We move out of Germany for our next stop in “Around the World in Trams” and we’re into Italy as we take a look at some of the trams running in Rome in 2018.
Whilst trams in Rome may be currently on a two-month break because of construction works on the Tangenziale Est ring road requiring scaffolding which is close to the overhead wires, they can trace their history all the way back to 1877 when the first horse tram route opened. 1895 saw electric trams introduced with the final horse trams running in 1904. The network reached its peak in 1929 when it had 140km of track. Like so many other city networks across the world it then soon contracted and today has 36km of track with six distinct tram lines operating. It is due to resume operation on 8th December 2025.
In this photo we see 7019 which is a Treno Articolato Stranga which was built in 1948, one of 50 trams to be built in this batch. They underwent refurbishment in the 1980s and 28 remain operational today with a further 11 stored. The photo was taken at the terminus of route 13.
Photograph by Ken Jones, 21st May 2018