Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG
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Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG (SSB) is the principal public transport operating company in the German city of Stuttgart. The SSB operates light rail lines, tram lines, bus lines, a rack railway, and a funicular railway.[1]
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[edit] Light rail system
The Stadtbahn or light rail system covers 15 lines, ten of which have been converted from tram lines since 1983. The last regular tram line (15) is due to be converted in December 2007. The system is operated with 164 cars, operates on standard gauge track, and is electrified at 750 volts DC.[1]
[edit] Tram system
The last remaining tram line (15) is operated by 38 cars of type GT4. Unlike the city's light rail system, the tram system operates on metre gauge track. The conversion of tram lines to light rail lines is thus a complex procedure, and necessitates mixed gauge track where both systems operate over the same track.[1]
Besides line 15, there are also two heritage tram lines, which are operated on the second Sunday of each month and on the last Saturday of each month by the Stuttgarter Historische Straßenbahnen society.[1]
[edit] Bus system
The bus network of the SSB covers Stuttgart and many neighbouring cities, with 54 different routes. Bus routes are operated by both SSB itself, and by other operators under contract to SSB.[1]
SSB's own bus fleet consists of approximately 250 vehicles, of which about 160 are articulated buses. The buses are predominently of Mercedes Benz manufacture, although there are 36 made by MAN in the years 2001 and 2002. The bus fleet is operated from depots and yards at Gaisburg, Möhringen, Sielmingen, and Zuffenhausen.[1]
[edit] Other modes
Besides the light rail, tram and bus networks, the SSB operates two more unusual forms of transport:
- The Stuttgart Rack Railway connects the urban districts of Stuttgart South (Marienplatz) and Degerloch (Albplatz). This line operates as SSB route 10, and connects light rail lines U1 and U14 at Marienplatz with lines U5, U6 and U8 at Albplatz.
- The Standseilbahn Stuttgart, a funicular railway, links Südheimer with the Degerloch forest cemetery. This line, which operates as SSB route 20, connects with light rail lines U1 and U14 at Südheimer.
[edit] Fares and ticketing
The SSB is part of the regional transport cooperative, the Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund Stuttgart (VVS), which coordinates tickets and fares among all transport operators in the metropolitan area. Besides the SSB's Stadtbahn, tram and bus networks, this coordination includes the Stuttgart S-Bahn, operated by a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn AG (DBAG), and DBAG's RegionalBahn regional train services within the VVS area.[1]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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