Snow, Cold, and Ice: Better Leave the Bike at Home for Now—Though Not Everyone Finds Cars or Trains Easier. In Naumburg, They Do.
Naumburg's tiny tram network sees record ridership amid freezing winter
Heavy snow and freezing temperatures are currently driving up passenger numbers on Naumburg's tram network. "The tram is seeing higher ridership than on other days," said Andreas Plehn, managing director of the operator, Eisenbahn Verkehrs Nachrichten (EVN). His workshop team has been working from dawn till dusk to clear switches and tracks of snow and ice.
Founded in 1892, Naumburger Straßenbahn GmbH is Germany's smallest tram system. With just a handful of employees and many volunteers, it keeps 2.8 kilometers of track running smoothly.
Tens of Thousands of Passengers Last Year
The operator recently reported record ridership. On the route between Naumburg's main train station and the city center—a popular tourist destination in southern Saxony-Anhalt—around 310,000 passengers traveled by tram last year, a 3% increase over 2023, according to the company. The surge was attributed to the Deutschland-Ticket, which remains valid on the historic tram system this year.
The vehicles are sturdy and built to withstand the cold, Plehn noted. However, rapid shifts between rain and freezing temperatures can pose challenges. "But we'll be ready for that too."
Meteorologists Forecast Above-Freezing Temperatures
Germany's national weather service, the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD), initially warned of freezing rain and black ice at the start of the week. Later in the week, occasional rain is expected, though temperatures are predicted to rise above freezing.
Over the weekend, parts of the country experienced disruptions, cancellations, and accidents on roads and railways. The weather service had issued severe weather alerts, and some cities suspended local public transport entirely.
