As part of planning for the future of public transport in the city, officials in Winterthur have confirmed that they are looking at reintroducing tram services. Over 70 years after the last tram took to the streets, some argue that their return is necessary to cater to a growing population.

Winterthur looks at reintroducing trams

In response to a request from Swiss newspaper Landbote, the local council in Winterthur confirmed that they were examining whether trams should be reintroduced in the city. The discussion is part of a wider debate with Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), the Zurich Transport Authority (ZVV) and PostBus as to the future of public transport in Switzerland’s sixth-largest city.

Official council estimates predict that the city’s bus network will have to accommodate 67 million passengers a year by 2050, more than double the numbers recorded in 2023 (30 million). They explained that the increase will be caused by ongoing population growth and the fact that more drivers will have to be coaxed onto buses for the city to reach its climate goals.

Last tram ran in Winterthur over 70 years ago

In a story that will be familiar to many transport nerds across Europe, Winterthur once had an extensive tram network of its own. From 1898, new routes were established connecting the city centre with the districts of Töss, Wülflingen, Oberwinterthur and Seen. A single ticket for a ride on the tram was set at 10 rappen (centime).

However, rising maintenance costs and the development of better motor and trolleybuses slowly spelt the end of the network. A referendum in 1938 began the forced conversion of all tram lines in Winterthur into trolleybus routes, with the final tramline between Winterthur and Oberwinterthur stations closing on November 3, 1951.

Reintroduction of trams in Winterthur faces major challenges

Faced with rising demand for transport, lawmakers in Winterthur see the reintroduction of trams as a way to carry more people on the busiest routes. However, in the statement, they conceded that bringing services back would have “massive urban development impacts.” 

For instance, to reintroduce the tramway and bring it up to modern standards, entire rows of houses would have to be flattened. In addition, if the trams return "at all, this would be in the long term," the statement continued.

Therefore, they said they would carefully examine the current network, to see whether using buses on major routes would be sustainable in the long term. Local authorities are expected to release their transport plan for the city in the spring of 2025.

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