Hello, dear Community!

Preface:
-----------

Today I want to talk about a lovely means of transport:
"The Streetcar also called Tram". The once liked public conveyance had been taking lots of deep hits in the last decades. Even a rethinking and relaunch lasts very long or often is cancelled.

So it is favourable that the Streetcar in Innsbruck has been surviving without greater problems since 1905. Even new lines are in progress and should be constructed in the next years.

1) General Info/Prices:
*************************

The first electric Streetcar made its way through Innsbruck in 1905. For a while there were 5 lines which served all the important boroughs. Today 3 city lines and 1 cross-country Streetcar exist. In my review I just report about the present situation.

City ticket prices:>
-----------------------

a) single ticket: € 1,60 (₤ 1,07), 4-drive ticket: € 5,20 (₤ 3,50)
b) daily ticket: € 3,50 (₤ 2,35), weekly ticket: € 11,- (7,35)
c) monthly ticket: € 37,- (₤ 24,80)
All prices are rounded.

Prices change yearly and increase about 0,20 - 0,50€ (0,13 - 0,33₤). The lines are in possession of the "Innsbrucker Verkehrsbetriebe AG" (short: IVB) which are part of the municipal facilities.
Details, pictures and short impressions are to find on www.ivb.at (German language) and are expanded continuously. The headquarters are in the "Pastorstraße 5" in Wilten together with the depot.

2) Short info to Line 1:>
*************************

Line 1 goes from Berg Isel in Wilten to the Mühlauer Bridge and back. During the day the Streetcars use a 7,5 min - interval. At 7,30 p.m. they use a 15 min interval this closing hours at appr. 11,45 p.m. Railcar types of "Bielefelder" and "Lohner" are the domain of Line 1. It is the longest Streetcar line within city area and strongly used in the early morning at 7,30 a.m. by pupils.

3) Short info to Line 3:>
*************************

In the heart of Innsbruck it goes all around the way to the main station, triumph gate, city centre and goes out to Pradl and Amras and back. Line 3 also uses a 7,5 min - interval during the day and then the same in the evening as Line 1 until closing hours. Mainly "Lohner" railcar types are used. This streetcar line is an important southeast route, which connects Amras and Pradl with the centre. It is also strongly used in the morning.

4) Short info to Line 6:>
************************

This is my personal darling and serves the highlands above Innsbruck from Berg Isel to Igls in winter and to the main station during summer. The interval is hourly until 7,13 p.m. Line 6 is mainly advertised as pleasure line but yet it belongs to the urban Streetcar net. On Line 6 excessively 8-axial "Bielefelder" railcar types are used! The route is single-tracked but has a turning point in Igls.

5) Short info to Line STB:>
***************************

The Stubai Valley Streetcar goes from the main station into the valley to Fulpmes. The normal prices are valid inside city area otherwise you have to pay separately zonal. This line uses an hourly interval, but after 5,30 p.m. only till Mutters.
*Don't use the last tram to Fulpmes unless you want to get stuck in there!*
The railcar types are two-way "Hagner" railcar types which can be controlled in two directions. This is necessary because it has no turning point in Fulpmes.

6) Things worth seeing
while using the lines for Streetcar friends:>
************************************************

a) 1:> Turning point "Berg Isel", Southern Ring track, Marketplace terminal, Viaduct track, acute turning point Mühlauer Bridge

b) 3:> new main station terminal, centre before the famous
Anna pillar sharp bend Pradlerstrasse/Defreggerstraße, turning point Amras

c) 6er:> forest track Tummel square until Lake Mühl,
Lake Lans - track and turning point in Igls; Streetcar freaks will enjoy the ride through the forest.

d) STB:> The steep driveway until Paschberg tunnel with the narrow bends are a joy for Streetcar friends. The whole route provides interesting scenes through old villages, green meadows and fascinating bridges. It is one of the most interesting lines of Innsbruck and environment.

7) My Summary / remarks:>
******************************

The Streetcar is an ecologically beneficial public conveyance and belongs to the real townscape of Innsbruck. I was once living in the Pradlerstraße exactly at the stop of Line 3 with mentioned sharp bend. In the morning it was like an alarm clock and I had got used to the sound long ago. I liked watching out the window while line 3 took that sharp bend.

Maybe that is why my solidarity for this vehicle is so strong. It reminds me of my days in my youth. Imagine this: All fossil impulsions would dry up overnight, what can still go? Right, all electric vehicles. A Streetcar makes a city more attractive and the small operation is really cute.

If you ever come to Innsbruck, I recommend using Lines 6 and STB for a pleasure trip. You won't regret it and there are several ideal points for taking pictures.

As soon as I turn green, I will enclose pictures of our Streetcars, so please be patient.

Thanks for reading

Vanessa