Trams in Alexandria

The tram in the Egyptian city of Alexandria (Arabic: Al- Iskandariyya, الإسكندرية ) is since 1863 in operation and one of the oldest in the world and the oldest in Africa. Before the current tram and the Renaissance they founded in 1886, Cairo tram were for decades the only ones on this continent.

Its special features include seven double-decker driving trailer; Double-decker trams, formerly widespread in many countries of the British Empire, only now driving otherwise in Hong Kong and Blackpool.

History

Founded as the tram in Alexandria at the initiative and with the support of British merchants. Only after the end of the reign of Governor Muhammad Said Said Pasha in 1860, it was possible to get permission for the construction and operation of a tram. In the same year the concession was granted to the British businessman Sir Edward John on August 16, 1860.

On 8 January 1863, the first line was opened, apart from their splittings today Ramlehbahn. First, the car of horses were drawn. Nearly three decades later, from August 1898 steam locomotives were used. Just four years later, the first electric vehicles came from 1902 to the rails. With the electrification of passenger numbers increased enormously, too, because the lines were extended and even added more

Network and operations

Alexandria lies on a narrow strip of land between the Mediterranean and the shallow, salty lake and lagoon-style Mariut ( بحيرة مريوط / Buhayra Mariyyūṭ ). The public transport of the city is by the Company APTA (Alexandria Governorate 's Agency for Public Passenger Transport ) operated.

The tram network has standard gauge, and today a total length of 32 kilometers. It consists of two subnets, which in the Ramleh station ( محطة الرمل / Mahatta ar - Raml ) overlap, which lies on the eastern edge of downtown, not far from the Eastern Harbour ( الميناء الشرقي / Al Mina aš - Šarqiyya ). In English they are often referred to as " Ramleh line" and " City line " even though they exist runs regularly between each of several lines.

The four lines of Ramleh Tram ( ترام الرمل / Tram Al- Raml ) are numbered 1, 2, 25 and 36 you are the more modern and worked over by the blue car. Your network with 38 stations consists of a long and straight, but sometimes split into two parallel lines connecting between the station al - Ramleh and the station al -Nasr ( محطة النصر / Maḩaţţah an-Nasr ), in addition to the same al -Nasr ( محطة النصر ) - or Victoria station ( محطة فيكتوريا / Mahatta Fīktūriyyā ) is. Since the 1950s, the Ramleh routes have largely own track body. The blue tracks have pantographs, driving with the doors closed and fast.

The multibranched network of tram al -Medina ( ترام المدينة / tram al - Madina ) with 16 lines city is traversed by the yellow (or on two lines actually red ) car and opens the Madina ( Old Town) and their surroundings with over 100 stops. The tracks are on the roadways, so the trams often stuck in traffic jams. The cars usually have trolley booms, driving mostly with open doors and often so slow that courageous passengers or on - jump off while driving. The trains are largely old, many date from the 1960s.

The tram of Alexandria is very popular among the people because the fares are low. Tourists like to take them to complete, because they go above ground and are very slow, so that they can see everything at rest during the journey. The front or middle car (with three-car trains ) is reserved for women.

Fleet

A total of Alexandria has 283 tramcars. Great part of the 1972 Agreement tram Copenhagen 99 Duewag articulated cars were purchased, almost all are still in operation.

Most trains have a yellow trolley booms, most blue trains pantograph ( pantograph ), which had to be rebuilt because of the double-deck cars and the higher -hanging power supply with a substructure, as they should go into operation in Alexandria. There are cars which are equipped with both types of customers.

Despite the generally low standard of living in the country some enthusiasts have a railcar from 1931 type Oerlikon ( MFO ) restored exemplary. This car # 601 will be made available for tourist drives.

Car lists

• Series overviews of the tram vehicles from Cairo and Alexandria ( English) ( PDF file, 127 kB)
• Complete car list " Yellow trains " (Russian )
• Complete car list "Blue Trains " (Russian )