As I’m sure many of you already know, this is a rare example of an interurban or rural tramway still in existence.
I travelled on it a few days ago, and it is well worth a visit if you like examples of this sort of tramway, and to ride ex-German trams from the 1960s/1970s. The track condition is terrible though, so you’re in for a bumpy and slow ride. There are sections where the tram has to almost come to a stop to get over an especially bad piece of track. You need to work out the timetable though, as this line, largely covered by the 11 and 12, is infrequent.
There is a tram museum in Ghioroc, though I did not visit as just got the tram back to Arad. Plus I guess it may only open at weekends.
Considering many such rural trams in Europe were dismantled half a century ago, I’m curious to how this one has survived. My observations:
- Despite the slow journey time, trams were relatively busy compared to what I was expecting, with a variety of age groups using it during the middle of the day
- the road network parallel to it is very well maintained, and vehicles just fly past the slow tram - if people can afford a car here, I doubt they’d even consider using the tram. I wonder if the authorities have considered replacing it with a bus service, which would probably be much quicker! The tram track relics passing alongside the impressive new road infrastructure is quite a contrast.
- as mentioned, the track is in terrible condition. It would surely need a complete rebuild if it is to survive into the future - it seems only older stock can work the line, many of which are 60 years of age - presumably the new low floor stock cannot work this line (never seen a picture of one working this line)
- Conversely, at many of the stops in the villages, brand new shelters are installed with digital displays. Whoever funded those must see a future for the line (though they could easily just be used as bus shelters in the future!
- I believe the villages are not part of the Arad municipal area, so I presume different authorities must have to fund it. As we know in the UK, this can be complicated (e.g cross border bus services in London).
Does anyone have an info about how this has managed to survive? And if it has a future?
I travelled on it a few days ago, and it is well worth a visit if you like examples of this sort of tramway, and to ride ex-German trams from the 1960s/1970s. The track condition is terrible though, so you’re in for a bumpy and slow ride. There are sections where the tram has to almost come to a stop to get over an especially bad piece of track. You need to work out the timetable though, as this line, largely covered by the 11 and 12, is infrequent.
There is a tram museum in Ghioroc, though I did not visit as just got the tram back to Arad. Plus I guess it may only open at weekends.
Considering many such rural trams in Europe were dismantled half a century ago, I’m curious to how this one has survived. My observations:
- Despite the slow journey time, trams were relatively busy compared to what I was expecting, with a variety of age groups using it during the middle of the day
- the road network parallel to it is very well maintained, and vehicles just fly past the slow tram - if people can afford a car here, I doubt they’d even consider using the tram. I wonder if the authorities have considered replacing it with a bus service, which would probably be much quicker! The tram track relics passing alongside the impressive new road infrastructure is quite a contrast.
- as mentioned, the track is in terrible condition. It would surely need a complete rebuild if it is to survive into the future - it seems only older stock can work the line, many of which are 60 years of age - presumably the new low floor stock cannot work this line (never seen a picture of one working this line)
- Conversely, at many of the stops in the villages, brand new shelters are installed with digital displays. Whoever funded those must see a future for the line (though they could easily just be used as bus shelters in the future!
- I believe the villages are not part of the Arad municipal area, so I presume different authorities must have to fund it. As we know in the UK, this can be complicated (e.g cross border bus services in London).
Does anyone have an info about how this has managed to survive? And if it has a future?
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