Straßenbahn

Straßenbahn, meaning “street railway” in German, refers to urban rail vehicles that run on tracks embedded in streets and share road space with other traffic. In German-speaking countries the term denotes public tram networks, which are also called trams or streetcars in many other languages. Straßenbahnen typically operate at street level with frequent stops, providing flexible urban mobility and high passenger capacity for city centers and dense neighborhoods.

The concept emerged from horse-drawn tramways in the 19th century and many networks were electrified in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The world’s first electric tramway began operating in 1881 in Lichterfelde, near Berlin, using a Siemens design. Electric trams spread rapidly across Europe, shaping urban transport for much of the 20th century. In the mid-20th century, many networks faced decline due to cars and buses, but from the 1970s onward trams experienced a revival as part of sustainable urban mobility, often combining with light rail concepts.

Technically, Straßenbahnen run on standard or metre gauge tracks, with overhead electric lines supplying traction power—typically 600 to 750 volts DC—via pantograph or trolley pole. Rolling stock ranges from traditional one- or two-axle cars to modern low-floor, multi-section trams that enable level boarding. Some networks employ priority signaling and dedicated lanes to improve reliability, while others operate in mixed traffic. In recent decades, tram-train services extend into suburban or regional rail networks, blurring the line with light rail.

In German usage, the term distinguishes traditional street-running trams from Stadtbahn (light rail with greater separation) and U-Bahn (underground metro). Straßenbahnen remain a common, energy-efficient mode of urban transport in many cities.