herrengasse (pedestrian zone) 4,9 ← Johanneumring/→ Opernring 4,9 4 to Liebenau/Murpark, 5 to Puntigam 351 4,9 Jakominiplatz 3 4 5 6 7 (23) 351 5,0 turnaround Radetzkyspitz/relief route 352 5,0 3 to Krenngasse, 6 to St. Peter 352 5,0 turnaround Steirerhof 352 5,3 Kaiser-Josef-Platz/Oper 7 355 5,3 ← Kaiser-Josef-Pl./→ Franz-Graf-Allee 355 5,6 former Line 2 to Hauptbahnhof (closed 1971) 5,6 Maiffredygasse 7 358 5,9 Lichtenfelsgasse/Kunstuniversität 7 360 6,2 Merangasse 7 364 6,2 Merangasse 364 6,2 Merangasse 7 364 6,4 Reiterkaserne 7 367 6,4 7 to LKH MED UNI/Klinikum Nord 6,6 Tegetthoffplatz 367 6,6 Elisabethstraße 6,6 Tegetthoffplatz 367 6,9 Lenaugasse 369 7,3 Kroisbach 7,3 Turnaround Hilmteich 374 7,4 Hilmteich/Botanischer Garten 375 7,4 Schubertgasse 375 7,8 Schönbrunngasse 379 8,1 Mariatroster Bach 8,2 Hilmteichstraße/Mariatroster Straße 384 8,2 Mariagrün (former light rail route) 384 8,8 Kroisbach 389 8,8 Reifentalgasse 389 8,8 Kroisbach 389 8,9 Mariatroster Bach 9,3 St. Johann 394 9,3 Freihofanger 394 9,3 St. Johann 394 Mariatroster Bach 2x 9,8 Rettenbach 400 9,8 Rettenbacher Straße 400 9,9 Mariatroster Bach 402 10,0 Wagnesweg 403 10,0 Wagnesweg 403 10,2 Waldhof/Rettenbachklamm 405 10,2 Hans-Mauracher-Straße 405 10,2 Waldhof/Rettenbachklamm 405 10,3 Rettenbach 10,6 Teichhof 412 10,6 Teichhofweg 412 10,9 Tannhof 415 10,9 Tannhofweg 415 11,0 Turnaround Mariatrost 11,2 Mariatrost 417 Connection to museum Tramway Museum Graz 418 Mariatrost Basilica Altstadtbim: riding is free in this segment single track/track entanglement between halts

Line 3/(23) Andritz - (Jakominiplatz) - Krenngasse
Overview
Native name	Linie 3/(23)
Termini	Andritz Krenngasse
Stations	19/7
Color on map	light green/purple
History
Current route since	July 11, 2020 (2020-07-11)
Technical
Line length	6.5 km (4.0 mi)
Route map km m (AA) Andritzer Reichsstraße 0,0 Andritz 5 Andritzer Hauptplatz 363 0,4 Grazerstrasse 5 360 0,8 67a Grabenstraße 358 1,0 Körösistraße 358 1,0 Maut Andritz 5 358 1,0 Theodor-Körner-Straße 358 1,5 Robert-Stolz-Gasse 5 357 1,7 Grabengürtel 1,8 Carnerigasse 5 355 1,8 Carnerigasse 355 2,1 Seniorenzentrum 5 354 2,4 Hasnerplatz/Pädagog. Hochsch./tim 5 352 2,7 Lange Gasse 5 351 2,7 Körösistraße 351 3,1 ← Keplerstraße/→ Wickenburggasse 352 3,1 Keplerbrücke 5 352 3,4 Schloßbergbahn 5 Schloßbergbahn 353 3,6 Schloßbergplatz/Murinsel 5 Schloßberglift 351 3,8 1 4 6 7 to Hauptbahnhof 350 3,9 Hauptplatz-Congress 1 4 5 6 7 350 Herrengasse (pedestrian zone) 4,7 ← Johanneumring/→ Opernring 352 turnaround Radetzkyspitz (23) 4,7 4 to Murpark, 5 to Puntigam 352 0,0/4,8 Jakominiplatz 1 4 5 6 7 (23) 352 0,0/4,8 Opernring/Gleisdorfer Gasse 352 0,0/4,8 1 to Mariatrost 7 to LKH MED UNI/Klinikum Nord 352 0,1/4,9 turnaround Steirerhof 352 0,4/5,2 Dietrichsteinplatz 352 0,4/5,2 6 to St. Peter 354 0,4/5,2 Dietrichsteinplatz 6 (23) 354 0,7/5,5 Mandellstraße 357 0,7/5,5 Mandellstraße (23) 357 0,9/5,7 Rechbauerstraße (23) 360 1,2/6,0 Herz-Jesu-Kirche (23) 361 1,5/6,3 Schillerplatz (23) 365 1,6/6,4 Merangasse 365 Schillerplatz 1,7/6,5 Krenngasse (23) 365 Krenngasse Altstadtbim: riding is free in this segment Double km-numbers starting at Jakominiplatz: Line (23)

Line 4 Reininghaus - Liebenau/MURPARK
Overview
Native name	Linie 4
Termini	Reininghaus Liebenau/MURPARK
Stations	24
Color on map	light brown
History
Current route since	November 26, 2021 (2021-11-26)
Technical
Line length	8.5 km (5.3 mi)
Route map km m (AA) 0,0 Reininghaus 358 0,1 Domenico dell'Allio Allee 0,3 Wetzelsdorfer Straße 360 0,3 Jochen-Rindt-Platz 360 0,3 Southwestern line (planned) 360 0,8 Reininghauspark/tim 364 1,1 Reininghausstraße 365 1,2 Reininghausstraße - Alte Poststraße crossroads 1,3 Köflacherbahn 360 1,8 7 to Wetzelsdorf 365 1,8 Alte Poststraße 7 365 1,9 Remise III (Alte Poststraße) depot 364 2,0 Eggenberger Straße exit only 364 2,2 1 to Eggenberg/UKH, 6 to Smart City 364 2,3 Köflacher Gasse/PVA 1 6 7 364 2,3 ← Köflacher Gasse/→ Waagner-Biro-Straße 364 2,4 Sublevel section local transport hub Hauptbahnhof 361 2,4 Südbahn and Köflacherbahn/Graz Hbf 360 2,6 Hauptbahnhof 1 6 7 S 1-S 7 357 2,7 ← Eggenberger Gürtel/→ Bahnhofgürtel 2,7 sublevel section ramp 2,7 Annenstraße 3,0 Esperantoplatz/Arbeiterkammer 1 6 7 355 3,0 ← Idlhofgasse/→ Hans-Ressel-Gasse 3,3 Roseggerhaus 1 6 7 355 3,3 ← Elisabethinergasse/→ Volksgartenstraße (line planned) 3,3 right side of river Mur mill canal 3,5 construction of relief route (complete 2025) 351 3,7 Südtirolerplatz/Kunsthaus 1 6 7 354 3,8 ← Grieskai/→ Lendkai 3,8 Mur Erzherzog-Johann-bridge 353 3,8 ← Marburger Kai/→ Franz-Josef-Kai 4,0 3 5 to Andritz 357 4,0 Hauptplatz-Congress 1 3 5 6 7 357 Herrengasse (pedestrian zone) 4,4 ← Johanneumring/→ Opernring 4,4 1 3 6 7 towards east 353 4,5 Jakominiplatz 1 3 5 6 7 (23) 354 4,5 Turn Johanneumring/relief route and turn Steirerhof 354 4,6 track switch Jakoministraße 355 4,9 Grazbachgasse 5,0 Finanzamt 5 351 5,2 Steyrergasse 5 350 5,2 Remise I and II (Steyrergasse) depot 350 5,2 Steyrergasse 5 349 5,4 Jakominigürtel/tim 5 349 5,4 5 to Puntigam 348 5,6 Stadthalle 347 5,7 Fröhlichgasse/Messe 345 5,7 Fröhlichgasse 345 6,0 Ostbahnhof S 3 S 31 346 6,4 Jauerburggasse 345 6,8 Turnaround Station Liebenau 343 6,8 Stadion Liebenau/Bertha v. Suttner Platz 343 343 6,8 Ulrich-Lichtenstein-Gasse 344 6,8 Stadion Liebenau/Bertha v. Suttner Platz 344 6,9 ← Liebenauer Hauptstr./→ Münzgrabenstr. 7,0 Liebenauer Tangente 7,2 Dr.-Lister-Gasse 349 7,6 Karl-Huber-Gasse 351 7,6 Karl-Huber-Gasse 7,9 P+R MURPARK 345 8,0 8,5 Liebenau/MURPARK S 3 S 31 347 Altstadtbim: riding is free in this segment

Line 5 Andritz - Puntigam
Overview
Native name	Linie 5
Termini	Andritz Puntigam
Stations	28
Color on map	brown
History
Current route since	December 1, 2006 (2006-12-01)
Technical
Line length	9.8 km (6.1 mi)
Route map km m (AA) Andritzer Reichsstraße 0,0 Andritz 3 Andritzer Hauptplatz 363 0,4 Grazerstrasse 3 360 0,8 67a Grabenstraße 358 1,0 Körösisraße 358 1,0 Maut Andritz 3 358 1,0 Theodor-Körner-Straße 358 1,5 Robert-Stolz-Gasse 3 357 1,7 Grabengürtel 1,8 Carnerigasse 3 355 1,8 Carnerigasse 355 2,1 Seniorenzentrum 3 354 2,4 Hasnerplatz/Pädagog. Hochsch./tim 3 352 2,7 Lange Gasse 3 351 2,7 Körösistraße 351 3,1 ← Keplerstraße/→ Wickenburggasse 352 3,1 Keplerbrücke 3 352 3,4 Schloßbergbahn 3 Schloßbergbahn 353 3,6 Schloßbergplatz/Murinsel 3 Schloßberglift 351 3,8 1 4 6 7 to Hauptbahnhof 350 3,9 Hauptplatz-Congress 1 3 4 6 7 350 Herrengasse (pedestrian zone) 4,7 ← Johanneumring/re: Opernring 352 4,7 1 3 6 7 towards east 353 4,8 Jakominiplatz 1 3 4 6 7 (23) 353 4,8 Turn Radetzkyspitz/relief route and turn Steirerhof 4,9 Track switch Jakoministraße 351 4,9 Grazbachgasse 5,2 Finanzamt 4 349 5,4 Steyrergasse 4 348 5,4 Remise I and II (Steyrergasse) depot 5,4 Steyrergasse 4 348 5,6 Jakominigürtel/tim 4 346 5,6 4 to Liebenau 6,0 Josefkirche 346 6,0 Schönaugasse 345 6,0 Josefkirche 345 6,2 Neuholdaugasse-Augartenbad 345 6,2 Neuholdaugasse 345 6,3 Mur Bertha von Suttner-Bridge 6,4 Karlauergürtel 346 6,5 connection to southwest line (planned) 6,6 Steirische Ostbahn [de] 7,0 Puchstraße 344 7,3 Dornschneidergasse 343 7,7 Lauzilgasse 344 7,9 Turnaround Zentralfriedhof 7,9 67 Triester Straße 7,9 Zentralfriedhof (central cemetery) 346 8,3 Plachelhofstraße 346 8,8 Maut Puntigam 348 9,3 Brauquartier/tim 348 9,3 Brauquartier 9,5 Brauhaus Puntigam 347 9,5 67 Triester Straße 9,7 Graz Puntigam Südbahn 9,8 Puntigam S 5 S 6 341 Altstadtbim: riding is free in this segment single track with switches (doubled by the end of 2024)

Line 6/16 Smart City - St. Peter
Overview
Native name	Linie 6/16
Termini	Smart City/P.Tunner-Gasse/tim St. Peter
Stations	23
Color on map	green
History
Current route since	November 26, 2021 (2021-11-26)
Technical
Line length	8.2 km (5.1 mi)
Route map km m (AA) 0,0 Smart City/P.Tunner-Gasse/tim 366 0,3 Nikolaus-Harnoncourt-Park 367 0,5 Dreierschützengasse 0,5 Dreierschützengasse/H. List Halle 366 0,8 Starhemberggasse 365 0,8 Starhemberggasse 1,1 Waagner-Biro-Straße 1,2 Daungasse/Hauptbahnhof 364 1 to Eggenberg/UKH and turnaround Laudongasse 1,5 4 to Reininghaus, 7 to Wetzelsdorf 364 1,6 Köflacher Gasse/PVA 1 4 7 ( S 61 S 7) 362 1,6 ← Köflacher Gasse/→ Waagner-Biro-Straße 1,8 Sublevel section local transport hub Hauptbahnhof 1,8 Südbahn and Köflacherbahn/Graz Hauptbahnhof 364 2,0 Hauptbahnhof 1 4 7 S 1-S 7 357 2,0 ← Eggenberger Gürtel/→ Bahnhofgürtel 2,2 sublevel section ramp 2,2 Annenstraße 2,4 Esperantoplatz/Arbeiterkammer 1 4 7 355 2,4 ← Idlhofgasse/→ Hans-Ressel-Gasse 2,7 Roseggerhaus 1 4 7 351 2,7 ← Elisabethinergasse/→ Volksgartenstraße (new line planned) 2,7 right side of river Mur mill canal 2,9 construction of relief route 16/17 (until 2025) 350 Belgiergasse 16 17 (under construction) 3,0 Südtirolerplatz/Kunsthaus 1 4 6 7 350 3,1 ← Grieskai/→ Lendkai 3,1 Mur Tegetthoffbridge/Erzherzog-Johann-bridge 351 3,1 ← Marburger Kai/→ Franz-Josef-Kai 3,3 3 5 to Andritz 350 3,4 Hauptplatz-Congress 1 3 4 5 6 7 350 Neutorgasse 16 17 (under construction) Herrengasse (pedestrian zone) 3,9 ← Joanneumring/→ Opernring turnaround Radetzkyspitz (23) 3,9 4 to Liebenau/MURPARK, 5 to Puntigam 352 4,0 Jakominiplatz 1 3 4 5 6 7 (23) 352 4,0 Opernring/Gleisdorfer Gasse 352 4,0 1 to Mariatrost 7 to LKH MED UNI/Klinikum Nord 352 4,1 turnaround Steirerhof 352 4,6 Dietrichsteinplatz 352 4,6 Dietrichsteinplatz 3 352 4,6 3 (23) to Krenngasse 352 4,6 Dietrichsteinplatz 3 352 5,0 Neue Technik 351 4,6 Steyrergasse 351 5,0 Neue Technik 351 5,2 Münzgrabenkirche 352 5,5 Münzgrabenstraße 352 5,5 Moserhofgasse/Messe 353 6,0 St. Peter Friedhof 359 6,0 Petersgasse 352 6,3 Schulzentrum St.Peter 361 Wendeschleife Schulzentrum St. Peter 6 6,4 Schulzentrum St.Peter 16 361 Beginning 2025 6 turns here, 16 goes to St. Peter 6,8 Plüddemanngasse 16 364 6,8 Plüddemanngasse 364 6,8 Plüddemanngasse 16 364 7,0 Sankt-Peter-Pfarrweg 7,1 Eisteichgasse 16 372 7,4 Breitenweg 370 7,4 Breitenweg 16 370 7,7 Prof.-Franz-Spath-Ring 16 365 7,7 Peterstalgasse 8,2 St. Peter 16 372 Altstadtbim: riding is free in this segment

Line 7/17 Wetzelsdorf - LKH Med Uni/Klinikum Nord
Overview
Native name	Linie 7/17
Termini	Wetzelsdorf LKH Med Uni/Klinikum Nord
Stations	25
Color on map	orange
History
Current route since	September 10, 2016 (2016-09-10)
Technical
Line length	7.7 km (4.8 mi)
Route map km m (AA) Wetzelsdorfer Straße 0,0 Wetzelsdorf 0,1 Burgenlandstraße 0,1 Wetzelsdorf Burgenlandstraße 0,3 Handelstraße 0,3 Handelsstraße 0,5 Johann-Haiden-Straße 0,9 Baierdorf 1,2 Absengerstraße 1,6 Karl-Morre-Str./Gemeindeamt 1,6 Eckertstraße 1,9 Franz-Steiner-Gasse 2,2 Fachhochschule Joanneum 2,4 4 to Reininghaus, Alte Poststraße 2,4 Alte Poststraße 4 2,5 Remise III (Alte Poststraße) depot 364 2,6 Eggenberger Straße exit only 364 2,8 1 to Eggenberg/UKH, 6 to Smart City 364 2,9 Köflacher Gasse/PVA 1 4 6 364 2,9 ← Köflacher Gasse/→ Waagner-Biro-Straße 364 3,0 Sublevel section local transport hub Hauptbahnhof 361 3,0 Südbahn and Köflacherbahn/Graz Hbf 360 3,2 Hauptbahnhof 1 4 6 S 1-S 7 357 3,3 ← Eggenberger Gürtel/→ Bahnhofgürtel 3,3 sublevel section ramp 3,3 Annenstraße 3,6 Esperantoplatz/Arbeiterkammer 1 4 6 355 3,6 ← Idlhofgasse/→ Hans-Ressel-Gasse 3,9 Roseggerhaus 1 4 6 355 3,9 ← Elisabethinergasse/→ Volksgartenstraße (line planned) 3,9 right side of river Mur mill canal 4,1 construction of relief route 16/17 (complete 2025) 351 Belgiergasse 16 17 (under construction) 4,3 Südtirolerplatz/Kunsthaus 1 4 6 354 4,4 ← Grieskai/→ Lendkai 4,4 Mur Tegetthoffbridge/Erzherzog-Johann-bridge 351 4,4 ← Marburger Kai/→ Franz-Josef-Kai 4,6 3 5 to Andritz 357 4,6 Hauptplatz-Congress 1 3 4 5 6 357 Neutorgasse 16 17 (under construction) Herrengasse (pedestrian zone) 5,0 ← Johanneumring/→ Opernring turnaround Radetzkyspitz (23) 5,0 4 to Liebenau/Murpark, 5 to Puntigam 351 5,0 Jakominiplatz 1 3 4 5 6 (23) 351 5,1 turnaround Radetzkyspitz/relief route 352 5,1 3 to Krenngasse, 6 to St. Peter 352 5,1 turnaround Steirerhof 352 5,4 Kaiser-Josef-Platz/Oper 1 355 5,4 ← Kaiser-Josef-Pl./→ Franz-Graf-Allee 355 5,7 former Line 2 to Hauptbahnhof (closed 1971) 5,7 Maiffredygasse 1 358 6,0 Lichtenfelsgasse/Kunstuniversität 1 360 6,3 Merangasse 1 364 6,3 Merangasse 364 6,3 Merangasse 1 364 6,5 Reiterkaserne 1 367 6,5 1 to Mariatrost 7,0 Odilien-Institut/Klinikum Süd state hospital 373 7,3 7,4 St. Leonhard/Klinikum Mitte 376 7,7 LKH Med Uni/Klinikum Nord 379 Altstadtbim: Service is free in this segment

Route network

The following services operate during the day on Mondays to Saturdays:^[1][7]

• Line 1: Eggenberg/UKH – Hauptbahnhof – Jakominiplatz – Mariatrost
• Line 3: Andritz – Jakominiplatz – Krenngasse
• Line 4: Reininghaus – Hauptbahnhof – Jakominiplatz – Liebenau/Murpark
• Line 5: Andritz – Jakominiplatz – Puntigam
• Line 6: Smart City – Hauptbahnhof – Jakominiplatz – St. Peter
• Line 7: Wetzelsdorf – Hauptbahnhof – Jakominiplatz – LKH Med Uni/Klinikum Nord

The following services operate in the evenings and on Sundays:^[1][7]

• Lines 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7: as above
• Line 23: Krenngasse – Jakominiplatz

Infrastructure

Tram on the former light railway section of line 1

Graz's tram network is built to standard gauge and is electrified using overhead line at 600 V DC. The network is largely double track, with some 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) of single track on the northern, former light railway, section of line 1, and just over 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) towards the southern terminus of line 5 (construction work to expand line 5 to double tracks will finish in November 2024). Most of the track is at grade, with the exception of the subsurface tram stop, with linking tunnels, at the main railway station, and a short tunnel just before the southern terminus of line 5.^[3][7][8]

With the exception of the short tunnelled sections, and the former light railway section of line 1, all of the system is street based, with varying degrees of segregation. As the trams are single-ended, with doors on only one side, all terminal locations are equipped with turning loops, and all tram stops are to the nearside of the tram.^[3][8]

Tram fleet

As of 2023^[update], the Graz tramway network's fleet was:^[9][10]

Nos.	Image	Manufacturer	Built	Length(mm)	Axles	Wheelbase(mm)	Seated/Standing	Notes
501–510 (10)		SGP Graz	1978	25,343	8	6,000	40/94
601–612 (12)		SGP Graz	1986–1987	27,000	8	6,000	41/126	Low-floor middle segment installed 1999.
651–668 (18)		Bombardier Transportation	2000–2001	27,000	6	6,000	54/90	To Bombardier's standard, 100% low-floor, Cityrunner design.
201–245 (45)		Stadler Rail	2009–2015	27,000	6	6,000	54/90	To Stadler Rail's standard, 100% low-floor, Variobahn design.
–		Alstom	starting 2024	33.810	6		140/60	Alstom Flexity, service starting 2025, 100 % low-floor[11]

Tickets and fares

The Graz tramway network is entirely within zone 101 of the Verbund Linie, an integrated tariff for public transport throughout Styria. Zone 101 tickets are valid on all trams, and all city buses with single or double digit route numbers. They are also valid on regional buses, which have three digit route numbers, and trains, but only within the boundary of the zone.^[12]

Tickets are available for different periods of validity, including one hour, 24 hours, a week, a month or a year, and allow unlimited changes of vehicle within the validity period. Tickets can be purchased from ticket machines on board the trams or at the major stops, from tobacconists, or from a central office. They are also available by SMS text message or via a smartphone app.^[12]

Aimed at visitors to the city, there is also a three-day ticket which allows unlimited travel within the city for three days, as well as giving reduced admission charges at selected attractions. The ticket is available at hotels and other accommodation, at the city tourist information office, at ticket sale counters at the Schloßbergbahn funicular, and at Graz Airport.^[13]

Future

With the introduction of the full set of Variobahn trams, many of Graz's older high-floor trams will be retired. It is also planned to lengthen the new Variobahn trams by adding 2 further sections to the trams.^[3]

There are plans for a number of extensions to existing lines plus the building of 1 new line.

On February 5, 2018, the co-financing of a comprehensive expansion program was signed between the city of Graz and, for the first time, the province of Styria. By 2023, 117 million euros are to be allocated for the construction or expansion of six routes. Co-financing from the federal government is being sought.

• Downtown relief route via Belgiergasse, Vorbeckgasse to Annenstraße (approximately 1 km, 27 million euros, 2022–2025).
• Double-track expansion of Line 5 from the Central Cemetery to Brauquartier Puntigam (15.3 million euros, October 2022 – November 2024).^[14]
• Double-track expansion of Line 1 from Hilmteich to Mariagrün (6.3 million euros, by 2023).
• Partial double-track expansion of Line 1 between Mariagrün and Mariatrost (in several construction phases, 2.3 million euros, by 2023).

In mid-April 2021, the plans for the South-West Line (Line 8) were presented. It is scheduled to be built in 2024, with an estimated cost of around 127 million euro

• Line 8: Jakominiplatz – Citypark – Don Bosco – Reininghaus – Straßgang^[15]

Flexity test run in Graz (2019)

Starting 2025 15 new vehicles of the type Flexity from the manufacturer Alstom are supposed to enter service.^[16]

See also

• List of town tramway systems

References

1. "Liniennetzplan Graz" [Public Transport Network of Graz] (PDF). holding-graz.at (in German). Holding Graz. September 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
2. "Dienstleister für Generationen - Geschäftsbericht der Holding Graz 2012" [Supplier for Generations - Business Report of Holding Graz 2012] (PDF). holding-graz.at (in German). Holding Graz. August 2013. p. 47. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
3. Pulling, Neil (August 2013). "System Factfile 71: Graz, Austria". Tramways & Urban Transit. Ian Allan Ltd / Light Rail Transit Association. pp. 340–343.
4. Wegenstein, Peter (1994). Bahn im Bild 94 - Die Straßenbahn von Graz (in German). Vienna: Verlag Pospischil. p. 6.
5. "Probleme mit Variobahn offiziell für beendet erklärt" [Problems with Variobahn officially declared finished]. Kleine Zeitung (in German). 12 April 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
6. "Verlängerung der Linie 7" [Extension of line 7] (in German). Holding Graz. Retrieved 30 July 2003.
7. Schwandl, Robert (2010). Schwandl's Tram Atlas Schweiz & Österreich. Berlin: Robert Schwandl Verlag. ISBN 978 3 936573 27 5. (in German and English)
8. "Graz - Straßenbahnnetzplan" [Graz - Tram track plan] (PDF). doprava.unas.cz (in German). January 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
9. Kaiser, Wolfgang (2004). Straßenbahnen in Österreich. München: GeraMond. pp. 126–127. ISBN 3765471984.
10. Holding Graz Linien – Sekretariat Technische Services Straßenbahn.
11. "15 neue Straßenbahnen für Graz". ORF Steiermark (in German). 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
12. "Tickets & Tarife" [Tickets & Fares] (in German). Holding Graz. Retrieved 29 July 2003.
13. "Graz 3-Days Ticket". Verbund Linie. Retrieved 29 July 2003.
14. "Triesterstraße Linie 5 Zweigleisiger Ausbau - Seite 2". www.styria-mobile.at. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
15. "Straßenbahnausbau 2023ff - Seite 18". www.styria-mobile.at. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
16. red, steiermark ORF at/Agenturen (17 May 2023). "Graz will 68 Millionen in 15 neue Trams investieren". steiermark.ORF.at (in German). Retrieved 1 November 2023.

External links

• Media related to Tram transport in Graz at Wikimedia Commons
• Holding Graz Linien web site (in German)
• Track plan of the Graz tram system
• gallery of Graz trams