Although tram systems date to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many old systems were closed during the mid-20th century because of route inflexibility and maintenance expense. This was especially the case in North American, British, French and other West European cities. Some traditional tramway systems survived, however, and operate much as when they were first built over a century ago. Their numbers have been augmented by modern tramway or light rail systems in cities which had discarded this form of transport.
Video Tram and light rail transit systems
Europe
Much tramway infrastructure was lost during the mid-20th century in many European cities, although not on the same scale as in other parts of the world (such as North America). Most of Eastern Europe retained tramway systems until recently, but some cities are reconsidering their transport priorities. Some Western European cities are rehabilitating, upgrading, expanding and reconstructing old tramway lines, and many Western European towns and cities are building new tram lines.
Maps Tram and light rail transit systems
North America
In North America (especially the United States), trams are generally known as streetcars or trolleys; a "tram" is a tourist trolley, an aerial tramway or a people mover. Streetcar lines were largely torn up during the mid-20th century for a variety of financial, technological and social reasons. Exceptions include New Orleans, Newark, Seattle, Philadelphia (with a much smaller network than before), Boston and San Francisco. Pittsburgh kept most of its streetcar system (serving the city and many suburbs) until January 27, 1967, making it the longest-lasting large-network U.S. streetcar system.
Canada
Toronto has the largest streetcar system in the Americas. Most of the country's streetcar systems disappeared after World War II, giving way to buses:
- Windsor (1937)
- Kitchener Public Utilities Commission (1946)
- North Vancouver (1947)
- Nova Scotia Light and Power Company, Limited, Halifax (1949)
- Edmonton Radial Railway, Saskatoon Municipal Railway and Hamilton Street Railway (1951)
- Vancouver (1955)
- Ottawa Transportation Commission and Montreal Tramways Company (1959)
Toronto's system grew with the abandonment of streetcar operations in the United States and the rest of Canada, as the Toronto Transit Commission purchased cars from many former operators.
During the late 20th century, several cities installed light rail systems (partially along the same corridors as the streetcars). Some have restored their old streetcars and run them as a heritage ride for tourists; an example is the Vancouver Downtown Historic Railway.
Central America
Panama
Trams in Panama predate the country's founding; tram service began in 1893 in Panama City, in what was then Colombia. The last old trams stopped operating in 1941. Panama Metro began operating the first subway in mainland Central America, a 12-station system, on April 5, 2014.
South America
Argentina
Buenos Aires (once known as the City of Trams) had one of the world's most extensive networks, with over 857 km (535 mi) of track. Most of it was dismantled during the 1960s in favor of bus transportation.
The Anglo-Argentine Tramways Company opened Latin America's first underground tram system, Subte Line A, in 1913. The original route was underground and at street level until 1926, and pantograph cars--built by La Brugeoise in Belgium--had low doors at the ends (for boarding from the street) and high doors in the middle (for boarding from a tunnel platform). Subte Line A is arguably one of the continent's first light metros. The vintage carriages (without the end doors) remained in operation until 2013.
Using Line A's surface non-revenue tracks in the Caballito neighborhood, the Asociación Amigos del Tranvía (Friends of the Tramway Association) operates a heritage streetcar service with restored tram and metro cars on weekends and holidays from the Polvorín Workshop. The Tren de la Costa (Coastal Train), a light-rail service running on a right-of-way formerly used from 1891 to 1961, began in 1995. Serving tourists and commuters, it runs from the northern suburbs of Buenos Aires to Tigre along the Paraná River for about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi). The PreMetro E2 operates as a feeder at the end of Metro Line E in the western suburbs. In central Buenos Aires, the Tranvía del Este (or Puerto Madero Tramway) was an experimental tramway which operated on a 2-kilometre (1.2 mi) route in the Puerto Madero District from 2007 to 2012 with a single-car Alstom Citadis tram--two cars during the first year--on loan from Madrid. Planned extensions did not come to fruition, and low ridership led to a decision to discontinue service. The 12.6-kilometre (7.8 mi) Metrotranvía Mendoza (Mendoza Light Rail) opened for regular service in the city of Mendoza in October 2012, operating on relaid tracks on a former Ferrocarril General San Martín mainline right-of-way with LRVs (light-rail vehicles) acquired from San Diego, California.
Brazil
Brazil has the largest light-rail network in Latin America, with new systems under construction. Rio de Janeiro has the largest system, with three lines, 42 stations and 30 kilometres (19 mi) of rail lines. Santos, Maceio, Fortaleza, Recife, Cariri, Sobral and Cuiaba also have light rail. The city of Santos has a 12-kilometre (7.5 mi) line with 15 stations. Fortaleza has a 20-kilometre (12 mi), 10-station line. Recife has two lines with nine stations each and 32 kilometres (20 mi) of track. Sobral has a 12-station, 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) line. The nine-station, 14-kilometre (8.7 mi) Cariri Light Rail connects the twin cities of Crato and Juazeiro do Norte. Maceió has a 15-station, 35-kilometre (22 mi) line. Cuiabá, with two lines, 23 kilometres (14 mi) of track and 33 stations, is in the final stages of implementing its light-rail system.
Asia
Although tram systems were well-established in Asia at the start of the 20th century, they began a steady decline during the mid to late 1930s. The 1960s marked the end of the continent's dominance in public transportation, with most major systems closed and their equipment and rail sold for scrap; however, extensive original lines remain in service in Hong Kong and Japan. There is rekindled interest in trams, with modern systems being built in South Korea, Japan and the Philippines. Kolkata has Asia's oldest operating electric tram system: 36 routes, operating since 1902.
The first Japanese tram line began in 1895 as the Kyoto Electric Railroad. The tram reached its zenith in 1932, when 82 rail companies operated 1,479 kilometres (919 mi) of track in 65 cities. Its popularity declined during the rest of the decade, a trend accelerated by the Pacific War, the occupation of Japan and the rebuilding years. Although many of the remaining tramways were shut down and dismantled in favor of auto, bus, and rapid rail service during the 1960s, the system remained extensive compared to that of the United States.
Australasia
In Australasia, trams are used extensively only in Melbourne; all other major cities largely dismantled their networks by the 1970s. Adelaide retained one line (which has been extended), and work on a new line is in progress. Sydney reintroduced tram service in 1997 on one new line (which has been extended), with a second line scheduled to open in 2019. Ballarat, Bendigo, Christchurch and Auckland have reintroduced trams as heritage operations. The Gold Coast opened the G:link, a new light-rail line, in 2014; it was extended in 2017. The G:link is the first tram-light rail line to operate in Queensland since the closure of the Brisbane tram network in 1969. In 2017, Canberra was building its first light-rail line.
A distinctive feature of many classic Australasian trams was their early use of a lowered central section between bogies (wheel sets), intended to make passenger access easier by reducing the number of steps required to reach the inside of the vehicle. Cars with this feature were known as "drop-centres".
Africa
Egypt
Although Cairo and Alexandria have historic systems which still exist, the once-extensive Cairo urban system is nearly defunct. The express tram line to and within Masr el-Djedida (Heliopolis) is still in operation. It is an example of a surviving interurban electric railway, the ancestor of light rail. A small 1970s system in the city of Helwan, 25 kilometres (16 mi) south, is still operational. Some of Cairo's cars are former Toronto Transit Commission PCC streetcars.
Alexandria's urban system and express routes to its eastern suburbs are still in operation. The urban system operates yellow cars (including some acquired from Copenhagen), primarily on street track. The express system (Ramleh routes) operates three-car blue trains, including some double-deck cars, on largely reserved track. There are also some dual-system routes.
Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, construction by China Railway Group Limited was ongoing on Addis Ababa Light Rail in 2013. The Ethiopian Railway Corporation began construction of the 34.25-kilometre (21.3 mi) double-track electrified light rail project in December 2011, funded by the Export-Import Bank of China. Initially, the system would have two lines. The project was expected to take three years to complete, and trial operations began in early 2015.
Tunisia
Tunis had traditional trams until about 1960. A new light-rail line began operation in 1985, and has been followed by other systems.
South Africa
Public transport in South Africa began in Cape Town in May 1801, when a weekly coach service to Simon's Town was announced. The Cape's first horse-drawn omnibus was introduced, based on George Shilbeer's model. The Cape Town and Green Point Tramway Company was formed in September 1862, and began operations on April 1, 1863.
Single- and double-deck horse-drawn trams were used. Cape Town's electric tram system initially had ten cars which were built in Philadelphia. Lady Sivewright, the wife of James Sivewright, opened the new system on August 6, 1896. At the time of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897, Cape Town and its suburbs had 32 electric trams running on about 23 miles (37 km) of track. The new power station was inadequate, and had to be expanded. Tram service also existed in Pretoria, Durban and Johannesburg (where the Rand Tram, the suburban railway to Boksburg, opened in 1890), but were replaced by petrol, diesel and trolleybus systems by the early 1960s.
World's largest tram systems
See also
- List of tram and light rail transit systems (existing, regular public-transit systems)
- List of town tramway systems (includes closed systems)
Notes
References
External links
- A world of trams and urban transit (from Light Rail Transit Association (LRTA))
- UrbanRail.Net (website devoted to world metro and tram system from Robert Schwandl)
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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