Opening of the Mannheim North light rail system

The Mannheim North light rail system was opened on 11.06.2016. This new light rail connection completes the 6.4 km stretch covering the districts of Neckarstadt-Ost, Käfertal, Waldhof and Gartenstadt and thus the last section of the light rail connection in Mannheim. Among those taking the maiden trip were the State Minister of Transport Winfried Hermann, the Lord Mayor Peter Kurz, the Mayor Christian Specht, representatives from the public transport companies MVV and RNV and well as numerous city councillors.

Four engineering works were required to implement this stretch. These were the trough structure (along Ulmenweg and Boveristraße), the subway under Herzogenriedstraße and the two subways under the DB facility. The latter structures under the DB Netz AG facility involved the light rail system's subway under the single-track 4040 stretch (factory siding) and under the double-track 4010 stretch between Mannheim and Frankfurt. While the official design was used to implement the first construction of the 4040 stretch, the second construction under the 4010 stretch was implemented with the specific proposal of the contracting company. During a stoppage period of 56 hours, the 4,300 tonne framework construction was moved in accordance with the specific proposal (see photo 2).

Official services started on the stretch on 12.06.2016. In those districts affected, Neckarstadt-Ost, Käfertal, Waldhof and Gartenstadt, the opening of the stretch implemented important aspects of environmental protection such as impact from dust, noise and emissions; the individual vehicle traffic will also be reduced.

The technical verification made a major contribution to the implementation of the two railway bridges over the 4010 and 4040 stretches. It was possible to clarify in good time numerous special features of this project in the course of this verification, such as the evaluation from a technical perspective of the specific proposal so that the two railway bridges could be implemented on schedule and in accordance with the stoppage periods allocated. The technical verification of the two railway bridges was carried out by Dr.-Ing. Ioannis Retzepis, Managing Director for KREBS+KIEFER in Karlsruhe and an auditor for railway construction.