Tram in another Frankfurt

There is a small town called Frankfurt der Oder in the Far East Germany.

And there is a metre gauge tram network.

Frankfurt der Oder Hbf

Tiny tram network still exists even though eastern part of network was abandoned due to the result of WW2 and the change of belonging from Germany to Poland.

So, the line for Dammvorstadt could not run through. Now the town called as Słubice...

Two cities were one community in the past..... and after applying Schengen Agreement, people can pass without passport control....So now the two cities become one zone again!

Moreover, there might be debate about re-building tram way for Słubice (the article suggested in German language)

The border bridge

The city centre has already modernised due to re-construction after heavy air-laid during the war.

Some buildings still exist as same as pre-war age...

Frankfurt der Oder

Map of the twin city

Słubice(Poland)

Someday, I'd like to visit and ride the tram of the twin city...

(2014/04/05)

Tram Construction in Lviv, Ukraine

In Lviv, the city centre was under the modernisation of Tram and  water/sewage services. Most of the Tram lines including the connection for central station stopped running in October 2013.

Tracks were replaced to the ultra modern type.

According to Wikipedia, the tram was built in 1880, under the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1922, after the city became part of the Second Polish Republic were the tram lines switched to the right-hand-side system. It was metre-gauge system, even now. 

All the stone pavements were torn. 

First of all, water system was replaced

The buildings seemed to be built in 1920-1930s

A few years later, the area might be modernised. 

Instead of tram, sightseeing bus was running on the track in city centre.

 Pidvalna street  Tram-like cafe near the monument to Ivan Fedorov

Tram KT4SU

Low floor Tram and old one run near central station

Guide of Lviv Tram routes

(2014/03/23)

Tram cafe in Prague

There is a  good atmosphere cafe in the centre of Prague.

Two street-cars belongs to Cafe Tramuaj - (Tram 11 Cafe) at Wenceslas Square.

In the past, there seemed to the tram line in the square.

No,2077 car was used for barricade in the battle of Prague 1945.

Praha tram in 1991 (Youtube)

Praha in 1968 (Youtube)

Praha Spring in 1968 (Youtube)


(2013/9/14)

Trams in Tokyo

Trams in Tokyo (1971-73)

There are public-sector huge tram network until the end of 1960's (Wiki)

We can enjoy its glorious days on Youtube.

There still is small private tram style line in Tokyo.

 The tram-style line runs only separated traffic from road. There is a part of Tama-den tram (Wiki JP).

Most of Tama-den network on the road disappeared.

Setagaya-Line (1978)

Dancing lonely night (Japanese 60s) by The Jaguars

GS I Love You Too

(2013/08/31)

Tram museum in Munich

The MVG Museum opens at least once a month regularly.

Therefore, you should check opening day and  in advance.

Actually, there is exhibition about not only trams but buses and metro. It is slightly inconvenient to visit, however, it is worth to visit and enjoy!

Many trams are operational and seem to run into the city as special train.

It is a great opportunity to get sign plates for destination.

There is a room for tram models 

Most of all the explanation are written by both German and English. 

Some painting of tram are very impressive.

Buses of the 60's are still movable. 

Metro driving simulator

If you want to feel the 60's atmosphere, try to listen Juicy Fruits 's song!!!

(2013/06/29)

The final run of Japanese tram movies (1960's - early70's) & Makka-na-Taiyo

In the past, there are a lot of branch tram lines in Tokyo and Yokohama.

Unfortunately, most of them were abandoned in early 1970's in Tokyo and all of them disappeared in Yokohama...

Everything were changed quickly from the traditional society to the modern society in Japan.

Makka-na-Taiyo (1969)  (Group sounds / Hibari Misora)

Type 7500 of Tokyo tram

Route map

Shibuya Station 

You can find tram type 7500 here (Edo-Tokyo Open-air Architectural Museum)

Yokohama Tram Museum

Also you can see some Yokohama trams in the museum (web: Japanese only)

Movies of  trams in Tokyo (1960's - early70's)

 Ginza (central Tokyo)

 Nihon-bashi etc (Central Tokyo)..

 Eastern down town Tokyo

 Tama-den(Private line) in Western Tokyo (1968)

 Tama-den(Private line) in Western Tokyo (1968) part2

 Tram in Yokohama (1972)




Additional movie about earthquake in Tokyo Tram (2011) 

Girlfriend (Japanese Group sounds 1968)


(2013/06/15)

Tram of Trieste and Cafe Bianca

      Tram in Trieste (Tram di Opicina Linea 2) is one of the most unique tramway system in the world. It looks like a normal tram at the city centre. However, a cable loco pulls and down the tram from the town to the hill.

At Opicina station

At the city centre of Trieste

The promenade for Miramare 

 Detail might be seen on the official website.
 (http://www.tramdeopcina.it/tram/pages/tt2engl.htm).

There is also a good promotion video of the tram
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1grKGr3EsyY&feature=player_detailpage)

Lastly, the tram runs into village near the border with Slovenia. 


In the past, there was the tram network in Trieste. Only one route left. Some of the fleets can be seen at the railway museum along the Seaside.
(http://www.museoferroviariotrieste.it/)
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFS1a09zLwg)

At the museum

You can find some interesting photos there


        I often travelled former Austria-Hungary Empire with Julie (Kenji Sawada) songs. His song 'Cafe Bianca' makes you feel slightly 60's taste.. You can also feel Adrian sea-breath from Cafe Bianca.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT2-jP0hT6Q




(2013/03/13)

Tramway museum in Brussels

  Museum of Brussels Urban Transport seems to be one of the biggest tram museum in Europe. We can enjoy not only normal exhibition but also heritage tram-riding into the town.

 

 

There is a combination ticket with visiting museum and historic tram-trip. 



It is possible to ride the tram from some station which the historic vehicles run through.

 

 

Tourist Tramway also run about 40km occasionally (see official website).

 

 

 

 Tram depot style museum offers also the opportunity of looking historic buses.

 

 

There are various non-revenue equipment. It looks like the special car for cleaning railroad.

 

Brussels public transport system has changed dynamically rather than Japanese one. In other words, scrap and build is effective to save money for maintain of whole regional transportation of 2.6 million population. The combination between previous tram and new underground network have same tariff system and offer convenient transfer in the underground stations. Some abandoned tram lines were replaced with metro or integrated to 'Pre-metro'.

 

 In the city centre, the tram runs into the underground network. Some of them are called 'Pre-metro', because the network is considered to conversion the real metro system in advance.  

 



 

Anyway, it is worth to visit Brussels if you are interested in transport systems.

http://www.trammuseumbrussels.be/

(2013/2/28)