The tramways pf Poznań are a tram

Tram

A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...

 system operated by Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacyjne w Poznaniu Sp. z o.o. (Public Transport Company in Poznań Ltd.). It currently has 20 daytime lines, one night line, and one tourist line served by historical vehicles. The tram system consists of about 66 km of standard gauge

Standard gauge

The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...

 (1435 mm) track. With a few exceptions routes consist of two tracks.

In local Poznań dialect trams are called bimby (pl.), bimba (sing).

Horse trams (1880-1898)

The idea of trams in Poznań

Poznan

Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...

 was brought to fruition by two businessmen from Berlin

Berlin

Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...

: Otto Reymer and Otto Masch. After receiving concessions from the town authorities on 30 July 1880 they began running a horse tram in Poznań. On the next day the first regular line transported passengers from the main train station via ul. Św. Marcin/St. Martin Str., ul. Rycerska/Ritter Str. (today ul. Ratajczaka), Pl. Wilhelmowski/Wilhelms Platz (currently Plac Wolności) to Rynek/Ring (currently Stary Rynek Old Market). The route was soon lengthened from Rynek/Ring to ul. Butelska/Büttel Str. (now ul. Woźna), ul. Wielkie Garbary/Grosse Gerber Str. (currently ul. Garbary), Chwaliszewo to Ostrów Tumski. At the same time a branch was built via ul. Wiktorii/Victoria Str. (modern ul. Gwarna and ul. Mielżyńskiego), Plac Królewski/Königs Platz (currently Pl. Cyryla Ratajskiego), ul. Fryderykowska/Friedrich Str. (modern ul. 23 Lutego), Al. Wilhelmowskie/Wilhelms Al. (currently Al. Marcinkowskiego), ul. Seekta/Seekt Str. (modern ul. Solna) and Wolnica, ul. Małe Garbary/Kleine Gerber Str., ul. Szewska, ul. Szeroka/Breite Str. (currently ul. Wielka) to ul. Wielkie Garbary/Grosse Gerber Str. (modern ul. Garbary) where it joined the older route.

Despite the need for modern public transport in the city, after a few weeks the company found itself on the edge of bankruptcy. There were two reasons for this: firstly the branch route had too few passengers, and secondly all the signs in the trams were only in German, leading to a boycott by the Polish majority. The financially troubled company was bought by the Poznań Horse Railway Society , which obtained a concession and monopoly on tram transportation in the city. At that time there were only 20 cars in service.

In September 1880 the Society bought part of the site of the former train station in Jeżyce

Poznan-Jezyce

Jeżyce is a part of the city of Poznań in western Poland. It was one of the five governmental districts into which the city was divided prior to 1990, and which are retained for certain administrative purposes...

/Jersitz suburb, where a tram depot was built (currently it is the oldest tram depot still in service in Poland). In 1896 two new routes were built. The first ran from Rynek/Ring (now Stary Rynek), via ul. Wrocławska/Breslauer Str., Pl. Piotra/Peters Platz (now Pl. Wiosny Ludów), ul. Półwiejska to Brama Wildecka

Poznan-Wilda

Wilda is a southern part of the city of Poznań in western Poland. It was the smallest of the five governmental districts into which the city was divided prior to 1990, and which are retained for certain administrative purposes...

/Wilda Thor. The second went from the tram depot on ul. Gajowa, through ul. Zwierzyniecka/Zoologisher Str., ul. Jadwigi/Hedwigs Str. (modern ul. Kraszewskiego) to Rynek Jeżycki/Jersitz Markt, after one year extended via ul. Wielka Berlińska/Grosse Berliner Str. (modern ul. Dąbrowskiego) to the chemical factory on ul. Polna/Feld Str. Both routes were already built to carry heavier electric cars.

Electric trams

On 6 March 1898 horse trams were replaced by electric ones. At this time there were three lines:

• white - like the old horse tram from the train station via Rynek/Ring to Ostrów Tumski
• red - from Rynek Jeżycki/Jersitz Markt via ul. Jadwigi/Hedwigs Str., ul. Zwierzyniecka/Zoologischer Str., ul. Św. Marcin/St. Martin Str. and along the old horse tram route to Rynek/Ring and Brama Wildecka/Wilda Thor
• yellow - from the train station like the white line but only as far as the intersection of ul. Szeroka/Breite Str. and ul. Wielkie Garbary/Grosse Gerber Str.

In April a fourth line was added:

• green - from Rynek/Ring via ul. Św. Marcin/St. Martin Str. and the new route on ul. Głogowska/Gloger Str. to Górczyn
  Poznan-Grunwald
  Grunwald is a part of the city of Poznań in western Poland. It was one of the five governmental districts into which the city was divided prior to 1990, and which are retained for certain administrative purposes .The name "Grunwald" comes from the name of the street ulica Grunwaldzka, which had...
  
   suburb (today's intersection of ul. Głogowska and ul. Kosynierska).

A ticket cost 10 or 20 pfennig

Pfennig

The Pfennig , plural Pfennige, is an old German coin or note, which existed from the 9th century until the introduction of the euro in 2002....

s and after 11 pm the price was doubled.

In 1899 a second track was added to the routes on Rynek/Ring and ul. Wielka Berlińska/Grosse Berliner Str. (modern ul. Dąbrowskiego).

Before World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 the tram network was extended to the Municipal Slaughterhouse on ul. Wielkie Garbary/Grosse Gerber Str., to Plac Sapieżyński/Sapeicha Platz (today Plac Wielkopolski), to Brama Dębińska/Eichwald Thor (currently the intersection of ul. Strzelecka and Krakowska), to Śródka

Śródka, Poznań

Śródka is a historic neighbourhood of the city of Poznań in western Poland. It lies on the right bank of the Warta river, opposite the island of Ostrów Tumski where the city's cathedral is situated...

, Sołacz and Dębiec

Poznan-Wilda

Wilda is a southern part of the city of Poznań in western Poland. It was the smallest of the five governmental districts into which the city was divided prior to 1990, and which are retained for certain administrative purposes...

 (to the Cegielski Factory

H. Cegielski - Poznan S.A.

H. Cegielski - Poznań S.A. is a well-known Polish manufacturing company from the city of Poznań. The company is locally known as Ceglorz, and since 1923 has also used the HCP symbol.-History:...

). New routes were also built in the centre of the city, including overpasses over the railway tracks: Most Teatralny and Most Dworcowy.

Between the wars new routes were built to Golęcin, Dębiec (extension of existing tracks), Dębina

Poznan-Wilda

Wilda is a southern part of the city of Poznań in western Poland. It was the smallest of the five governmental districts into which the city was divided prior to 1990, and which are retained for certain administrative purposes...

 (to the public beach on the bank of the Warta), Ogrody, Grunwald

Poznan-Grunwald

Grunwald is a part of the city of Poznań in western Poland. It was one of the five governmental districts into which the city was divided prior to 1990, and which are retained for certain administrative purposes .The name "Grunwald" comes from the name of the street ulica Grunwaldzka, which had...

 and Winiary. In this same period some routes in the narrow streets of the Old Town

Poznan-Stare Miasto

Stare Miasto is a part of the city of Poznań in western Poland. It was one of the five governmental districts into which the city was divided prior to 1990, and which are retained for certain administrative purposes. For details, see Administrative division of Poznań.The Polish name Stare Miasto...

 were closed. A planned route to Główna was cancelled due to the opening in 1930 of a trolleybus

Trolleybus

A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...

 line there.

After WW II

During the battle of Poznań

Battle of Poznan (1945)

The Battle of Poznań during World War II in 1945 was a massive assault by the Soviet Union's Red Army that had as its objective the elimination of the Nazi German garrison in the stronghold city of Poznań in occupied Poland...

 in 1945, most of the cars and tracks were destroyed. Tram transportation was partially restored two years after the war, in 1947, though only on the left bank of the Warta. The tracks in the old town were not rebuilt, but a new route was laid via Plac Bernardyński.

The first post-war tram on the right bank appeared in 1952, when the new Marchlewski Bridge was opened (now called Most Królowej Jadwigi).

In the following years new routes connecting different districts and bypassing the centre of city were built:

• 1955-1957 via ul. Marchlewskiego (now ul. Królowej Jadwigi)
• 1968-1973 via ul. Przybyszewskiego, ul. Reymonta and ul. Hetmańska
• 1974-1977 from Plac Wielkopolski via ul. Małe Garbary, ul. Estkowskiego to Rondo Śródka.
• 1983-1985 from os. Lecha via ul. Jedności Słowiańskiej (today Chartowo and Żegrze
  Zegrze
  Zegrze is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Serock, within Legionowo County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It lies approximately south-west of Serock, north-east of Legionowo, and north of Warsaw....
  
  ) to ul. Hetmańska

Also some lines to peripheral districts were built:

• 1949-1950 to the communal cemetery in Junikowo
• 1957-1964 via ul. Pułaskiego and ul. Winogrady to ul. Wilczak (a branch to ul. Serbska was added in 1974)
• 1955 from Rataje
  Rataje, Poznań
  Rataje is a large residential area in the eastern part of the city of Poznań in western Poland. It contains a number of housing estates, consisting mainly of prefabricated concrete panel blocks, housing a total of approximately 90,000 people .The former village of Rataje was situated close to the...
  
   to the Stomil Factory in Starołęka, in 1967 extended to 'Poznań Starołęka' train station
• 1959 to Zawady
  Zawady (Poznań)
  Zawady is a district of the city of Poznan in Poland, located in the northern part of Nowe Miasto. "Zawady" is also the name of the main street of the area....
  
   via Śródka
  Śródka, Poznań
  Śródka is a historic neighbourhood of the city of Poznań in western Poland. It lies on the right bank of the Warta river, opposite the island of Ostrów Tumski where the city's cathedral is situated...
  
   with a branch to os. Warszawskie, extended in 1974 to Miłostowo
• 1979 to Chartowo and Osiedle Lecha
• 1980 to Winiary and ul. Piątkowska

A revolution for public transport in Poznań was brought about by the opening in 1997 of the 6.1 km long Poznański Szybki Tramwaj (Poznań Fast Tram) route, nicknamed "Pestka" by locals. Currently there are several plans for extension of the network, at different stages of preparation. Of great importance for tram transportation in Poznań was the general strategy for city development from 1994. According to this document trams are to serve as the fundamental mode of transport in the city. Since then, during renovations of streets and traffic lights, trams have been given right of way at intersections.

The newest route was opened on 14 August 2007. It is the first section of the so-called Ratajski Szybki Tramwaj (Rataje Fast Tram). The new route connects Plac Wiosny Ludów via ul. Podgórna, ul. Dowbora Muśnickiego, ul. Mostowa, Most św. Rocha and ul. Kórnicka to ul. Jana Pawła II.

Cars

In regular service:

• Konstal 105Na
  Konstal 105Na
  The Konstal 105Na are a class of Polish trams manufactured from 1979 to 1992 in workshops Konstal Chorzow, Poland. The narrow-gauge version is designed as 805Na...
  
   (including Konstal 105NaD)

• Beijnes 3G (Beynes 3G)
• Düwag GT6 (type M)
• Düwag GT8 (type N)
• Tatra RT6N1
• Siemens Combino
• Solaris Tramino

Bi-directional cars, useful during track work, when loops are not available:

• Konstal 105NaDK
• Düwag GT8ZR (type O)

Historical cars:

• horse car Herbrand B3/H0 build in 1880 (several times rebuilt)
• Konstal N upgraded to Konstal 4NJ (with similarly upgraded Konstal ND attachment)
• Konstal 102N
• Konstal 102Na
• Konstal 13N
• Konstal 105N
  Konstal 105N
  Konstal 105N is a family of electric trams designed by Konstal, a Polish company based in Chorzów, produced between 1973 and 2001.-Konstal 105N:105N is a single module, unidirectional engine car with four doors on the right side....
  
  

Cars awaiting renovation:

• Konstal N
• Konstal 105N/2

Tram lines

Route no.	Route
Daytime routes
1	JUNIKOWO - Grunwaldzka - Rondo Nowaka-Jeziorańskiego - Reymonta - Hetmańska - Rondo Starołęka - Hetmańska - Rondo Żegrze - Żegrze - Chartowo - Piaśnicka - Trasa Kórnicka - Jana Pawła II - Rondo Śródka - Podwale - ZAWADY
2	OGRODY - Dąbrowskiego - Kraszewskiego - Zwierzyniecka - Rondo Kaponiera - Św. Marcin - Al. Marcinkowskiego - Podgórna - Pl. Wiosny Ludów - Strzelecka - Królowej Jadwigi - Górna Wilda - 28 Czerwca 1956 - DĘBIEC In the other direction: ... - Al. Marcinkowskiego - Pl. Wolności - 27 Grudnia - Gwarna - Św. Marcin - ...
3	WILCZAK - Przełajowa - Winogrady - Pułaskiego - Roosevelta - Most Teatralny - Fredry - Gwarna - św. Marcin - Al. Marcinkowskiego - Podgórna - Pl. Wiosny Ludów - Strzelecka - Królowej Jadwigi - Bolesława Krzywoustego - Rondo Rataje - Zamenhofa - Rondo Starołęka - Starołęcka - STAROŁĘKA Route operates only at weekdays between 6:30 am and 7:30 pm every 20 minutes. In the other direction: ... - Al. Marcinkowskiego - Pl. Wolności - 27 Grudnia - Fredry - ...
4	POŁABSKA - Al. Solidarności - Rondo Solidarności - Murawa - Winogrady - Pułaskiego - Roosevelta - Most Teatralny - Fredry - Gwarna - św. Marcin - Al. Marcinkowskiego - Podgórna - Pl. Wiosny Ludów - Strzelecka - Królowej Jadwigi - Bolesława Krzywoustego - Rondo Rataje - Zamenhofa - Rondo Starołęka - Starołęcka - STAROŁĘKA Route operates every day. On weekdays between 6:30 am and 7:30 pm every 20 minutes
5	GÓRCZYN - Głogowska - Roosevelta - Rondo Kaponiera - Św. Marcin - Al. Marcinkowskiego - Podgórna - plac Bernardyński - Dowbora-Muśnickiego - Mostowa - Most św. Rocha - Kórnicka - Trasa Kórnicka - Piaśnicka - Chartowo - Żegrze - Rondo Żegrze - Hetmańska - Rondo Starołęka - Starołęcka - STOMIL In the other direction: ... - Al. Marcinkowskiego - Pl. Wolności - 27 Grudnia - Gwarna - Św. Marcin - ...
6	BUDZISZYŃSKA - Grunwaldzka - Rondo Nowaka-Jeziorańskiego - Grunwaldzka - Bałtyk - Roosevelta - Most Dworcowy - Królowej Jadwigi - Bolesława Krzywoustego - Rondo Rataje - Jana Pawła II - Rondo Śródka - Warszawska - MIŁOSTOWO
7	OGRODY - Dąbrowskiego - Przybyszewskiego - Rondo Nowaka-Jeziorańskiego - Reymonta - Hetmańska - Rondo Starołęka - Zamenhofa - Rondo Rataje - Jana Pawła II - Rondo Śródka - Podwale - ZAWADY
8	GÓRCZYN - Głogowska - Roosevelta - Rondo Kaponiera - Roosevelta - Most Teatralny - Fredry - Mielżyńskiego - Pl. C. Ratajskiego - 23 Lutego - Pl. Wielkopolski - Wolnica - Małe Garbary - Estkowskiego - Wyszyńskiego - Rondo Śródka - Warszawska - MIŁOSTOWO
9	PIĄTKOWSKA - Winiarska - Wołyńska - Małopolska - Al. Wielkopolska - Pułaskiego - Most Teatralny - Fredry - Gwarna - Św. Marcin - Al. Marcinkowskiego - Podgórna - Pl. Wiosny Ludów - Strzelecka - Królowej Jadwigi - Górna Wilda - 28 Czerwca 1956 - DĘBIEC In the other direction: ... - Al. Marcinkowskiego - Pl. Wolności - 27 Grudnia - Fredry - Most Teatralny - ...
10	POŁABSKA - Al. Solidarności - Rondo Solidarności - Murawa - Winogrady - Pułaskiego - Roosevelta - Rondo Kaponiera - Roosevelta - Most Dworcowy - Wierzbięcice - 28 Czerwca 1956 r. - DĘBIEC
11	PIĄTKOWSKA - Winiarska - Wołyńska - Małopolska - Al. Wielkopolska - Pułaskiego - Roosevelta - Rondo Kaponiera - Roosevelta - Most Dworcowy - Królowej Jadwigi - Bolesława Krzywoustego - Rondo Rataje - Trasa Kórnicka - Piaśnicka - OS. LECHA
12	OS. JANA III SOBIESKIEGO - PST - Roosevelta - Rondo Kaponiera - Roosevelta - Most Dworcowy - Królowej Jadwigi - Bolesława Krzywoustego - Rondo Rataje - Zamenhofa - Rondo Starołęka - Starołęcka - STAROŁĘKA
13	JUNIKOWO - Grunwaldzka - Rondo Nowaka-Jeziorańskiego - Grunwaldzka - Bałtyk - Roosevelta - Rondo Kaponiera - Św. Marcin - Al. Marcinkowskiego - Podgórna - plac Bernardyński - Dowbora-Muśnickiego - Mostowa - Most św. Rocha - Kórnicka - Jana Pawła II - Rondo Rataje - Zamenhofa - Rondo Starołęka - Starołęcka - STAROŁĘKA In the other direction: ... - Al. Marcinkowskiego - Pl. Wolności - 27 Grudnia - Fredry - Most Teatralny - Roosevelta - Rondo Kaponiera - ...
14	OS. JANA III SOBIESKIEGO - PST - Roosevelta - Rondo Kaponiera - Roosevelta - Głogowska - GÓRCZYN
15	OS. JANA III SOBIESKIEGO - PST - Roosevelta - Rondo Kaponiera - Roosevelta - Bałtyk - Grunwaldzka - Rondo Nowaka-Jeziorańskiego - Grunwaldzka - BUDZISZYŃSKA At Weekends and holidays between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm extended to JUNIKOWO
16	OS. JANA III SOBIESKIEGO - PST - Most Teatralny - Fredry - Gwarna - Św. Marcin - Al. Marcinkowskiego - Podgórna - plac Bernardyński - Dowbora-Muśnickiego - Mostowa - Most św. Rocha - Kórnicka - Trasa Kórnicka – OS. LECHA In the other direction: ... - Al. Marcinkowskiego - Pl. Wolności - 27 Grudnia - Fredry - ...
17	OGRODY - Dąbrowskiego - Most Teatralny - Fredry - - Mielżyńskiego - Pl. C. Ratajskiego - 23 Lutego - Pl. Wielkopolski - Wolnica - Małe Garbary - Estkowskiego - Wyszyńskiego - Rondo Śródka - Jana Pawła II - Kórnicka - Piaśnicka - Chartowo - Żegrze - Rondo Żegrze - Hetmańska - Rondo Starołęka - Starołęcka - STAROŁĘKA
18	OGRODY - Dąbrowskiego - Roosevelta - Rondo Kaponiera - Roosevelta - Głogowska - Hetmańska - Rondo Starołęka - Starołęcka - STAROŁĘKA Suspended in July and August.
26	OS. JANA III SOBIESKIEGO - PST - Most Teatralny - Fredry - GWARNA – Święty Marcin – Rondo Kaponiera – Roosevelta – PST – OS. JANA III SOBIESKIEGO Only at weekdays between 6:30 and 8:30. Suspended in July and August.
Night route
N21	OS. JANA III SOBIESKIEGO - PST - Roosevelta - Rondo Kaponiera - Św. Marcin - AL. MARCINKOWSKIEGO - 27 Grudnia - Gwarna - Św. Marcin - Rondo Kaponiera - Roosevelta - PST - OS. JANA III SOBIESKIEGO Line N21 does not run on Monday night/Tuesday morning. Due to works on Św. Marcin, since 21 Jun 2008: ... - Roosevelta - RONDO KAPONIERA - Zwierzyniecka - Kraszewskiego - Dąbrowskiego - Roosevelta - ...
Tourist route
0	GAJOWA - Zwierzyniecka - Rondo Kaponiera - Roosevelta - Głogowska - GŁOGOWSKA/MUZEUM - Głogowska - Rondo Kaponiera - Św. Marcin - Al. Marcinkowskiego - Pl. Wolności - 27 Grudnia - Fredry - Most Teatralny - Roosevelta - Rondo Kaponiera - Zwierzyniecka - GAJOWA Operates every Sunday between 29 April and 14 October.
Irregular route
19 20 21 22 23 24 25	During some events, for special occasions and other causes, sometimes cars are marked with numbers of former route numbers. Despite this these are not official route numbers.
Additional routes
D	On some occasions regular routes are supported by additional cars.
Shuttle routes
W1 W2 etc.	During renovations of tracks, mainly intersections, two-way cars operate on shuttle routes on one track between the place of works and the nearest point of regular traffic.

Plans for further extension

Cureently in Poznań there are several plans to extend the tram network; some of them are only conceptions, others are under construction:

• extension of route form os. Lecha alongside ul. Piaśnicka to the M1 Franowo retail park, with a depot at the end, the so-called Ratajski Szybki Tramwaj
• extension of route from Ogrody along ul. Dąbrowskiego to al. Polska with new tram/bus station at the end of the route
• extension of Poznański Szybki Tramwaj under Most Teatralny to Poznań Główny train station and connection with the rest of the tram network in the area of Dworzec Zachodni
• extension of route from Zawady alongside ul. Zawady and ul. Główna to train station Poznań Wschód
• extension of route from Dębiec via ul. 28. Czerwca 1956 r. to os. Dębina
• new route via ul. Ratajczaka, Pl. Cyryla Ratajskiego, ul. Solna and ul. Nowowiejskiego
• new route to os. Kopernika alongside ul. Arciszewskiego and ul. Pogodna and new route on ul. Szpitalna and ul. Grochowska
• new route form Rondo Żegrze to ul. Falista
• new route from ul. Garbary through ul. Szelągowska and ul. Naramowickiej to Naramowice connected with existing line to ul. Wilczak

Sources

• Official site of MPK Poznań
• Maria Trzeciakowska, Lech Trzeciakowski, W dziewiętnastowiecznym Poznaniu. Życie codzienne miasta 1815-1914, Poznań 1982, Wydawnictwo Poznańskie ISBN 83-210-0316-8
• Jerzy Topolski, Lech Trzeciakowski (red) Dzieje Poznania, tom II cz. 1 1793-1918, Warszawa-Poznań 1994, Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe ISBN 83-01-11393-6
• Jerzy Topolski, Lech Trzeciakowski (red) Dzieje Poznania, tom II cz. 2 1918-1945, Warszawa-Poznań 1998, Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe ISBN 83-01-12401-6