(kus) The friendship between Lyon and Frankfurt has existed for almost exactly 57 years - it is Frankfurt's oldest city partnership. On 15 October 1960, three years before the Élysée Treaty was signed, the two cities sealed their friendship with a partnership agreement. This will now be honoured with a twinning railway.
On Tuesday, 10. October, Lord Mayor Peter Feldmann and Lyon's Lord Mayor Georges Képénékian together with the managing director of Verkehrsgesellschaft Frankfurt (VGF) Thomas Wissgott, presented the new Frankfurt/Lyon Friendship Railway at VGF's Gutleut depot.
The tram, which is around 30 metres long and weighs 40 tonnes, is decorated with the coats of arms of the city of Frankfurt and the logo of the city of Lyon, as well as a panoramic view of the Rhône shore and the Frankfurt skyline, and the words "Jumelage/Freundship". It also features other motifs such as a Bembel and a Geripptes, Lyon Cathedral and celebrity chef Paul Bocuse. The trolley is to run on all Frankfurt tram lines.
"From now on, this friendship tram will roll across Frankfurt several times a day as a symbol of mutual appreciation and solidarity between Frankfurt and Lyon. This is a beautiful and widely visible sign of living international understanding and a lively city partnership. I would like to thank the VGF and its Managing Director Thomas Wissgott for this great initiative," said Lord Mayor Peter Feldmann.
His Lyon counterpart was also enthusiastic about the Frankfurt/Lyon Friendship Railway. Following the presentation, the twinning tram was steered to the Römer by Lord Mayor Peter Feldmann.
Also present at the presentation of the new friendship tram were representatives of French associations and organizations in Frankfurt, as well as the participants of the Frankfurt citizens' trip to Lyon.
The Frankurt/Lyon Friendship Railway is the fourth after the railways with motifs of Tel Aviv, Birmingham and Milan. Like the Tel Aviv railway, the Lyon railway is a tramway. The vehicles for the friendship with Birmingham and Milan are subway cars.
"With this new partnership motif, we are continuing the beautiful tradition of letting the signs of Frankfurt's friendship with its twin cities roll across the city for everyone to see. The trams with these special motifs are very popular with passengers and passers-by. They are colourful splashes of colour in everyday city life and ensure a high recognition value," said VGF Managing Director Thomas Wissgott at the presentation.
