Instead of tram vehicles running on railway tracks, the Zwickau model features main-line trains extended through city streets on tram tracks.
[2] It is so called because the German city of Zwickau was the first to introduce the concept.
[2] In Zwickau diesel regional trains operated by Die Länderbahn use around 1.1 km (0.68 mi) of tramway track to reach the city centre instead of terminating at the railway station.
[1] Train-tram operation in Zwickau began on 28 May 1999[3] using RegioSprinter railcars fitted with a modified braking system, indicators and a bell in order to operate under the BOStrab tramway regulations.
[1] Since 2019 the service has been operated by Regio-Shuttles,[4] also modified for use on the tramway section.