Frankfurt 1984

Tramscape Tramway Photographs

Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany : 25th-30th March, 1984

In March 1984, construction work was nearing completion on two new extensions to the Frankfurt underground network - the link from Konstablerwache to Hauptwache for lines U6 and U7, which would run in a new tunnel parallel to the S-Bahn and on under Bockenheimer Landstrasse to Industriehof, and the extension of underground lines U1, U2 and U3 from Theaterplatz to Suedbahnhof.

This would be the second major stage, following the changes introduced in 1978, of the retrenchment of the Frankfurt surface tram network.

1. The "temporary" diversionary from Theaterplatz to Grosse Friedberger Strasse via Goetheplatz, Schillerstrasse and Stephanstrasse. This necessitated the truncation of route 12, which approached the city from the north-east along Friedberger Landstrasse, to terminate near Konstablerwache at a new single track line laid in Grosse Friedberger Strasse.

2. The heavily used route northwards from Goetheplatz via Opernplatz and along Bockenheimer Landstrasse to Bockenheimer Warte, Kurfurstenplatz and Industriehof. The consequences of this line being placed in a new tunnel alignment resulted in the following consequent closures:
- Mainzer Landstrasse from Opernplatz to Platz der Republik,
- Medelssohnstrasse from Siesmayer-/Mendelssohnstrasse to Messegelaende via Kettenhofweg
- Stub terminus at Hauptwache)
The single track line from Hausen via An den Pflanzlaendern to Praunheim/Bruecke was also closed as it was deemed unsuitable as the outer end of a "U" designated route. Most services using the loop at Westbahnhof were also withdrawn, but the surface alignment to Industriehof was retained so that P8t trams could reach Gutleut depot.

3. Southwards ftom Theaterplatz over the Untermainbruecke to Schweizer-/Gartenstrasse.

The consequences for the tram network might have been even more severe : only a massive protest by the citizens of Frankfurt led to the retention of the so-called "Altstadtstrecke" from Hauptbahnhof to Allerheiligentor, via Theaterplatz and Roemer. Although the line closely paralleled the U4 underground line, it did serve the old city centre and also linked the various remaining parts of the tram network, which otherwise could only be joined by a circuitous route through southern Frankfurt via Suedbahnhof. Despite it's importance, only one tram line was routed along the Altstadtstrecke. Clearly the authorities and the local transport operator were hoping that closure was only deferred and that the line and it's supporters would wither away. A short link along Rechneigrabenstrasse allowing trams bound south over the Obermainbruecke to avoid the busy interchange at Allerheiligentor was, however, closed.

More secure was the tram network in southern Frankfurt - in the south west and through Sachsenhausen to Suedbahnhof, Textorstrasse and Lokalbahnhof. From Lokalbahnof, services from the neighbouring town of Offenbach and Oberrad reach the city at Allerheiligentor via Dreieichstrasse, the Obermainbruecke and Lange Strasse .

Only in Offenbach was the future of the tram immediately insecure. That town had closed it's own system in 1967 and the four stops of Frankfurt's Route 16 on Frankfurter Strasse had long been a discussion point between the various authorities. The Offenbach council had refused to allow the line to be integrated into the Frankfurt ticketing structure and sent its own conductors to collect an additional fare for the short journey from the city boundary to Marktplatz. This section was ultimately to close in 1996.

Frankfurt 1984 1.jpg

Frankfurt 1984 2.jpg

Frankfurt 1984 3.jpg

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Location

Triftstrasse

Harthweg

Waldfriedhof Goldstein

Burostadt Niedderrad

Lyoner- / Hahnstrasse

Lyoner Strasse

Melibocusstrasse

Haardtwaldplatz

Schwarzwaldstrasse

Vogelweidstrasse

Stresemannallee/Gartenstr.

Otto Hahn Platz

Schweizerstrasse

Schwanthalerstrasse

Sudbahnhof

Brucken/Textorstrasse

Lokalbahnhof

Kornerstrasse

Marktplatz, Offenbach

Frankfurter Strasse

Wiener Strasse

Buchrainstrasse

Dreieichstrasse

Lokalbahnhof

Stresemannallee/Morfelderlstr

Morfelder Landstrasse

Louisa / Bahnhof

Opernplatz

Goethestrasse

Galluswarte

Hauptbahnhof

Platz der Republik

Messe

Adalbert-/Schlossstrasse

Kurfurstenplatz

Praunheim Brucke

An den Pflanzlandern

Grosse Nelkenstrasse

Industriehof

Heerstrasse

Egestr./Friedhof Westhausen

Bockenheimer Warte

Markus-Krankenhaus

Ginnheim

Heddernheim

Lindenbaum

Fritz-Tarnow-Strasse

Hauptwache

Goetheplatz

Schillerstrasse

Stephanstrasse

Hessen Denkmal

Scheffeleck

Allerheiligentor

Hospital zum Heiligen Geist

Obermainbrucke

Hospital zum Heiligen Geist

Rechneigrabenstrasse

Borneplatz

Domstrasse

Rathaus/Pauluskirche

Konstablerwache

Riederhofe

Rontgenstrasse

Enkheim

Wilhelmshoherstrasse

Johanna-Tesch-Platz

Roderbergweg

Luxemburgerallee

Habsburgerallee/Rhonstrasse

Friedberger Anlage

Inheidener Strasse

Saalburgstr/Wittelsbacherallee

Prufling

Bornheim Mitte

Preungesheim

Giessener Strasse

Adickes-/Niebelungenallee

Glauburgstrasse

Friedberger Platz

Hauptbahnhof

Kettenhofweg

Bockenheimer Landstrasee

Taunusanlage

Oper

Grosse Bockenheimer Strasse

Hauptwache

Theaterplatz

Hauptwache

Weserstr / Munchenerstrasse

Theaterplatz

Opernplatz

Hauptbahnhof

Hbf / Karlsruher Strasse

Baseler Platz

View

Out

Dir

Out

Tram

671

712

656

712

730

812

712

714

656

708

644

689

685

688

683

694

689

637

750

656

678

654

806

664

657

693

651

694

204

711

681

223

206

704

907

651

716

651

908

707

748

729

740

726

730

319

359

306

328

708

740

615

617

212

901

637

690

689

811

693

824

651

815

666

716

907

720

906

619

600

821

240

600

608

602

471

659

679

680

227

602

722

733

698

671

743

745

741

684

694

700

686

240

652

Notes

Also shows 644 on the track leading into Gartenstrasse

Tram approaching the Untermainbrucke

Construction of the U-Bahn station in progress

View eastwards towards Lokalbahnhof

In Offenbacher Landstrasse

View from Lokalbahnhof of Ebbelwei-Express party tram

Also shows 626 on a city-bound service

Approaching on Mainzer Landstrasse

204+1215 on Mainzer Landstrasse

Tram at Messe terminus in background

Tram turning into Messe terminus

223+1226 approaching from Westbahnhof

Reserved track in Schlossstrasse

At Praunheim terminus

On Praunheim route

Tram approaches from Praunheim route

Ramp for future Stadtbahn services

On route to Heerstrasse

On Ginnheim route

Route U1 car at an adjoining platform

319 and 354, at route U1 terminus

P319+322 and P8 tram 722

On Eschersheimer Landstrasse, 384 approaches

Zeil, behind, closed to trams and traffic

615+1801

617+1814 : Hauptwache in the background

212+1213

Ramp to underground terminus of route U5

Approaching the Obermain Bridge from Langestrasse

View eastwards

At underground station on route U5

Outside the Hessen-Center shopping centre

Near Enkheim terminus : Hessen-Center behind

At the terminus

On the Bergen route

Climbing to Wilhelmshoherstrasse from Bitzweg

At Roderbergweg terminus

View of terminus from Saalburgstrasse

240+1232 on Wittelsbacherallee

View towards Prufling on Saalburgstrasse

608+1802 at Prufling terminus

602+1808

Underground station on route U4

659 and 679 at Preungesheim terminus

On Eckenheimer Landstrasse

227+1217 on peak-hour route V on Glauburgstrasse

602+808 on Friedberger Landstrasse

S-Bahn train at Hauptbahnhof low-level station.

Near Feuerbachstrasse

Taunusanlage S-Bahn station

Tram passing the Opera House

Workings for future Alte Oper U-Bahn station

Tram approaching Hauptwache

Also shows 745 at Hauptwache terminus

On Munchenerstrasse : Hauptbahnhof in background

Tram approaching from Bockenheimer Landstrasse

240+1232 at Hauptbahnhof (south side)

Photographs by Gordon Stewart

Note: View: Photos show the view inwards "in" towards the city centre or outwards "out" towards the route terminus
Note: Dir: Photos show the tramcar travelling "in" towards the city centre or outwards "out" towards the route terminus.

Photographs copyright of Tramscape. Photographs are for personal use only.

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