SSB DT 8
| Industry | Light rail vehicles manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1985 |
| Products | Light rail vehicles (trainsets) |
The DT 8, also referred to as S-DT 8, is a light rail vehicle that has been serving the Stuttgart Stadtbahn since 1985. Produced in several series by manufacturers such as Duewag, Siemens, Bombardier Transportation, and Stadler Rail, the fleet includes more than 200 two-car trainsets. Depending on the model, the DT 8 offers varying sizes and passenger capacities, accommodating over 100 seated and more than 130 standing passengers.
Engineered for effective urban transit, these vehicles can reach speeds up to 80 km/h and manage inclines as steep as 9%. The power output differs among models, with the latest versions featuring eight traction motors for improved performance. The DT 8 operates on a 750 V DC electrical system supplied via an overhead catenary and collected through a pantograph, fully compatible with Stuttgart’s transit infrastructure.
This series of light rail vehicles represents a key investment in Stuttgart’s public transportation system, combining capacity, speed, and flexibility across multiple manufacturing generations to address the city’s changing mobility requirements.
Technical specifications
Each trainset is composed of two cars with steel construction and can be coupled to operate up to three sets simultaneously.
First generation: DT8.4 & DT8.S
In 1982, three prototype units underwent testing on the Alb Valley Railway.
Subsequent batches of DT8 vehicles built by Duewag were delivered in 1988, between 1989 and 1990, in 1992, 1993, and 1996, originally labeled DT8.5 through DT8.9. These versions were largely uniform except that retractable steps were removed starting from the DT8.6 series.
Between 2007 and 2017, Bombardier undertook refurbishment of the DT8.5 to DT8.9 units, upgrading their motors to AC types and renovating interiors to align with the DT8.10 and DT8.11 models. After refurbishment, these trains were renumbered from (3087–3234) to (4087–4234) and reclassified as DT8.S.
Second generation: DT8.10 & DT8.11
The second-generation DT8.10 was developed through a collaboration between ADtranz and Siemens, with 24 units delivered starting in April 1999. While maintaining a design similar to earlier models, these trains introduced IGBT inverters, AC traction motors, open gangway connections, LCD passenger information screens, and air conditioning systems.
Following this, Bombardier supplied an additional 27 units designated as DT8.11 between 2004 and 2005, closely mirroring the specifications of the DT8.10.
Third generation: DT8.12 – DT8.15
Built by Stadler Rail and based on their Tango platform, the third generation of the DT8 features a sleek exterior that differs from previous designs but retains a comparable interior layout. These models are equipped with AC motors, air conditioning, open gangways, and utilize sliding plug doors instead of traditional swinging doors.
The initial order included 20 units (DT8.12) placed in 2010, followed by another 20 (DT8.14) in 2014 and an additional batch of 20 (DT8.15) ordered in 2017. Plans are underway for a further delivery of 30 units (provisionally labeled DT8.16) beginning in 2025 to replace the remaining original DT8.4 vehicles.
Preserved examples
Two prototype cars have been stored at the Heslach depot with intentions for relocation to Bad Cannstatt scheduled for 2018.