For more than 30 years, they’ve been part of Munich’s everyday life — the distinctive blue-and-white R2.2 trams, symbols of the city’s public transport history.
Now, the Stadtwerke München (SWM) and Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft (MVG) are giving their oldest still-active tram generation a well-deserved retirement.
While many of the R2.2 models were modernized in the 2010s and continue to operate under the designation R2.2b, the remaining unmodified vehicles (R2.2a) are now making their final rounds.
A farewell on rails — Saturday, October 18, 2025
To mark the occasion, three of the classic trams will run a farewell tour across Munich’s entire tram network on Saturday, October 18, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m..
According to SWM, the trams will stop at every station on their route, giving passengers one last chance to experience these nostalgic vehicles in motion.
Each tram will feature its own special theme:
- Children’s Tram – with creative decorations and activities for young passengers
- Music Tram – playing tunes that accompanied Munich’s streets for decades
- ️Historic Tram – celebrating the evolution of Munich’s tram system through photos and memorabilia
The farewell timetable will be published on the MVG website in the week leading up to the event.
From city service to museum life
After their final tours, the trams will make their ceremonial entry into the MVG Museum, where they’ll be officially welcomed in a small celebration.
For many longtime passengers and tram enthusiasts, it marks the end of an era — but also the preservation of a beloved piece of Munich’s transport heritage.
The first series vehicle, tram number 2101, will be specially restored in time for Munich’s 150-year tram anniversary in 2026 and will take part in a commemorative tram parade that autumn before becoming a permanent museum exhibit.
The story of the R2.2 series
In the 1980s, Munich’s transport authority decided to replace the aging three-axle M-class trams that had served since the post-war period.
The new model — known as the GT6N — became the first low-floor tram in Munich, allowing barrier-free boarding without the steep three-step climb passengers were used to.
After successful tests with the prototype R1.1, SWM ordered 70 vehicles of the R2.2 series, which entered service between 1994 and 1997.
Most were later upgraded during the 2010s modernization program, becoming R2.2b, with updated interiors and electronics.
The remaining non-modernized units, R2.2a, continued running on regular lines until 2025 — making them the oldest still-operational trams in Munich’s network.
A symbol of Munich’s urban history
For many residents, the R2.2 isn’t just a vehicle — it’s a reminder of how Munich’s cityscape and public life have evolved.
Over three decades, these trams carried millions of passengers through the Olympiapark, Sendlinger Tor, and Schwabing, connecting generations of commuters and visitors.
Now, as they roll into retirement, the city pauses to celebrate their legacy — a moving farewell for a true Munich classic.
