Getting faster to university
Ceremonial opening of Tram line 3
-
“Hello University!”: Together with Santa Claus, students of numerous countries were on site for the official opening of the new tram line. Many of them followed the invitation of a free ride. Photo: Jacob Müller -
A moment worthwhile: Representatives of State, District, City, and university symbolically cut a green ribbon. Just moments later the first tram started on its new route. Photo: Jacob Müller -
Nice and sunny: Lots of people visited the christmas market of Chemnitz University. Photo: Jacob Müller
For many members of Chemnitz University of Technology, this was a moment they have long been waiting for: After an 18 months lasting construction period, the new tram line between the city center, Chemnitz university campus on Reichenhainer Straße, and the neighboring research and technology campus was formally put into operation on December 8, 2017. The approx. 31,5 million project, 90 % funded by the State and Federal governments, is the most recent expansion stage of the “Chemnitz Model”. Since 2002, the step by step extended local and regional rail concept of the Verkersverbund Mittelsachsen (VMS) takes advantage of the track width in Chemnitz trams, as it has the same width as the railway. This advantage enables to connect railway routes into the surrounding regions with city tram routes.
Chemnitz makes progress
“Today, a new chapter in the history of trams will be opened and titled Line 3”, said Mayor Barbara Ludwig at the opening ceremony and did not fail to mention that trams are running through Chemnitz already since 1880. But the new approx. 2 kilometers long route not only brings the two biggest university sides closer together. “The whole region is now better connected with the major regional center Chemnitz”, emphasized Ludwig. Furthermore, the reconstruction of road space into living space is clearly visible at the campus plaza. The Saxon Minister for the Environment Thomas Schmidt was sure, that “this new route will significantly enrich the City”. He praised the “Chemnitz Model” concept, which makes Chemnitz, in his opinion, even more innovative than Leipzig and Dresden. For Chemnitz University Chancellor Eberhard Alles the new route between main station and campus is literally a good example for Chemnitz making progress.
The new tram line is planned to be extended to the nearby railway line to Thalheim and Aue in the following years. This would enable the trams to run beyond the city limits straight to the Ore Mountains. Many commuters from Hainichen, Burgstädt, and Mittweida already reach the Chemnitz city center non-stop, and now even further to the university campus. The introduction of the new ring bus line around the city center, which is also connected to the campus, brings several improvements along starting on December 10, 2017. Only the accessibility of the university site Erfenschlager Straße is according to the Student_innenrat of Chemnitz University not well timed, but negotiations with the CVAG and the City of Chemnitz will follow shortly.
See more: in a short video, the press office and the cross-media desk gathered some atmospheric photos. A TV report of the CHEMNITZ FERNSEHEN is available here.
(Translation: Alissa Hölzel)
Matthias Fejes
12.12.2017
- Naturwissenschaften
- , Mathematik
- , Maschinenbau
- , Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik
- , Informatik
- , Wirtschaftswissenschaften
- , Philosophische Fakultät
- , Human- und Sozialwissenschaften
- , Universitätsrechenzentrum
- , Universitätsbibliothek
- , Zentrum für Lehrerbildung
- , Schüler
- , Studierende
- , International
- , Chemnitz
