The "short TINA" is coming to the rails in Halle (Saale)
posted on 20th Feb 2026 16:32
The anticipation for the new TINA trams is given a very concrete starting signal on 19 February 2026: at an event at the HAVAG depot on Freiimfelder Straße, Saxony-Anhalt's Minister of Infrastructure Lydia Hüskens symbolically handed over the commissioning permit for the first MGT M tram ("short TINA") to Hallesche Verkehrs-AG (HAVAG), a company belonging to the Stadtwerke Halle Group.
in 2022, HAVAG has ordered 56 TINAs from Stadler: 39 ones in the M version and 17 in the XL version. At 30.4 m, the "short TINA" is specifically designed for urban operation in Halle (Saale) and combines modern technology with a noticeable increase in comfort and accessibility - including a completely step-free interior, large panoramic windows, high ceilings and open multifunctional areas for wheelchairs and prams, among other things.
With low floor 350 mm above TOR, 290 mm entry height and 1,500 mm entry width, the TINA MGT-M version has 30.4 m length, 64 seats, 103 standing places, and the TINA MGT-XL has 45.4 m lenght, 96 seats and 173 standing places.
The first "short TINA" had previously received operating approval from the Technical Supervisory Authority (Technische Aufsichtsbehörde, TAB); the formal commissioning approval follows on from this. An important lever for the further roll-out: the positive test result also serves as proof of conformity for all 38 other vehicles in this batch. With technical approval, the widespread use of the new TINA vehicle family is moving closer; further vehicles are to go into passenger service in the coming months.
Vinzenz Schwarz, HAVAG CEO: "With TINA, we are bringing a new level of quality to the tracks for the people of Halle: barrier-free, with plenty of space, clear orientation and an interior that takes passengers' everyday needs into account. Today's handover is an important step towards the gradual arrival of the new vehicle family in Halle (Saale). Today marks another important step towards the full introduction of the new tram series. HAVAG is now very well prepared to safely transport the steadily growing number of passengers in the coming years, which has been increasing since the end of the pandemic, in a manner that meets quality standards. We would like to thank the state of Saxony-Anhalt for its tremendous support to date. The entire project team, consisting of employees from Stadler and HAVAG itself, deserves a special thank you."
