Trams are one of the best ways to get around without cars, yet England only has a few tram stations nationwide. Unlike other areas like Lisbon (where nearly everyone travels by tram). With lots of hills, the US city of San Francisco also is known for its trolley cars, pulled by cables embedded in streets. These were invented by an English mining engineer who lived in the US in the late 1800s, born out of tragedy when he witnessed five horses dragged to their deaths when they slipped on wet cobblestones and slid backwards under their heavy load.
Lisbon, Simply Katy Prints
Made of six lines, Lisbon’s tram route is comprised of bright yellow street cars, which weave through the city faster than buses, and take more people too. Unlike buses, trams can often ‘bend’ around corners and today over 60 trams criss-cross the city, ferrying both residents and tourists to where they want to go. Lisbon’s streets are naturally curvy, so this is an ideal mode of transport.
Paradoxically, England (which also has many curved streets) has very few tram systems in its cities. London has a tram system to go along with its other modes of public transport. Like trains, you need to stop before crossing tramlines as the vehicles often require a longer stopping distance than buses (as they go faster) and they are also quieter than cars, so don’t wear headphones nearby.
Nottingham has a 20-mile tram system through the city, as does Sheffield which operates 4 routes throughout the week across South Yorkshire. But the most famed tram route is undoubtedly in Blackpool, where is one of the oldest in the world, dating back to 1885 .Running for 11 miles, it carries millions of residents and holidaymakers each year, and is one of only a few that runs double-decker trams (the other main two being in Hong Kong and Egypt). Manchester also has a thriving tram system. There have been quite a few accidents on Blackpool trams, though likely more with cars.
What critics can’t understand is why our cities have so few tram systems (around 9, whilst with similar populations, France has 26 and Germany has a whopping 57 (most are in the former East Germany and have stops next to bus stops). However a new tram system to connect Leeds and Bradford is in the works, and this is due to begin in 2028. And Blackpool tram has just launched a major extension, showing the other city planners how good public transport is done.
What is mystifying is why it costs far more to build trams in England, than elsewhere. The tram extension in Manchester cost £203 million for just under 1 mile of track. Yet in France, transport planners built a 9-mile tram network for £260 million (almost a tenth of the cost). Why?
