Impatiently waiting for the tram is nothing unusual in a bustling city like Frankfurt. But on 30 October, the passengers at the main station – along with numerous reporters, radio hosts, and camera crews – aren’t waiting for just any tram. They’re here for the driver. At the helm of tram number 11, departing at 1:04 p.m. towards Fechenheim, sits the „Bahnbabo“ for the very last time. Frankfurt’s, and perhaps even Germany’s, most famous tram driver is working his final shift before retirement.

Peter Wirth, as he’s officially known, shows no signs of reaching retirement age. Saying he stays healthy and fit would be an understatement – his biceps have become as defining a feature as his training as an electrician. The internet is full of images of Wirth performing splits that would challenge even men half his age.

Now 63, with a deep tan, close-cropped white hair, and dark aviator sunglasses, Wirth became famous far beyond Frankfurt over a decade ago. The story began when he calmed a group of rowdy young passengers in his tram with a few well-chosen moves from his strength-training repertoire. So impressed were they by the trim and powerful driver, the youths dubbed him the „Bahnbabo,“ or „tram boss.“

Thanks to social media, his reputation spread. People loved his cheerful announcements, humorous poems that welcomed passengers, and his laid-back Hawaiian-style hand gestures. But most of all, they saw a man who was genuine and treated those around him with warmth and respect. His kindness, increasingly rare these days, made Wirth a role model for an entire generation in the region and beyond.

Wirth didn’t stop there – he used his „Bahnbabo“ fame to support social causes, expanding his fan base even further. When he ran as an independent candidate in the 2023 mayoral race, he impressively secured fourth place.

On this final day at work, SPD Mayor Mike Josef – who won that election – met Wirth at the Line 11 terminus to honour him for 36 years of service as a tram driver, and an equally long-standing commitment to the people of Frankfurt.

It’s unlikely that Wirth will slow down his social efforts in retirement. The „Bahnbabo“ phenomenon, after all, is really about something simple yet profound: being human.