GERMANY: With funding and planning permission already in place, the Administrative Appeals Court of Lüneburg has removed any remaining obstacles and objections to the extension of Line 8 of the Bremen tram network. A late challenge to the ruling was dismissed.
Construction will take place in phases and is expected to begin shortly, with the new stretch of line opening to fare-paying passengers in 2024. The extension of Line 8 will share part of its track with a shorter extension of Line 1.
Altogether, Line 8 will be extended by a total of 9·3 km running south through the city’s Huchting district and then east to the suburbs of Stuhr and Weyhe-Leeste to the south of Bremen itself, serving 15 stops. Line 1 meanwhile is to be extended by 3·7 km through Huchting before heading west to Mittelshuchting, serving six new stops.
Trams will run every 10 min on the Line 1 extension and every 20 min on Line 8. All the stops will be fully accessible.
Work is also due to begin shortly on a 1·3 km link between lines 1 and 2 east of the city centre which will enable trams on Line 2 to be extended eastwards to serve the city’s eastern suburbs, sharing tracks with Line 1. Completion is due for 2025.
