A Streetcar Named Rotteck

In Freiburg, they call it the Rottecklinie (the Rotteck line). Last Saturday, the blue line number 5 changed its route, deviating at Heinrich-von-Stephan-Straße from its old route to a new track, crossing the river Dreisam on the rebuilt Kronenbrücke (crown bridge). The streetcar runs along Rotteckring (sic!) to end at Europaplatz (Europe Square). The significant consequence is that the crossing point at Bertoldsbrunnen is discharged, and the stop Stadttheater (Municipal Theater) is now the central transfer point where all streetcar lines meet.

With the new line arrangement, Red Baron has an extra benefit for the green line number 2 - I catch at Lorettostraße - now runs via Hauptbahnhof (the central train station) to the university hospital center near Robert-Koch-Straße and to the Central Cemetery. This direct connection may come in handy.

New routing of Freiburg's streetcars (and buses) in the inner city (©VAG)

Last Saturday, public transport was free in Freiburg to celebrate the new streetcar line. Enthusiasm had no limits when a vintage streetcar affectionately called Hobel (carpenter's plane) opened a streetcar parade at 12:15 pm.

©BZ

Due to family problems, Red Baron could not participate in the inauguration fest. For my American friends, I took the new route the following day, taking advantage of the calm in Germany's cities on Sundays.

I mounted the streetcar number 5, bound for Europaplatz, at Heinrich-von-Stephan-Straße, or rather stepped into the streetcar, for platform and entry on most lines are now at the same level. However, the low floor is a drawback of the Siemens-made streetcar shown below. The interior noise level is uncomfortably high due to the insulation between the motors and the thin floor.

On foot, I crossed the new bridge over the Dreisam with the river presently living up to its name, "the rapid flowing." The newly arranged riverside path on the right is a fast bicycle lane, while the one on the left is reserved for pedestrians. In the back, you may distinguish the riverside restaurant. Further to the right (and left) runs the four-lane federal highway 31 through Freiburg, waiting for a tunnel to be built by 2030 (?). The round traffic sign on the right signals the new anti-air-pollution speed limit of 30 km/h (18.6 mph).*
*Click the photos to enlarge

Here, we look back at the bridge carrying just one Sunday car and two cyclists. The blue mark on the street on the left reads Fahrradstraße, meaning that from here on, cyclists have priority.

Here, we look from the stop Erbprinzenstraße (Heir to the Throne Street) toward the university. You will note that line 5 passes through the campus, with the diamond of the new university library on the left and the main building, made of red sandstone, on the right. Daffodils are growing on the flank of the mensa* hill, being a remnant of the Vauban fortifications.
*University cafeteria

On the other side of the Stadttheater stop, the redesigned Colombi Park - with the Schlössle (small castle) of the same name housing Freiburg's Museum of Archeology in the back - now looks more spacious than before. Note the many bicycles on Rotteckring on a Sunday afternoon.

On my way home, I had the comfort of one of the newly acquired URBOS streetcars made by the Spanish firm CAF. They are not only looking elegant, but above all, they are silent.

I stepped off at Heinrich-von-Stephan-Straße and walked home. When I passed Kaiser's Gute Backstube (Kaiser's good baking room), I felt like I deserved a reward. I settled for a pot of coffee, a piece of Raspberry Baiser, and a most delicious apple-walnut* pie.
*Worth a detour

Note that the menu card is in English only.

**