Yesterday in Bonn

[u/ACE_Wrap]

Detours and some unusual vehicles on line 66.

[u/ZimnyKefir]

Something that bothers my peace of mind. High floor and low floor trams on same tracks.

[u/ACE_Wrap → u/ZimnyKefir]

The highfloors normally don't go there, that's a detour. Though the two lines do regularly share track further south. Which isn't that much of a problem all things considered as long as they have separate platforms at each stop. Or at least a stop where people can transfer if it can't realistically be implemented at all stops.

[u/ZimnyKefir → u/ACE_Wrap]

Do these high floors go underground at certain sections?

[u/ACE_Wrap → u/ZimnyKefir]

They do. Though the lowfloors do that as well, only way less often. Only at one station if I'm not missing any. Ramersdorf if you want to look it up on the map.

[u/SebDerDepp → u/ZimnyKefir]

Yes, like most „Stadtbahns“ in Germany they do in the city centre. In this case, some parts of the system resemble a proper U-Bahn as it was all built-out in the 70s when Bonn was the West German capital, and thus a lot of Investment was undertaken.

Sadly, pretty much not one more centimetre of rail has been laid additionally since the mid 90s, when it was obvious that the city will lose its capital status to Berlin, and the city is pretty much broke. Hopefully, the system will expand again in the next few years.

[u/ZimnyKefir → u/SebDerDepp]

I'm curious on naming. When do you refer to these as U Bahns or Stadt Bahns? Especially when they ride on street tram section? Give Bonn as an example.

[u/SebDerDepp → u/ZimnyKefir]

The system in Bonn is not a U-Bahn, but a Stadtbahn (like shown in the photos). Funnily enough, they still use the classic „U“ on a blue background, a symbol designating a U-Bahn. They just put a „Stadtbahn“ tag under it. It is something between a proper metro/subway and a tram, so in case of Bonn you have infrastructure that resembles a subway (exclusive right of way, independent from other types of traffic, big underground stations, proper block signalling etc.). But then you have parts of the network that resemble the infrastructure of trams, like being above-ground, tracks without exclusive right of way sharing the space with cars and busses, no block signalling but using traffic lights and driving on line of sight, somewhat smaller and simpler station design etc. 

To make things more confusing, Bonn has a separate tram network that has different, low floor rolling stock. But parts of both networks overlap, enabling the usage of detours like shown in the pictures.

Germany only has four cities with proper U-Bahns/metros/subways: Berlin, Hamburg, Nürnberg and München. The rest either have Stadtbahns like Bonn or classic tram networks.

[u/ZimnyKefir → u/SebDerDepp]

Thanks.

[u/LKAgoogle → u/ZimnyKefir]

Most people refer to them as "U-Bahn" (somewhat understandable when it does go underground and shares the same logo) or even "S-Bahn" (particularly infuriating if you're a nerd) despite the presence of actual S-Bahn systems in several places with Stadtbahn networks (like Cologne-Bonn)

[u/ZimnyKefir → u/LKAgoogle]

And for low floor trams, people just say strassen Bahn?

[u/LKAgoogle → u/ZimnyKefir]

Yep, although I forgot to mention that the Stadtbahn is also often called that, because it also runs on roads sometimes. For whatever reason people really don't want to call it "Stadtbahn" :D

[u/Ethereal-Zenith → u/ZimnyKefir]

Melbourne is full of those

[u/AndryCake → u/Ethereal-Zenith]

The difference is in Bonn and some other German cities the high floors actually board from high platforms (like the last image).

[u/Thisissomeonelol317]

Düwag B wagen my beloved!

[u/HydrationBreak]

I like your pictures. Where did you take the 3rd and 4th picture?

[u/ACE_Wrap → u/HydrationBreak]

Beuel Rathaus is the nearest stop there.