tram recommendations

[Drsatan]

The Kusttram (Coastal Tram) along the Belgian coastline uses trams from the early 1980s, now augmented with an intermediate low-floor car.

 

[fowler9]

San Francisco also has some ex-Milan trams. Even further afield, Melbourne has a massive tram network and still runs some very old trams on the city circle route (I think the surviving ones were built in the 50s but very similar to a design from the 20s)

Yeah, the tram Network in Melbourne is massive. I was lucky enough to use it a few years back. The city circle route was lots of fun and free if I remember correctly.

 

[317666]

The Kusttram (Coastal Tram) along the Belgian coastline uses trams from the early 1980s, now augmented with an intermediate low-floor car.

Also in Belgium, Antwerp has a lot of old PCC cars still running (although their replacement is imminent with the arrival of new Flexity2 trams).

 

[stuartmoss]

Riga and Kraków are two places that come to mind.

 

[Gordon]

Also in Belgium, Antwerp has a lot of old PCC cars still running (although their replacement is imminent with the arrival of new Flexity2 trams).

Antwerp PCCs are a lot more 'rateable' than the modernised Coastal tram sets, being a much older design (and a basic 'old fashioned' 4-axle bogie type) and some of the last examples of one of most significant tram designs of all time.



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[317666]

Antwerp PCCs are a lot more 'rateable' than the modernised Coastal tram sets, being a much older design (and a basic 'old fashioned' 4-axle bogie type) and some of the last examples of one of most significant tram designs of all time.

Indeed, the PCCs are a classic design - despite having new traction equipment and some having a modernised interior, the Antwerp PCCs do still have a lot of character.

 

[HA25322]

Bratislava also?

 

[jamesontheroad]

Pyongyang in North Korea has a variety of ex-European stock. Prague's transit authority sold a fleet of trams to the city in 2008; there is a mix of Czech and domestically produced or converted trolleybuses; and the metro currently runs a mix of old (pre-unification) East and West German subway cars. Wikipedia reminded me that the original fleet was claimed to have been built in the DPRK, but in fact was built in China and subsequently returned there to work on the Beijing metro.

If you want to go, Koryo Tours are the longest established and most well regarded UK travel agency specialising in tours to North Korea. They even arrange tram, trolleybus and metro rides (video).

(PS I know it's not in Europe, but an unparalleled destination!)

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

A few photo's from my trip to Lisbon in June showing the Historic Tourist Tram (very expensive), and Trams on Routes 25 and 28 plus their modern equivalent on Route 15. Day ticket for the yellow Carris Trams is €6.00.

Similar trams run in Porto. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trams_in_Porto
It's a spectacular, hilly city.

 

[leytongabriel]

Yes Porto has a number of tourist-orientated routes run by musuem trams including a great one along the Ouru estuary towards the sea.
Trondhiem had a nice service of 70's trams on a single line into the hills when I was last there.

 

[ivanhoe]

Routes 12 and 25 also use vintage single car Trams and travel over equally hilly routes, and are not so rammed during the day.

Curves would be too tight for their modern equivalent's.

A few photo's from my trip to Lisbon in June showing the Historic Tourist Tram (very expensive), and Trams on Routes 25 and 28 plus their modern equivalent on Route 15. Day ticket for the yellow Carris Trams is €6.00.

Forgot about Milan. A couple of snaps from two years ago added.

Just returned from Lisbon. Tram 28: absolutely rammed most of the time. Also, be aware that not all 28's start and finish at the same terminals. Some will cover say 75% of the route so as to allow more customers to join en route.The 15 is a modern tram and covers a number of tourist places but as stated do tend to avoid the parts of the city which are too hilly. The Carris Card great value at 6 euro. You will be charged 50 cents for a card, but the card is re-usable for other days. Just needs validating . Good for the ferry as well if crossing the river. The old trams look superb but are damn uncomfortable if no seat is available. The buses are very good and it is worth going one way by tram and return by bus, or vice versa. Lovely city for transport enthusiasts.

 

[Blamethrower]

Has to be Duesseldorf.

1+1 seating, running even at -20 and lots of snow, retracting steps for differing platform heights and, the best bit, you can sit behind the driver and watch it all unfold as you head into the u-bahn from Krefeld.

I haven't lived there for a good few years so they may have been replaced by now. Last I heard they were burying tram lines under the streets to become u-bahns.

Continuously invest in light rail transport and see what you get

 

[duesselmartin]

Iam not so knowledgeable about trams or light rail so could you explain which of the two types shown are former Amsterdam vehicles, thanks .

Where is the defined difference between Light Rail trains and trams?

 

[edwin_m]

Where is the defined difference between Light Rail trains and trams?

There is no hard and fast definition, but typically tram refers to a mainly street running system and light rail is usually faster with more off-street and sometimes elevated/underground sections.

 

[Stonesourscotty]

Melbourne has a good range of old trams but some are being replaced by E class at the moment. They also have tram restaurants and a tram bar although static? if memory serves me right

 

[suzanneparis]

Moscow has the most wonderful collection of trams of various ages.

They also have a large number of trolley buses.

I love Moscow trams and whenever I am there I make sure I have a few journeys on them.

Also, the monorail is interesting - though it seems to be under threat of closure sadly.

Flights to Moscow are not too expensive. And at the moment the rouble is not too strong so hotels are not as expensive as they used to be.

I can remember seeing brightly coloured trams in Moscow against bright blue skies.

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

Melbourne has a good range of old trams but some are being replaced by E class at the moment. They also have tram restaurants and a tram bar although static? if memory serves me right

The vast majority of Melbourne's fleet is made up of trams from 1975 to 1994. The Z1,Z2,Z3,A1,B1,A2,B2 trams.
The E class are more or less enabling the retirement the remaining older Z1 and Z2 class trams. Only about 15 or so left and they're not going to last long. The next bit of the E class roll out has started with them starting to run on the 11.
The Z3s will be around for a little while longer. They're getting a bit of a minor refurb to keep them moving.


The restaurant tram is run by the Colonial tramcar restaurant using W class trams. As for the tram bar. I assume you're referring to the one that was outside the Arts centre. That's been removed.

 

[northwichcat]

Lisbon still does on the 28 and well worth the journey over the full, hilly length, especially if you can watch the driver.

Those trams even pre-date World War II.

 

[Gordon]

Those trams even pre-date World War II.

Technically, the 4 wheeler trams in use today are almost new build, using bodies recuperated from various batches of the original Lisbon 4 wheelers with newly manufactured 'bus-type' doors, trucks and electrical equipment - so debatable how much they pre-date WWII.

They run on the surviving traditional routes 12, 18, 25 and 28. Route 18 is the least touristic route so likely to be the least crowded with tourists.


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[Gavioliuk]

Basel has trams from the 1970s, some aticulated rebuilt with low entry centre working alongside new trams.
Some services have two trailers, and it always fascinates me to see articulated trams with a trailer.
Intensive metre gauge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGQ4L8yBM3Y