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New tender for trams in Zwickau and Görlitz started!
Zwickau and Görlitz are putting out tenders for new trams after the manufacturer Heiterblick went bankrupt. Delivery times until 2028.
New tender for trams in Zwickau and Görlitz started!
The cities of Zwickau and Görlitz are about to reorganize their tram fleet. After the bankruptcy of the Leipzig manufacturer Heiterblick, from which new trams were originally ordered, the Europe-wide tender for a total of 14 trams is now being launched. In addition, it is possible to order a further 18 lanes, such as MDR reported.
Zwickau has already decided to withdraw from its supply contract with Heiterblick. This happened due to “risk assessments” and a lack of agreement on delivery timing and economically viable solutions. The Tatra trams, which are currently in use, will remain in demand until the new trains are delivered, as confirmed by the Zwickau municipal transport company (SVZ).
New tender process
The Görlitzer Verkehrsbetriebe (GVB) has not yet terminated its contract with the Leiwag consortium, of which Heiterblick is also a part. Further discussions are underway here, while at the same time a competition for the procurement of low-floor trams has been initiated. The GVB plans to replace the Tatra railways currently in use with modern low-floor trains. These initiatives are part of a larger plan to take mobility in the region to a new level, said Mayor Octavian Ursu.
The Zwickau transport company has also put out six tram passenger cars in the tender, while Görlitz is aiming for eight new vehicles. Interested companies can apply until November 24, 2025. The tender process will start shortly after this date, giving cities the certainty of on-time delivery by the end of 2028, as noted in the tender documents.
The current status and the challenges
In the difficult situation caused by Heiterblick's insolvency, transport companies are required to act quickly and efficiently. “We want to ensure that our citizens continue to receive a reliable connection,” said an SVZ spokesman. In addition, the Tatra railways in Zwickau must be kept operational until new urban railways arrive. The city also has twelve modernized low-floor railways from the 1990s, which remain in operation on an interim basis.
While the Leipzig transport company continues to rely on Heiterblick's deliveries and is conducting constructive discussions to continue the order, the cities of Zwickau and Görlitz are forced to act proactively. It remains to be seen whether and when the new trams will actually be delivered, as the uncertainty caused by the bankruptcy has caused plenty of nervous faces in both Görlitz and Zwickau. The biggest challenge will probably be keeping citizens happy while meeting the operational demands that cities will face in the future.
The next few months will therefore be decisive as to how the tram landscape in the region will develop. We are looking forward to the results of the new tender and the possible new partners in the long queue of proven mobility solutions.