Within a year, all of the city's tramways had been converted to electric traction. This is the tram used by locals, not the turistical one. You might not always catch the vintage tram, but it does the job in getting you to Belém. Sit by a tram stop today, and you’ll hear the old ladies complain how they can never get on the 28 because it’s always full of tourists. Trams tend to take a lot longer, and they often stop because someone parked their car right in the middle of the tracks. Unfortunately, with tourists, also came the pickpockets. I believe there's an old joke about the decision whether to use alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). In addition to being pretty, the trams are a fun, albeit slow way to get around. It goes from Cais do Sodré towards the quiet neighborhood of Ajuda. Tram 15 – There are still a few vintage trams on this route, but you usually take the modern one. Lisbon Trams of the Past Above, left, clerestoried bogie tram 323 at Cais do Sodré in summer 1991 in the livery of the Pingo Doce supermarket chain. Wooden yellow trams are an iconic sight in Lisbon, Portugal, and have been shuttling passengers for over a century. On Sundays, they would venture to the bullfighting in Campo Pequeno, the zoo in Sete Rios, or the beaches of Dafundo. Buses replaced trams to ease the traffic, but that still didn’t fix the problem. Route 15 is one of the five historic tram lines, which have been operating in Lisbon since 1873. Tram 25 – This tram does a similar stretch to the 28. The tramways in Portugese capital are famous! Middle, a "caixote" tram at Pc. trams history, what lines exist today, how longa tram ride takes, how much trams cost, and much more by Caravel on Wheels. 54, Cardoso, Margarida David. In an apparent reversal of policy, the mayor (president of the city council) of Lisbon, Fernando Medina, announced in December 2016 that tram 24 would be restored to service in 2017 between Cais do Sodré and Campolide, saying that it was a mistake to reduce the city's network of electric trams and that work would be undertaken to reconstruct it.[3]. Comércio, 1984. We’ll be honest. 18 : This route has undergone many changes in recent years. Track connections to the rebuilt loop at Cais do Sodré and some other track issues between Camões and Cais do Sodré will need to be attended to before operation to Cais do Sodré is possible.[5][6]. ", https://www.publico.pt/2016/12/15/local/noticia/electrico-24-vai-estar-de-volta-as-ruas-de-lisboa-e-as-obras-ja-comecaram-1754996, http://www.carris.pt/fotos/editor2/pao_carris_2018_site.pdf, "Pedido pelos lisboetas, o 24 voltou e logo se encheu de turistas", Lisboa tram route reinstated after 23 years, "Lisbon Trams, Part Two: Trams of The Past", Liverpool Corporation Tramways No. A transport card costs €0.50, and you can top it off with cash as you go. With a hop-on hop-off tram ticket you have 24-hour access to the historic tram 28 of Lisbon Before tram 28 leaves Alfama, you will pass Sé de Lisboa (7) (Igreja de Santa Maria Maior). Historical red tramcar tour &Praça do Comércio Lisbon Like the 28, the tram 15 is also a favorite among tourists. It links the town of Sintra, some 30 kilometres (19 mi) north-west of Lisbon, with the Atlantic coast at Praia das Maçãs, a distance of some 11.5 kilometres (7.1 mi).As of 2014, the line runs Friday to Sunday in summer months. Although reports prepared by both the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and the Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich concluded that the network should be retained and even extended, the process of decline continued until 1997, with the closing of the Alto de São João branch and the Arco Cego depot. Locals were so curious about this new transport, they forgot all about their fears. Despite some of the changes, the tram still preserves most of its original charm. So you may experience some bumps or wait for some time. Lisbon Trams In Portugal. The trams were always packed, and wherever you waited, there were long queues to get in. 'Remodelado' trams (nos 541-585) used on all routes. Ten articulated trams went into operation in 1995 and, in 1996, we completed the remodelling of 45 traditional trams. These legendary trams goes all around town. They’ll shout to you— “Parecem sardinhas em lata” (They look like sardines in a can). These legendary trams goes all around town. There are also new trams in Lisbon, Photo Credit: cityodes, Text Overlay: Devour Lisbon Food Tours. When she’s not typing away on her laptop, you can find her drinking an IPA on one of Lisbon’s latest craft beer bars. 10 Ways To Know You’re Completely Obsessed with Lisbon, Lisbon on a Budget: Our Top 6 Cheap Eats in Lisbon, 4 Essential Restaurants in Sintra You Can’t Skip, The Essential Guide to Lisbon Street Food: What to Eat & Where to Get It, Our Ultimate Guide To The Best Breakfast In Lisbon, Pastéis de Nata: Authentic Portuguese Custard Tarts Recipe, Tram 28 – This is the most popular tram route in Lisbon. As more people moved to the city, the traffic got worse and worse. Some tram routes disappeared with time, but it looks like they’re making a comeback. You would never have guessed that this was the capital of a big empire with colonies in Africa and Asia. Maybe more trams will be back in the future, but for now, you can enjoy the city’s six remaining routes. The slow decline of the network began with the construction of the Lisbon Metro and the expansion of the bus system. Carris originally said this was not a priority, but its 2018 Activity and Budget Plan[4] provides for the purchase in 2020-2021 of: On 24 April 2018, Line 24 was reopened, albeit initially between Camões and Campolide only. 78 'Bellamy', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Trams_in_Lisbon&oldid=992844981, Articles with Portuguese-language sources (pt), Articles containing Portuguese-language text, Portugal articles missing geocoordinate data, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 20 more articulated trams to extend line 15 eastwards to. Many thought it was going to be a dangerous transport, exposing the population to a constant death threat. While there are other transportation options, a visit to Lisbon wouldn’t be complete without at least one ride around the city on the historic Tram … We assume that you’re in central Lisbon, so all the routes here described are based on your origin around the Baixa area (but they can easily be adapted to the reverse direction). Lisbon's trams (eléctrico) are operated by Carris along with the city's buses and elevadors. Keep reading, and we’ll tell you all about it! Source for IP's network: www.refer.pt/Documentos/Directorio_da_Rede_2010.pdf, page. If you’re a local, you’ll nod in agreement. The line opened in 1904 and originally linked Sintra railway station and Praia das Maçãs. Lisbon Tram The Lisbon trams are one of the best ways to move around Lisbon, as well as being one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. The tram 28 got all the fame, but there are many more routes worth taking, and we encourage you to do so. By the time the metro arrived in 1959, the tram routes had diminished. We take a short look at the history of lisbons historic tram network. Inside, the cobrador waited for the passengers. Before they became the background of tourist photos and postcards, trams were just another form of public transport. The Lisbon tramway network (Portuguese: Rede de elétricos de Lisboa) is a system of trams that serve Lisbon, capital city of Portugal. The ride is a bit more expensive, but if you want a comfortable seat for the whole journey, it’s probably the best option. The idea came from America, so they were known as Carros Americanos. Even now, with the metro and the bus, many locals still prefer to hop on a tram. Lisbon wasn’t always known for its tiled façades and gorgeous viewpoints. On 30 August 1901, Lisbon's first electric tramway commenced operations. But there are many other Lisbon trams, that take you further afield, to the little-known neighborhoods of Ajuda and Campolide. Until 1959, the network of lines continued to be developed, and in that year it reached its greatest extent. Tram 12 – This one does a similar route to the 28, but stops in Alfama, near the Santa Luzia viewpoint. It was at 6 a.m., on the 31st of August 1901, that the first electric tram departed from Cais Sodré towards Ribamar, now known as Algés. The yellow symbol of Lisbon has been around for more than a century.Wooden seats are still installed in the cars. The old-time ringing and hard, uncomfortable wood benches add to the charming ambiance of these historic trams. Today, those character-filled trams are part of the fabric of the Lisbon travel experience. Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society (2012–present), Hong Kong Trams No. But if you’re looking for a slow-paced tour of Lisbon, then, by all means, take the tram. Discover Lisbon, a city full of authenticity where old customs and ancient history intermix with cultural entertainment and hi-tech innovation. 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