River Rail Streetcar
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The River Rail Streetcar is a heritage streetcar system operating in Little Rock and North Little Rock is the U.S. state of Arkansas. It has operated since November 1, 2004. As of February 17, 2007, the system is 3.4 miles long after its first extension was put into service. River Rail Streetcar is operated by Central Arkansas Transit Authority.
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[edit] History
Little Rock has had streetcar service before 2004. The first urban rail public transport system was horse tramways opened in 1876. Horse tramways operated till 1895. There was also steam tramway that operated between July 3, 1888 and 1889. Electric traction was introduced December 23, 1891. Electric streetcars operated until September 1, 1947, and had previously extended as far west as the city's Hillcrest and Stifft's Station neighborhoods.
The new heritage streetcar, officially called River Rail Streetcar, was opened on November 1, 2004. This Phase I consisted of single 2.5 miles long line, that connects two cities, Little Rock and North Little Rock, that are situated on the opposite sides of the Arkansas River.
The River Rail Streetcar carried 200,000 passengers in its first year of operation.
In January 2006, construction of the Phase II began. Phase II is the 0.9 mile extension to the William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Heifer International headquarters.
On February 16, 2007, Pulaski County Judge Buddy Villines, Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola, and North Little Rock Mayor Pat Hays cut the ribbon marking the official opening of the River Rail extension to the Presidential Center and Heifer International, adding almost a 33% increase in new track to the system. The total mileage is now 3.4 miles.
Additional extensions to the system are under discussion, the most ambitious of which is a 2.5 mile extension to Little Rock National Airport.
[edit] Rolling stock
River Rail Streetcar initially used three replica vintage electric trolleys. Two more streetcars were added as a part of the new Phase II extension. The design of these cars is generally similar to Birney type streetcars used in Little Rock until after World War Two. The original number series for those cars was 400-407. The present cars continue that number series, albeit 60 years later, with the current cars being numbered 408-412. All of the present cars are manufactured by Gomaco Trolley Company.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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