Tramways in Strasbourg
Encyclopedia
The Strasbourg tram system, run by the CTS
, consists of six lines, A, B, C, D, E and F. Lines A and D were opened in 1994, lines B and C were opened in 2000, line E was opened in 2007 and line F was opened in 2010.
, opened in 1878. After 1894, when an electric powered tram system was introduced, a widespread network of tramways was built in the largest city of Alsace
, including also several longer distance lines on both sides of the Rhine. The decline of the tramways system began in the 1930s, and ended with the retirement of the service in 1960. After a long drawn out communal political decision process, the tram was reintroduced in 1994. As part of the redevelopment of the city, a track of a total 33 km distance was built, on which 5 tram line services have been developed.
electrical manufacturing company was the main shareholder. In 1912 the company was transferred to the possession of the city of Strasbourg. When Alsace became part of France in November 1918, the name of the company was translated into French, "Compagnie des tramways strasbourgeois“ (CTS). In this form it still exists today.
Public transport in Strasbourg had begun in 1848 with horse-drawn omnibuses and carriages. The first standard gauge tracks of the Horse/Railway Company were opened on 20 July 1878. These passed through the areas of "Hönheim" and "zur Kehler Brücke". In the inner city, horses were used. In the suburbs, small steam locomotives drew the carriages. By 1885 further lines to the suburbs of Königshofen, Robertsau, Neuhof and Wolfisheim
were opened, and in 1886 the meter gauge was first used in extending the track to Grafenstaden
.
The electric company of AEG
was engaged to install electric traction of that line in December 1894. Though the contract between town and company had included the maintaining of standard gauge, since 1897, the standard gauge tracks were converted to one-meter gauge. New lines were built and run to Kronenburg, Lingolsheim
and Breuschwickersheim
. In addition to the network in town, an overland network was built, mainly worked with steam traction, extending from Strasbourg to the Vosges Mountains
, Colmar
and across the Rhine into Baden
.
After in 1918 Strasbourg had become French, the 1920 all lines east of the Rhine (almost 50% of the overland network or 35 % of the total network) were taken over at first by the shortly founded general German railway company of Deutsche Reichseisenbahnen
, than in 1922 by the reginal Mittelbadische Eisenbahnen (Central Baden
Railways).
In 1930, the network comprised 234 km of track, about 100 km in town and 130 km overland lines, all in France. There were 55 million passengers in 1930 and 71.5 million passengers in 1943. In the 1950s, the tram, already weakened by World War II
, faced competition from other modes of transport such as the bus
, the bicycle
and the private automobile
. The tram system was abandoned in 1960 and replaced by buses; the last tram ran on May 1, 1960. Much of the traffic was absorbed by the private automobile.
Due to increasing traffic and pollution, the City of Strasbourg decided in the 1990s to build a new, modern tram system. Its goal was to pedestrianize and revitalize the city centre. Major roads were closed to automobile traffic, and parking in the downtown was removed and replaced by park-and-ride lots in the suburbs. The first line, line A, opened in 1994. In 2006 new trams were introduced, first on lines A and D and later on the rest of the network.
The six lines are:
Some stations connect to the bus network, run by the CTS
.
Compagnie des Transports Strasbourgeois
CTS is the company responsible for the comprehensive public transport network of the Urban Community of Strasbourg, the urban community of the French city of Strasbourg....
, consists of six lines, A, B, C, D, E and F. Lines A and D were opened in 1994, lines B and C were opened in 2000, line E was opened in 2007 and line F was opened in 2010.
History
The first tram line in Strasbourg, which was originally horse-drawnHorse-drawn vehicle
A horse-drawn vehicle is a mechanized piece of equipment pulled by one horse or by a team of horses. These vehicles typically had two or four wheels and were used to carry passengers and/or a load...
, opened in 1878. After 1894, when an electric powered tram system was introduced, a widespread network of tramways was built in the largest city of Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
, including also several longer distance lines on both sides of the Rhine. The decline of the tramways system began in the 1930s, and ended with the retirement of the service in 1960. After a long drawn out communal political decision process, the tram was reintroduced in 1994. As part of the redevelopment of the city, a track of a total 33 km distance was built, on which 5 tram line services have been developed.
Horse-drawn and electric, 1878 - 1960
On the 5th April 1877 the Strasbourg Horse Railway Company ("Straßburger Pferde-Eisenbahngesellschaft") was founded, and the name changed on 25 April 1888 to the Strasbourg Tramway Company ("Straßburger Straßenbahngesellschaft"). Since May 1897, the AEGAEG
Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft was a German producer of electrical equipment founded in 1883 by Emil Rathenau....
electrical manufacturing company was the main shareholder. In 1912 the company was transferred to the possession of the city of Strasbourg. When Alsace became part of France in November 1918, the name of the company was translated into French, "Compagnie des tramways strasbourgeois“ (CTS). In this form it still exists today.
Public transport in Strasbourg had begun in 1848 with horse-drawn omnibuses and carriages. The first standard gauge tracks of the Horse/Railway Company were opened on 20 July 1878. These passed through the areas of "Hönheim" and "zur Kehler Brücke". In the inner city, horses were used. In the suburbs, small steam locomotives drew the carriages. By 1885 further lines to the suburbs of Königshofen, Robertsau, Neuhof and Wolfisheim
Wolfisheim
Wolfisheim is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.- References :*...
were opened, and in 1886 the meter gauge was first used in extending the track to Grafenstaden
Illkirch-Graffenstaden
-Geography:The larger adjacent communes, like Illkirch-Graffenstaden, are effectively outer suburbs of the Strasbourg conurbation. These include Strasbourg-Meinau, Ostwald and Geispolsheim...
.
The electric company of AEG
AEG
Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft was a German producer of electrical equipment founded in 1883 by Emil Rathenau....
was engaged to install electric traction of that line in December 1894. Though the contract between town and company had included the maintaining of standard gauge, since 1897, the standard gauge tracks were converted to one-meter gauge. New lines were built and run to Kronenburg, Lingolsheim
Lingolsheim
Lingolsheim is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France. The town lies near Strasbourg-Geography:Lingolsheim is situated southwest of Strasbourg, being a principal suburb between the city centre and Strasbourg Airport. Road access to he city is provided by departmental...
and Breuschwickersheim
Breuschwickersheim
Breuschwickersheim is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
. In addition to the network in town, an overland network was built, mainly worked with steam traction, extending from Strasbourg to the Vosges Mountains
Vosges mountains
For the department of France of the same name, see Vosges.The Vosges are a range of low mountains in eastern France, near its border with Germany. They extend along the west side of the Rhine valley in a northnortheast direction, mainly from Belfort to Saverne...
, Colmar
Colmar
Colmar is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.It is the capital of the department. Colmar is also the seat of the highest jurisdiction in Alsace, the appellate court....
and across the Rhine into Baden
Baden
Baden is a historical state on the east bank of the Rhine in the southwest of Germany, now the western part of the Baden-Württemberg of Germany....
.
After in 1918 Strasbourg had become French, the 1920 all lines east of the Rhine (almost 50% of the overland network or 35 % of the total network) were taken over at first by the shortly founded general German railway company of Deutsche Reichseisenbahnen
Deutsche Reichsbahn
Deutsche Reichsbahn was the name of the following two companies:* Deutsche Reichsbahn, the German Imperial Railways during the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich and the immediate aftermath...
, than in 1922 by the reginal Mittelbadische Eisenbahnen (Central Baden
Baden
Baden is a historical state on the east bank of the Rhine in the southwest of Germany, now the western part of the Baden-Württemberg of Germany....
Railways).
In 1930, the network comprised 234 km of track, about 100 km in town and 130 km overland lines, all in France. There were 55 million passengers in 1930 and 71.5 million passengers in 1943. In the 1950s, the tram, already weakened by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, faced competition from other modes of transport such as the bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
, the bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
and the private automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
. The tram system was abandoned in 1960 and replaced by buses; the last tram ran on May 1, 1960. Much of the traffic was absorbed by the private automobile.
Due to increasing traffic and pollution, the City of Strasbourg decided in the 1990s to build a new, modern tram system. Its goal was to pedestrianize and revitalize the city centre. Major roads were closed to automobile traffic, and parking in the downtown was removed and replaced by park-and-ride lots in the suburbs. The first line, line A, opened in 1994. In 2006 new trams were introduced, first on lines A and D and later on the rest of the network.
Current network
As of November 28, 2010, the current network has 6 lines and a total length of 55.8 km.The six lines are:
- Line A: Hautepierre Maillon in the northeast to IllkirchIllkirch-Graffenstaden-Geography:The larger adjacent communes, like Illkirch-Graffenstaden, are effectively outer suburbs of the Strasbourg conurbation. These include Strasbourg-Meinau, Ostwald and Geispolsheim...
Lixenbuhl in the south (12.5 km). - Line B: HoenheimHoenheimHoenheim is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-Heraldry:"D'or aux trois corbeaux de sable posés deux et un"....
Gare in the north to LingolsheimLingolsheimLingolsheim is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France. The town lies near Strasbourg-Geography:Lingolsheim is situated southwest of Strasbourg, being a principal suburb between the city centre and Strasbourg Airport. Road access to he city is provided by departmental...
in the southwest (14.7 km). - Line C: Gare centraleGare de StrasbourgGare de Strasbourg is a rail station in the commune of Strasbourg, in Bas-Rhin, France. It is the eastern terminus of the Paris–Strasbourg railway.- Services :The station is the main station in Strasbourg and one of the main stations in the east of France....
to Neuhof in the south-east - Line D: Rotonde in the northwest to Aristide BriandAristide BriandAristide Briand was a French statesman who served eleven terms as Prime Minister of France during the French Third Republic and received the 1926 Nobel Peace Prize.- Early life :...
in the east. - Line E Robertsau Boecklin in the north and Baggersee in the south.
- Line F Elsau in the south to Place d'Islande in the East.
| A | Hautepierre-Maillon - Dante - Hôpital de Hautepierre - Ducs d'Alsace - Saint-Florent - Rotonde - Gare Centrale (souterrain) - Ancienne Synagogue Les Halles - Homme de Fer - Langstross Grand Rue - Porte de l'Hôpital - Etoile Bourse - Etoile Polygone - Schluthfeld - Krimmeri Stade de la Meinau - Émile Mathis - Hohwart - Baggersee - Colonne - Leclerc - Campus d'Illkirch - Illkirch Lixenbuhl |
| B | Lingolsheim Tiergaertel - Alouettes - Borie - Ostwald Hôtel de Ville - Wihrel - Elmerforst - Martin Schongauer - Elsau - Montagne Verte - Laiterie - Musée d'Art Moderne - Faubourg National - Alt Winmärik (Vieux Marché aux Vins) - Homme de Fer - Place Broglie - République - Parc du Contade - Lycée Kléber - Wacken - Rives de l'Aar - Futura Glacière - Le Marais - Pont Phario - Lycée Marc Bloch - Le Ried - Général de Gaulle - Hoenheim Gare |
| C | Gare Centrale - Faubourg de Saverne - Homme de Fer - Place Broglie - République - Gallia - Universités - Observatoire - Esplanade - Winston Churchill - Landsberg - Jean Jaurès - Lycée Jean Monnet - Gravière - Kibitzenau - Saint Christophe - Rodolphe Reuss |
| D | Rotonde - Gare Centrale (souterrain) - Ancienne Synagogue Les Halles - Homme de Fer - Langstross Grand Rue - Porte de l'Hôpital - Etoile Bourse - Etoile Polygone - Landsberg - Jean Jaurès - Aristide Briand |
| E | Baggersee - Hohwart - Lycée Couffignal - Krimmeri Meinau - Schluthfeld - Etoile Polygone - Landsberg - Windston Churchill - Esplanade - Observatoire - Université - Gallia - République - Parc du Contades - Lycée Kléber - Wacken - Parlement Européen - Droits de L'Homme - Robertsau Boecklin |
| F | Elsau - Montagne Verte - Laiterie - Musée d'Art Moderne - Faubourg National - Alt Winmärik (Vieux Marché aux Vins) - Homme de Fer - Place Broglie - République - Gallia - Universités - Observatoire - Place d'Islande |
Some stations connect to the bus network, run by the CTS
Compagnie des Transports Strasbourgeois
CTS is the company responsible for the comprehensive public transport network of the Urban Community of Strasbourg, the urban community of the French city of Strasbourg....
.
Rolling stock
The network has 41 Alstom Citadis 403 trams and 53 Eurotram trams (17 of 44 meters and 36 of 33 meters)Future extensions
- Lines A-D : To Koenigshoffen and OberhausbergenOberhausbergenOberhausbergen is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
(northwest), planned for 2014. - Line D : To KehlKehlKehl is a town in southwestern Germany in the Ortenaukreis, Baden-Württemberg. It is located on the river Rhine, directly opposite the French city of Strasbourg.-History:...
in GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(east), planned for 2015. - Line A : Into Illkirch-GraffenstadenIllkirch-Graffenstaden-Geography:The larger adjacent communes, like Illkirch-Graffenstaden, are effectively outer suburbs of the Strasbourg conurbation. These include Strasbourg-Meinau, Ostwald and Geispolsheim...
(south), planned for 2015. - Line C : It will be extended to GresswillerGresswillerGresswiller is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-Adjacent communes:Mollkirch, Rosenwiller, Dinsheim-sur-Bruche, Heiligenberg, and Mutzig.-Notable people:...
and BarrBarr, Bas-RhinBarr is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-History:Barr was originally an imperial property, but in 1522 the Habsburgs leased it to Nicolas Ziegler, and a few years later give him the freehold. Ziegler's sons sold Barr to the city of Strasbourg...
on train tracks. Not date, beyond 2016.
See also
- Transportation in Strasbourg
- Trams in FranceTrams in FranceTrams in France go back to 1837 when a 15 km steam tram line connected Montrond-les-Bains and Montbrison in the Loire. With the development of electric trams at the end of the 19th century, networks proliferated in French cities over the next 15 years...
- List of town tramway systems in France