Chemnitzer Verkehr (CVAG)

Operational

Earlier: VEB Nahverkehr Karl-Marx-Stadt.

City: Chemnitz (Germany).
Total route length: 38.0 km (23.6 miles).

Track gauge: 1435 mm (standard gauge).
Opened: May 8, 1960.

Track gauge: 925 mm.
Opened: May 19, 1893.
Closed: March 6, 1945 because of World War II.
Reopened: March 23, 1945.
Closed: April 16, 1945 because of World War II.
Reopened: May 17, 1945.
Closed: November 6, 1988.

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Trams and light rails in Germany

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Tram lines in operation

Chemnitz tram line 1: Brückenstraße/Freie Presse - Schönau
Operational

Chemnitz tram line 2: Brückenstraße/Freie Presse - Bernsdorf
Operational

Chemnitz tram line 3: Hauptbahnhof - Technopark
Operational

Chemnitz tram line 4: Hutholz - Hauptbahnhof
Operational

Chemnitz tram line 5: Hutholz - Gablenz
Operational

Chemnitz extra line 6: Hauptbahnhof - Altchemnitz
Operational

Discontinued tram lines

Chemnitz tram line 3: Zentralhaltestelle - Rottluff
Closed

Chemnitz tram line 8: Wladimir-Sagorski-Straße - Schönau, Popowstraße
Closed

Chemnitz tram line 10: Hauptbahnhof - Weststraße/Kochstraße
Closed

Chemnitz extra line 13: Straßenbahnhof Kappel - Falkeplatz
Closed

Chemnitz tram line 1
Closed

Chemnitz tram line 2
Closed

Chemnitz tram line 4
Closed

Chemnitz tram line 5
Closed

Chemnitz tram line 6
Closed

Chemnitz tram line 7
Closed

Chemnitz tram line 8
Closed

Chemnitz tram line 9
Closed

Chemnitz tram line 12
Closed

Chemnitz tram line 16
Closed

Chemnitz tram line 21
Closed

Chemnitz tram line 51
Closed

Chemnitz extra line 11
Closed

Chemnitz extra line 14
Closed

Chemnitz extra line 15
Closed

Chemnitz extra line 115
Closed

Chemnitzer Verkehr (CVAG) stops

Altchemnitz, Annenstraße, Bernsdorf, Brückenstraße/Freie Presse, Eins Energie In Sachsen, Erzbergerstraße, Falkeplatz, Falkeplatz, Gablenz, Hauptbahnhof, Hutholz, Industrie-museum, Rottluff, Schönau, Schönau, Popowstraße, Straßenbahnhof Kappel, Technopark, Theaterplatz, Treffurthstraße, Weststraße/Kochstraße, Wladimir-Sagorski-Straße, and Zentralhaltestelle.

View the route map in high resolution. See the official route map.

Current trams in operation

Low-floor articulated tram: 610, 611, 904.

Former trams in operation

Cottage: 237.

Freight car: 194, 353, 423, 1053, 1073.

Grinder car: 1035.

Museum tram: 69, 316, 351, 1598.

Railcar: 14, 15, 20, 42, 109, 169, 176, 201-15813, 206, 231, 232, 251, 267, 294, 306, 316, 331, 332, 334, 351, 503, 507, 517, 519, 520, 521, 522, 801, 804, 823, 827, 835, 1102.

School tram: 169, 1169.

Service vehicle: 1267, 1331.

Sidecar: 218, 237, 313, 319, 543, 552, 566, 598, 760, 761, 964.

depot12
Open regularly

Service vehicle: 552.

Dresden Tram Museum
Open regularly

Railcar: 1587.

Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe (DVB)
Operational

Railcar: 201-15, 1567, 1587, 1596.

Service vehicle: 201 011-7, 213 002.

Rostocker Straßenbahn (RSAG)
Operational

Railcar: 784, 786, 788.

Service vehicle: 552.

Straßenbahnmuseum Chemnitz
Open regularly

Freight car: 1053, 1073.

Grinder car: 1035.

Railcar: 15, 169, 251, 306, 332, 813, 1102.

Service vehicle: 1331.

Sidecar: 237, 543, 552, 566, 598.

Verkehrsbetrieb Potsdam (ViP)
Operational

Museum tram: 109, 214, 218.

Railcar: 109.

Sidecar: 214, 218.

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Photos from Chemnitzer Verkehr (CVAG)

43:06

Driver's cab ride on Chemnitz tram (CVAG), Gablenz - Hutholz (2001)Ride in the driver's cab on tram line 5 in Chemnitz (Gablenz - Hutholz) on May 22, 2001, on a Variobahn. Found on my dad's videos.By Stofffuchs - May 22, 2001.

Postcard: Chemnitz tram line 3 with sidecar 552 at Rottluff (1988)Museum trams in Chemnitz Trailer car 552, built in 1927 552 bidirectional railcar / narrow gauge Chemnitz, built around 1927 Series nos. 551 - 560, data sheet B 16 Vehicle number 552: decommissioned in 1983. 1986 converted to a museum car, mid-1990s: converted to museum car no. 552 Manufacturer: Waggon-und Maschinenfabrik AG, formerly Waggonfabrik W. C. F. Busch, Bautzen Length over crash barrier: 10026 mm Seats: 22 (across) / Standing places: 44By Henrik Boye, Maik Wagner, Straßenbahnfreunde Chemnitz - 1988.

Postcard: Chemnitz tram line 3 with sidecar 598 on Erzbergerstraße (1988)Limbacher Straße Museum trams in Chemnitz Trailer car 598, built in 1929 598 bidirectional tram / narrow-gauge Chemnitz, built around 1929 Series Nos. 576-600, Data Sheet B 20 Vehicle number 598, 1985: decommissioned, 1986: converted to museum car Converted to museum car no. 598 in the early 1990s Manufacturer: Sächsische Waggonfabrik GmbH Werdau, formerly Waggonfabrik Schumann, Werdau Length over crash barrier: 10104 mm Seats 22 (across) / Standing places 44By Henrik Boye, Maik Wagner, Straßenbahnfreunde Chemnitz, Thomas Böttger - 1988.

Chemnitz tram line 5 with railcar 521 at Stefan-Heym-Platz (2008)By Henrik Boye.
July 3, 2008.

Chemnitz tram line 4 with railcar 519 at Hauptbahnhof (2008)By Henrik Boye.
July 3, 2008.

Chemnitz tram line 5 with low-floor articulated tram 611 at Zentralhaltestelle (2008)By Henrik Boye.
July 3, 2008.

Chemnitz tram line 2 with railcar 503 at Zentralhaltestelle (1990)By Henrik Boye.
August 1990.

2:28

Narrow-gauge trams in Karl-Marx-Stadt (1893-1988)It all started in 1880 with a horse-drawn tram on the unusual gauge of 915 mm (about three feet), which remained the standard until 1893, when electric operation began. From 1917 onward, plans were made to widen the gauge to 1000 mm. However, it wasn't until 1958 that VEB Verkehrsbetriebe Chemnitz launched a truly ambitious gauge conversion program. Due to numerous urban development challenges and austerity measures typical of the GDR, the latter VEB Nahverkehr Karl-Marx-Stadt was only able to complete this program in 1988. Look back at the lively tram scene and scheduled service on the narrow gauge line with the legendary three-car trains. These railcars from the 1920s were kept operational through extensive maintenance and continued to run until the last Rottluff-Zentrumsring line was shut down on November 6, 1988. Footage from the 1920s, of course, is just as common as winter shots from the 1980s. First Chemnitz, then Karl Marstadt, then Chemnitz again. The city's name changed as often as its tramway. Even the track width was unusual. In 1890, an English engineer based his work on British units and chose a track spacing of three feet, or approximately 915 mm. In 1917, the track was widened to just 925 mm. It stayed that way for decades. This measurement was unique in Germany. This chapter wasn't finished until 1988. Until then, only vehicles from the 1920s were in operation. The footage in this film dates from the 1980s, but the film also offers a glimpse into earlier times. The employees of this tramway company had a knack for improvisation. When they wanted to showcase a historic carriage for the centenary, they converted a much newer model. Entry into the carriages was relatively high, ranging from over 36 cm to the first step. The coupling system was also old and extremely rare. The footage was shot by Jörg Langfeld, who also filmed in winter. This 50-minute film is an incredible journey through time for tram enthusiasts.By tram-TV - 1893 - 1988.

Postcard: Chemnitz museum tram 69 in front of Altendorf (1988)Heritage railcar 69, built in 1919. Converted from driving school railcar 1169 in 1980. Here in front of the Altendorf carriage depot, in November 1988.By Bildverlag Böttger, Henrik Boye, Thomas Böttger - November 1988.

Model tram: Chemnitz, the front (2012)Grell China Einsiedel Bought at Hannoversches Straßenbahn-Museum. 125 year trams in Chemnitz.By Grell, Henrik Boye - June 17, 2012.

See all photos from Chemnitzer Verkehr (CVAG).

Last updated: December 8, 2025.