https://reasonstobecheerful.world/europe-tram-systems-revival/
"At the heart of Strasbourg, France stands a 466-foot tall, 588-year-old
Rayonnant Gothic cathedral that draws tourists from over the world to gaze at
its intricate carvings, ornate stained glass and massive astrological clock.
Among the facts visitors might glean from the church’s half-millenia history
that the Strasbourg cathedral is, in fact, a sequel — that an original
cathedral predated it by more than a century, and that it burned seven times.
The easiest way to get to the Strasbourg cathedral is by tram. And like the
city cathedral, Strasbourg’s tramway is a sequel. Today, the Strasbourg tram
system is one of the most extensive in Europe, with over 40 miles of track and
six lines. A century ago, it was even larger. And 30 years ago, it didn’t
exist.
For many Americans, the word “tram” probably conjures images of novelty rides
high on wires; the word “trolley,” images of turn-of-the-century horse-drawn
carriages; and the word “streetcar,” Tennessee Williams. It’s easy to assume
that trams, by any name, are a thing of the past, a technology driven to
extinction when buses and cars arrived.
But in dozens of cities across Western Europe, trams have been making a
comeback. Over the last three decades, some 25 cities in France alone have
revived their once-shuttered tram systems. These 21st century tramways are
decreasing congestion, reducing air pollution and reclaiming the urban
landscape from cars — proving that old ideas can breathe new life into cities."
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
