Trams in Sarajevo

Sarajevo tramway network
Overview
Locale Bosnia and Herzegovina Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Transit type Tram
Number of lines 7[1]
Number of stations 28
Website www.gras.ba
Operation
Began operation
  • 1885 (horse tram)[1]
  • 1895 (electric tram)
Operator(s) KJKP GRAS Sarajevo
Number of vehicles 95[1]
Technical
System length 22.9 km (14.2 mi)[1]
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Old gauge 760 mm (2 ft 5 15⁄16 in) Bosnian gauge until 1960
Minimum radius of curvature (?)
System map


Sarajevo Tramway in 1901

The Sarajevo tram network is one of Europe's oldest, having originally served as the test line for Vienna's trams.[2] As of 2010, the Sarajevo tram system consists of seven lines,[1][3] primarily running along a single track route. The system is 22.9 kilometres (14.2 mi) long;[1][3] this includes a 0.4 kilometres (0.25 mi)-long branch to the city's railway station (Željeznička Stanica). It primarily serves as an east-west link from the city centre district (Baščaršija) to the suburb Ilidža.

The system is run by JKP GRAS Sarajevo, who also operate trolleybus and bus routes in the city.

History

Opened on New Years Day in 1885, the Sarajevo tramway was the testing line for the tram in Vienna and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and operated by horses.[2] Originally built to 760 mm (2 ft 5 15⁄16 in) Bosnian gauge, the present system was upgraded to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge in 1960. The trams played a pivotal role in the growth of the city in the 20th century.

During the Siege of Sarajevo in the mid 1990s, trackwork and numerous vehicles were badly damaged - these are once again operational though marks remain on some vehicles.

System

The route lies on the main boulevard of Sarajevo, which is named (from west to east) first Bulevar Meše Selimovića (formerly 6 Proleterske Brigade), from Vila Čengić then Zmaj od Bosne (formerly Vojvode Radomira Putnika). From the district Marijin Dvor it runs a loop in a counter-clockwise direction along the Miljacka river on the street called Obala Kulina bana (formerly: Obala Vojvode Stepe Stepanovića). It proceeds to the terminus Baščaršija. The route then turns back towards Marijin Dvor on the northern parallel road Maršala Tita.

Seven routes are presently in operation on the system, often only a specific section of the track (only route 3 operates the entire length).

Rolling stock

The fleet in use on the network are Tatra K2 articulated trams from the Czech Republic, delivered in the 1970s and early 1980s. Later these trams have been joined by more modern vehicles in recent times. In 2008, Amsterdam donated 16 old trams to Sarajevo.

Gallery

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trams in Sarajevo.

See also

References

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Tramvaj" [Tramway] (in Croatian). KJKP GRAS d.d. 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-11.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Virtual City of Saravejo". Retrieved 2013-09-11.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "JKP Gras". JKP GRAS. Retrieved 2013-09-11.

Bibliography

External links