This is just one specific line on a particularly steep hillside in Stuttgart therefore it has been built as a rack railway. It's known as the "Zacke" (German for tooth or prong) though officially it's just "U10"

There are two cars, going up and down at the same time, theres a station in the middle where they pass each other.

The stops are long enough to take your bike off of the bike cart. It isn't a particularly fast tram anyways. It also doesn't run at night because it runs extremely close to houses and it's comparatively loud.

It's a bit of an oddity because it's part of the normal public transport network and included in your ticket. There are only 3 other rack railways in Germany and those have been built purely for tourism and have their own fares.

When the tram goes up hill its at the front, when its going back down its at the back. For this specific line at least.

Video of trams in Stuttgart in action https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdzCyQyKvfg