World’s longest tram produced by Škoda

A total of 12 nearly 60 m long trams are being produced at Plzeň works, and now the first Škoda ForCity Smart 38T from batch production is ready to depart for the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan area. This unique vehicle  with a capacity for up to 368 passengers is part of a modular fleet designed to meet the various demands of Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr (rnv), which provides public transport in Mannheim, Heidelberg, and Ludwigshafen.

Designed for both tram and railway operations across three federal states, these  80 km/h trams run on a 1,000 mm track gauge. Inside of each tram, 72.4 km of cables are fitted. Building a tram of this scale takes time - each Škoda 38T requires 18 weeks to produce, while its smaller counterpart, the 30 m long Škoda 36T is completed in 9 weeks.

Jan Christoph Harder, President Region West & North Škoda Group, stated: “The longest tram in the world (Škoda ForCity Smart 38T) is a result of close collaboration with rnv to create a vehicle that meets the complex demands of both urban and regional transport. Its modular design, high capacity, and passenger-friendly features make it a key element in shaping the future of mobility in the Rhine-Neckar region. With more than 20 % of its components sourced from Germany, this project also highlights strong European cooperation in sustainable public transport.”

The Škoda 38T is part of a large-scale contract with rnv, covering 114 trams in three lengths: 30 m long Škoda 36T, 40 m long Škoda 37T and 60 m long Škoda 38T. These trams are built for adaptability - with the ability to couple into formations up to 80 m, they are ideal for varying passenger needs. If all 114 trams were lined up, they would stretch an incredible 4.2 km. Each tram is a showcase of European engineering, built from hundreds of thousands of parts sourced from 214 suppliers across Europe. The journey of each tram begins in Otanmäki, where the bodyshells are produced, before final assembly takes place in Plzeň.