History of trams in Leipzig
Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe GmbH (LVB, 'Leipzig Transport Company, LLC') operates one of Germany's largest tramway networks.
The tramway network history is presented below in tabular form, including opening, electrification, and closing dates by segment.
On 20 April 1871, the Leipzig local authority granted to Count ("Graf") Gabriel Diodati and Geneva banker Adolph Schaeck a concession for construction of horse tramway lines.
Because of the regulation limiting the length of each LESt segment in the same road as competing lines to just 400 meters, the company built a substantial length of lines in parallel roads and unreasonable workings in nearby side streets, which remain today After the backbone network of the LESt was developed, the company built only shorter extensions at various extremities and the town center.
Issues related to the struggle between competing tramway enterprises proved burdensome to the local authority, and so merger of the companies was sought during the First World War.
Effective 1 January 1896, the LPE, together with its contracts with the electrical manufacturer Union-Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft (UEG) and the banking house of Becker & Co, was handed to GLSt.
After the network was rationalized to the extent necessary, the GLSt then began building new lines and additional terminal loops (Möckern/Huygensstraße, Connewitz/Kreuz, Möckern/Depot, Kleinzschocher/Depot, Wahren/Rathaus, Fortuna-Stadion, Schönefeld/Volbedingstraße, Stötteritz/Holzhäuser Straße).
Up to the reorganization of the undertaking as the Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe (LVB, 'Leipzig Transport Company'), from 29 July 1938, the last large districts were connected to the tramway network.
On this day, the LAAG was taken over completely by the nationalized undertaking VEB (K) Verkehrsbetriebe der Stadt Leipzig (LVB) (see below).
On the other hand, many new reversing triangles (Knautkleeberg, Virchow-/Gottschallstraße, Großmarkthalle, Wiederitzsch, Johannisplatz, Emmausstraße, Böhlitz-Ehrenberg) and terminal loops (Markkleeberg-Mitte/Parkstraße, Märchenwiese, Plaut-/Demmeringstraße, Zentralstadion/Feuerbachstraße, Mockau/Post, Schkeuditz/Depot, Bf.
Traffic growth completely overloaded facilities in and near the town center, creating an urgent need for expansion and modernization.
Various segments in other locations were modernized, but some extremities fell victim to the "red pencil" because of losses and were replaced by motorbus.
The most important task of the new undertaking, which was converted to a company with limited liability (GmbH) from 16 March 1993, was modernization of the vehicle fleet and also some segments of tram lines.
The primary function of these lines is to connect the densely populated Grünau-Süd, Schleußig and Schönefeld districts with the town center.
The line connects the residential districts of Grünau-Süd, Schleußig and Probstheida/Meusdorf to the southern town central and serve important research institutes and universities.
The major function of Line 4 is to connect the residential districts of Gohlis, Reudnitz and Stötteritz with the town center.
Also on weekends and during late evening service hours, NGT8 stock with low-floor trailers or LEOLINER trams in two-coupled formations serve this line.
The line connects the large housing estate at Lößnig as well as the districts of Connewitz, Südvorstadt, Gohlis, Möckern and Wahren with the town center.
Due to lack of rolling stock in the past few years, Tatra-Großzüge with low-floor trailers also serve this line until early 2023, especially on weekdays.
The line connects the large housing estates at Miltitz and Grünau-Nord, as well as the densely populated districts of Lindenau, Thonberg, Probstheida and Meusdorf with the town center.
During events at the Leipzig Trade Fair, Bombardier Classic-XXL stock and Tatra formations are used and the interval between services is halved by operation of Line 16E between the fairground and the Leuschnerplatz.
In addition to the fairground, Line 16 serves also the large housing estate at Lössnig and the districts of Wiederitzsch, Eutritzsch and Nordvorstadt.
At the same time the former eastern hall was converted to a covered car-park but, at the east end of the facility, a new two-track repair shop was built.
Today, Angerbrücke depot, the most modern on the Leipzig tramway network, houses vehicles working Lines 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 15.
A connection from the Brandstraße to two tracks on the lower level was restored in 1939 for "wartime technical reasons" (kriegstechnischen Gründen).
From 1 October 1950 Gohlis II depot was named "Jugendbahnhof "Rudi Opitz"" because mainly younger staff members worked here.
The Leipzig local authority purchased the land and built facilities for a tramway main workshop (Straßenbahn-Hauptwerkstatt), opened 1 June 1926.
Starting from 26 September 1982, after installation of new storage facilities, a workshop for Tatra stock as well as a connecting curve at the Rathaus Leutzsch in the direction of Böhlitz-Ehrenberg, tramcars were once again stabled here.
The depot was closed from 6 May 1998 after nearly 126 years of operation, because of the decline in passenger traffic following the political turning point of 1989 and reductions in tramcar fleet size.
In order to simply depot access, the transfer tables were removed in October 1928 and the former workshop shed was connected directly to the Wittenberger Straße.
