At its meeting today, the City Council approved the preferred option for the second planning approval section (PFA 2) of the Chemnitz Model Stage 4 (extension to Limbach-Oberfrohna). For the approximately 1.7-kilometre-long section along Leipziger Straße between Hartmannstraße and Wittgensdorfer Straße, the main option 2, sub-option 2.5, will be pursued.
This involves the track running on the eastern side of the road from Hartmannstraße to Mittelstraße. The plan also includes the construction of a new bridge to replace the existing one over the Pleißenbach at the Leipziger Straße/Matthesstraße junction. In the area of Mittelstraße, the tracks will move to the centre of Leipziger Straße, where they will remain until the end of PFA 2. A grass-covered track is planned.
The route continues along Mittelstraße to the Salzstraße stop, north of the Salzstraße/Konradstraße junction. It then runs west of the Leipziger Platz area, passing the Glauchauer Straße stop and continuing towards Küchwald. The Küchwaldring stop is planned just before the junction with Bürgerstraße. The route is slightly diverted here to minimise the impact on the Küchwald. The Botanischer Garten stop is planned just before Wittgensdorfer Straße. This is where Phase 2 ends.
The decision in favour of the preferred option is based on a comprehensive assessment of transport, urban planning, environmental, structural and operational aspects. The chosen route provides good access to the developments on both sides of Leipziger Straße. Thanks to the central positioning of the tracks, a distance of at least around 15 metres from the residential buildings can be maintained on the eastern side from Mittelstraße to Winklerstraße. This helps to reduce noise and vibration impacts in particular.
Furthermore, intersections between the tram and road and cycle traffic during various entry and turning manoeuvres are avoided. The impact on the listed gardens at Leipziger Platz and Küchwaldpark can also be kept to a minimum. The central alignment and the grass-covered track contribute to the harmonious design of Leipziger Straße.
The next steps
The preferred option will now be further developed during the draft and approval planning stages by the Zweckverband Verkehrsverbund Mittelsachsen (ZVMS), Verkehrsverbund Mittelsachsen GmbH (VMS GmbH), the City of Chemnitz and Chemnitzer Verkehrs-AG (CVAG). The design phase is scheduled to be completed in June 2027, and the planning permission phase in December 2027. The planning approval process is then scheduled to take place by December 2029.
According to current estimates, the total cost for Phase 2 is around 61 million euros (net). Funding is to be provided primarily through grants from the Federal Government and the Free State of Saxony. The aim is to secure funding of up to 90 per cent of the eligible costs.
The Chemnitz model aims to gradually link the tram network with the regional rail network. The objective is to provide direct, transfer-free connections between Chemnitz and the surrounding area. Construction of the first section covered by the planning approval – running from Falkeplatz via Theaterstraße and Hartmannstraße to the junction with Leipziger Straße – has been underway since February 2026.