Opened in 1887, the network has been operated since 1992 by Halberstädter Verkehrs-GmbH [de] (HVG), which also operates the city's six bus lines.[1][2]
History
The first tramway in Halberstadt opened in 1887, in the form of a horse-drawn system operated by Halberstädter Pferdebahn AG. This was taken over by the city of Halberstadt on 1 July 1902, and electric tram operation began on 2 May 1903 with the construction of a new tram depot on Gröperstrasse.[1][2]
On 8 April 1945, during the Second World War, the system suffered severe damage to both facilities and vehicles due to aerial bombing, and the tram service was temporary suspended. Services resumed on 18 August 1945.[1]
On 1 January 1982, the Halberstadt tram undertaking was incorporated into the VE Verkehrskombinat Magdeburg. However in 1990 it was returned to city control, and the city owned HVG was founded to own and operate the system.[1]
On 3-4 June 2023, the city celebrated 120 years of electric tramway operation by running a special service using its historic fleet. This service also served Germany's annual model tramway exhibition, the Kleine Bahn Ganz Gross, which visited the city that year.[2]
Operation
Route network
The tramway currently operates two routes, both of which start at the Hauptbahnhof. Service starts at 05:00, and ceases at 20:00 on weekdays and at 18:30 on weekends and public holidays.