Designing a World Championship – Inside the Disciplines
Carmen Strobl / Wiener Linien Newsroom 07.08.2025
Reading time: 5 Min.
On September 13, the Ring in front of Vienna’s City Hall will transform into an extraordinary stage: 25 international teams will battle it out in the first-ever TRAM World Championship, competing in challenges likeTarget Braking, TRAM Bowling, and more.
But before the trams roll into the spotlight, there’s been a months-long journey of preparation – a mix of creativity, technical problem-solving, and countless test drives.
Two people who know this process inside out are Elisabeth Waltjen and Thomas Linsmeier from Wiener Linien. Together with a passionate team, they developed the championship disciplines from scratch – starting with a rough idea on paper and ending with a fully tested competition course.
From Idea to Competition: 50 Proposals, 8 Disciplines
The starting signal came in June 2024 – with a blank sheet of paper and plenty of creativity.
“We came up with over 50 ideas,” recalls Elisabeth. “From quirky to classic – we had it all.”
Working together with colleagues from various departments, they sorted, discussed, tested – and kept asking the same key questions:
What is technically feasible?
What will excite the audience?
And where can our drivers truly showcase their skills?
In the end, eight disciplines made the cut.
“They should be fair, fun, and at the same time make the drivers’ performance visible,” Thomas explains. “That’s why we kept fine-tuning – to ensure equal opportunities and maximum excitement.”
Reality Check: Test Phase at Wiener Linien’s Main Workshop
In February 2025, it was time to get serious: the test phase began. Some events, like target braking or stopping with door two precisely at the platform, had already proven themselves at previous competitions. Others – like the brand-new TRAM curling – were completely uncharted territory.
In May, the full dress rehearsal took place: all eight disciplines were set up exactly as they will appear on the Ring during the competition – measured down to the centimeter. The goal was to fine-tune every last detail: Do all stations work as planned? Are additional markings or rule changes needed?
“An extremely important step,” says Elisabeth. “All disciplines have to be completed in under five minutes – no breaks, no repeats.” Thomas adds: “Many people think each discipline is scored separately. But in reality, everything runs in one continuous sequence, like an obstacle course.”
The Eight Disciplines of the Tramdrivers World Championship
Here, participants need skill, precision, and nerves of steel:
Stop & Go
Maintain Speed
Target Braking
TRAM Bowling
Reverse Driving
Lateral Distance
Precise Stop
TRAM Curling
The clock is ticking at every station – the faster you are, the more bonus points you earn.
The Biggest Challenge? TRAM Curling!
The trickiest event to develop was the new TRAM curling.“At the beginning, we had no idea how to even get the draisine rolling properly,” Elisabeth recalls. “That’s probably where the most tinkering went in.”
Thomas was also surprised: “Launching the draisine precisely into the target zone – not so easy. Even for me, it was a challenge.”
For both, one thing is certain: none of the disciplines are truly “easy” – not with the time limit and competitive pressure. Elisabeth believes: “Target braking is probably the toughest. The brake lever can only be set once – and many international teams are unfamiliar with our trams.”
On September 13, it’s showtime for precision, skill, and team spirit – right in the heart of Vienna. Spectators can look forward to spectacular events and a day that showcases public transport at its most exciting. Admission is free!
