Nordhausen also practices a unique model of tram-train operation, in which dual-power railcars operate using electric power in the town, and change to diesel-electric to operate on the Harzer Schmalspurbahn (HSB) line to Ilfeld.
On HSB’s centenary in September 1999, HSB and Stadtwerke Nordhausen signed a declaration of intent for the development, and work began in 2002. A track was built connecting the Bahnhofsvorplatz tram stop along Oskar-Cohn-Straße to the Harzquerbahn sidings at Nordhausen Nord station.
Since the HSB is not electrified, new dual-power vehicles had to be procured. On 3 June 2000, as part of the centenary celebrations of the Nordhausen tram, the first such vehicle was presented. Dubbed the Twino, it was a GT4 railcar fitted with a five-cylinder passenger car diesel engine, and was used for practical testing of dual-power operation. The municipal utilities bought three DuoCombino trams, fitted with BMW M67 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engines.
On 1 May 2004, route 10 was launched. It follows the course of route 1 from the Südharz Klinikum hospital through Nordhausen town centre to the station forecourt, and then along the Harzquerbahn track to Ilfeld Neanderklinik, a distance of 11.4 km.
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