The Hague has presented its new generation of TINA trams, designed to make public transport more accessible for people with mobility issues. The Hague is the first municipality in the Netherlands to introduce the new tram, marking another step in the modernisation of the city's public transport network.
Its introduction is part of a wider programme by the Municipality of The Hague, public transport operator HTM and the Rotterdam The Hague Metropolitan Area (MRDH) to prepare the tram network for the future.
The TINA was developed by Swiss rail manufacturer Stadler Rail. Its name stands for Total Integrierter Niederflur-Antrieb, or fully integrated low-floor drive. The design allows passengers to move through the tram without steps. Combined with wide passages, large windows and additional passenger space, this makes travelling easier for everyone, particularly older passengers, people with disabilities and parents travelling with pushchairs.
"With the arrival of the new TINA trams, we are investing in a public transport network that is accessible to everyone. At the same time, we are making our city more sustainable, safer and better connected for the future,"
Adeel Mahmood, Alderman for Mobility
More accessible public transport
Accessibility is an important part of the transition. A modern tram network is not only about new vehicles: stops, tracks and surrounding public spaces also need to be suitable for them.
The Hague is therefore adapting tram lines and stops across the city. Where possible, this work is being combined with other improvements, including the replacement of sewers, cables and pipes, measures to improve road safety and additional greenery. Combining these projects means that streets can be upgraded at the same time, while limiting repeated disruption for residents, businesses and passengers.
A tram network built for the future
The arrival of the TINA is part of a longer-term transformation of The Hague's tram infrastructure. Following the renewal of tram lines 1 and 17, lines 6 and 12 will also be upgraded in the coming years.
The new trams provide greater passenger capacity while their low-floor design makes public transport accessible to a wider range of travellers. Together, the Municipality of The Hague, HTM and MRDH are gradually creating a network designed to accommodate the city's future mobility needs.
For The Hague, where trams are an integral part of daily life, the TINA represents more than a new vehicle. Its introduction combines investment in public transport with improvements to accessibility, public space and the city's wider transport infrastructure.
Photo credit: Municipality of The Hague. The new TINA tram presented at Kerkplein in The Hague. Alderman for Mobility Adeel Mahmood is pictured on the far left.