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The former tram line 2 was converted to Stadtbahn
operation in two parts. The first section Hauptfriedhof -- Berliner
Platz started on June 22, 2002. At that time the whole tram line was
closed. Until the opening of the other part (Berliner Platz to
Hölderlinplatz) on December 14, 2002 the light rail vehicles used the
city-loop (Staatsgalerie -- Charlottenplatz -- Berliner Platz --
Hauptbahnhof -- Staatsgalerie) to reverse.
We start our tour at Hölderlinplatz
terminus in the west of Stuttgart. This station with island platform
is built in the narrow Johannes-Straße. This part of the street is
closed for car traffic.
On Hölderlinstraße and Hegelstraße the light rails run in
the street with mixed traffic. The former trams used the
Hölderlinstraße only in the direction toward Hölderlinplatz, returning
via the Kornbergstraße. The next stop Russische Kirche
with island platform lies in a steep inclination in the middle of the
Hegelstraße.
The first 100 metres in the Seidenstraße the tracks are
on a grassed central reservation. The second section on this street is
partly on a reservation and partly with mixed traffic. The
Rosenbergstraße/Seidenstraße station has also a island
platform, only the inbound track is on a reservation.
At Berliner Platz (Liederhalle) station the
tracks are on a grassed central reservation. This station is with side
platforms. After crossing a track intersection the U2 stops at the
next station, Berliner Platz (Hohe Straße) together with
the lines U4 and U14. The side platforms lie partly in the ramp to the
city light rail tunnel. There is also a low level platform (outbound)
for the old-timer tram line 23. This line uses the city-loop.
The following tunnel section with the
Rotebühlplatz (Stadtmitte) station was built in the
cut-and-cover method and opened on October 31, 1983. The side
platforms at Rotebühlplatz station are in an inclination. There are
open mezzanines at both sides. At the northwest side there is a
connection to all S-bahn lines in the Stadtmitte station. Newly-built
escalators are reached over a bridge at this side. Ramps lead from
the platform to the southeast mezzanines. From here the passengers
reach the great pedestrian street Königsstraße. Here was the former
temporary ramp to the track triangle described on line U1.
The line U2 runs from Rathaus station to Bad Cannstatt
Wilhelmsplatz on the same tracks as line U1. Pictures and description
can be seen on line U1.
From Bad Cannstatt Wilhelmplatz station the route of line
U2 goes straight on König-Karl-Straße with mixed traffic. Only at
Daimlerplatz station there are grassed tracks. The side
platforms are carefully integrated into a traffic roundabout. At the
end of the König-Karl-Straße the tracks turn left on grassed
private-right-of-way through the Kursaal-Anlagen.
The next stop Kursaal with side platforms
is directly in front of a indoor mineral swimming-bath. After a short
grassed reservation on the east side of the Teinacher Straße, the line
turns right onto a short street-running section. The tracks change
again to a grassed side reservation on the north side of the
Schmidener Straße and ascends to the Gnesener Straße
station with an island platform.
After a short section of grassed reservation the tracks
twist in the narrow Schmidener Straße. At the end of the twisted
section the tracks change from the side reservation to a central
reservation and reach the Obere Ziegelei station (side
platforms.) Here was the terminus of the former tram line, which
reversed via a loop.
The U2 ascends a steep newly-built section on a grassed
reservation at the southeast side of the Steinhalden Straße. The
temporary terminus Hauptfriedhof lies in a cutting. At
the north side there is a pedestrian ramp bridge between the two
tunnel entrances. The south entrance is with level-crossings.
A new section with two stations is expected to be opened
on July 16, 2005. Behind the Hauptfriedhof station the trains will run
in a tunnel to cross under a cemetery. The two-track tunnel is built
in the mine-tunneling shotcrete construction. Just at the end of the
tunnel there is the Steinhaldenfeld station. A staircase
and an escalator connect the island platform with the surface level at
the south end. The street inclines and therefore the platform can be
reached by level-crossings at the north end of the station.
After a short stretch of grassed reservation on the west
side of the Steinhalden Straße the route crosses a traffic roundabout
to a east side reservation of the Kormoran Straße. The new terminus
Neugereut with an 80m long island platform connects a
big housing area with the light rail system.
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