Trams in Naples
Encyclopedia
The Naples tramway network is located within the city and comune
of Naples
, in the region
of Campania
, southern Italy
. In operation since 1875, the network has waxed and waned in size and vitality over the years, and is now growing once again. It is presently 10 km (6.2 mi) long, and comprises three routes, known as lines 1, 2 and 4.
lines, opened in 1875.
In 1929, the city of Naples rescued various lines, rolling stock and infrastructure from several concessionaires, before merging them all into the (English: Naples Municipal Tramway) (ACTN), which had been established in 1918.
In December 1930, the management of the network was entrusted to the Ente Autonomo Volturno (EAV), a local public sector producer of electricity. In 1937, the EAV became the concessionaire of the service, but due to various difficulties the city council resumed direct management from 1 January 1941, at the request of the concessionaire.
In 1947, the (English: Tramway Trolleybus Company of Naples) (ATAN) was established to take over the management of tram services. As in other Italian cities, the tramway network underwent a drastic reduction between 1952 and 1954 in favour of trolleybus lines, and motor vehicles.
Attempts in the late twentieth century to revive what was left of the network, such as the designed for the 1990 FIFA World Cup
, did not lead to any results. Instead, the network suffered further cuts (1998: Piazzale Tecchio–Bagnoli; 2000: Piazza Vittoria–Piazzale Tecchio).
Most recently, a rebuilding program has been launched. The program includes the reconstruction of some infrastructure, and renewal of the tram fleet.
Due to further work on the construction of Municipio metro station, the movement of trams into Piazza Vittoria is temporarily suspended.
To work around this problem, the city considered building a temporary terminus, which would have been located in Via Cristoforo Colombo. If that terminus had been built, it would have given access to some currently abandoned tram lines.
The General Plan of Urban Traffic proposes the construction of new tram lines to the district of Ponticelli
, and along Via S.Alfonso Maria dei Liguori as far as Piazza Carlo III, the restoration of the connection to Mergellina
, and a new line, built to light rail
specifications, from Piscinola to Villaricca
, the headquarters of the former Ferrovia Alifana
.
If work on all of these projects were completed, the network would be formed by the following lines:
.
This article is based upon a translation of the Italian language version as at March 2011.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
of Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, in the region
Regions of Italy
The regions of Italy are the first-level administrative divisions of the state, constituting its first NUTS administrative level. There are twenty regions, of which five are constitutionally given a broader amount of autonomy granted by special statutes....
of Campania
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
, southern Italy
South Italy
South Italy is one of the five official statistical regions of Italy used by the National Institute of Statistics , a first level NUTS region and a European Parliament constituency. South Italy encompasses six of the country's 20 regions:*Abruzzo...
. In operation since 1875, the network has waxed and waned in size and vitality over the years, and is now growing once again. It is presently 10 km (6.2 mi) long, and comprises three routes, known as lines 1, 2 and 4.
History
The first tramways in Naples were horsecarHorsecar
A horsecar or horse-drawn tram is an animal-powered streetcar or tram.These early forms of public transport developed out of industrial haulage routes that had long been in existence, and from the omnibus routes that first ran on public streets in the 1820s, using the newly improved iron or steel...
lines, opened in 1875.
In 1929, the city of Naples rescued various lines, rolling stock and infrastructure from several concessionaires, before merging them all into the (English: Naples Municipal Tramway) (ACTN), which had been established in 1918.
In December 1930, the management of the network was entrusted to the Ente Autonomo Volturno (EAV), a local public sector producer of electricity. In 1937, the EAV became the concessionaire of the service, but due to various difficulties the city council resumed direct management from 1 January 1941, at the request of the concessionaire.
In 1947, the (English: Tramway Trolleybus Company of Naples) (ATAN) was established to take over the management of tram services. As in other Italian cities, the tramway network underwent a drastic reduction between 1952 and 1954 in favour of trolleybus lines, and motor vehicles.
Attempts in the late twentieth century to revive what was left of the network, such as the designed for the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
, did not lead to any results. Instead, the network suffered further cuts (1998: Piazzale Tecchio–Bagnoli; 2000: Piazza Vittoria–Piazzale Tecchio).
Most recently, a rebuilding program has been launched. The program includes the reconstruction of some infrastructure, and renewal of the tram fleet.
Services
The current Naples tramway network is 10 km (6 mi) long, and comprises the following routes:- 1 Emiciclo di Poggioreale - Port (Via Cristoforo Colombo)
- 2 Emiciclo di Poggioreale - San Giovanni a TeduccioSan Giovanni a TeduccioSan Giovanni a Teduccio is a coastal suburb in the east of Naples, in southern Italy.-History:The area was incorporated into the city of Naples under Fascist rule...
(ANM depot) - 4 San Giovanni a Teduccio (ANM depot) - Port (Via Cristoforo Colombo)
Due to further work on the construction of Municipio metro station, the movement of trams into Piazza Vittoria is temporarily suspended.
To work around this problem, the city considered building a temporary terminus, which would have been located in Via Cristoforo Colombo. If that terminus had been built, it would have given access to some currently abandoned tram lines.
Projects
A new extension is under construction along Via Stadera (formerly line 31). The extension work was initially scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009 or early 2010, but has been delayed.The General Plan of Urban Traffic proposes the construction of new tram lines to the district of Ponticelli
Ponticelli
Ponticelli is an eastern suburb of Naples, southern Italy with a population of some 70,000 inhabitants, not counting the large number of unregistered and illegal residents, which some estimates put as high as 60,000.-Geography:...
, and along Via S.Alfonso Maria dei Liguori as far as Piazza Carlo III, the restoration of the connection to Mergellina
Mergellina
.Mergellina is a section of the city of Naples in the Campania region of Italy. It is at the west end of the seaside road, via Caracciolo, one mile away from the main port of Naples.-Overview:...
, and a new line, built to light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
specifications, from Piscinola to Villaricca
Villaricca
Villaricca is a comune in the Province of Naples in the Italian region Campania, located about 10 km northwest of Naples...
, the headquarters of the former Ferrovia Alifana
Ferrovia Alifana
The Ferrovia Alifana is a former railroad company of southern Italy. It held public passenger service on the rail line connection Naples to Piedimonte d'Alife...
.
If work on all of these projects were completed, the network would be formed by the following lines:
- 1 Emiciclo di Poggioreale–Piazza Sannazaro
- 2 Via Stadera–San Giovanni a Teduccio
- 2/ Emiciclo di Poggioreale–San Giovanni a Teduccio
- 4 San Giovanni a Teduccio (ANM depot)–Piazza Vittoria
- Branch to Piazza Carlo III
- Line to Ponticelli
- Piscinola–Villaricca line
Depots
Of the five depots used by the full network, only one remains active, namely the San Giovanni depot, in the eastern Naples suburb of San Giovanni a TeduccioSan Giovanni a Teduccio
San Giovanni a Teduccio is a coastal suburb in the east of Naples, in southern Italy.-History:The area was incorporated into the city of Naples under Fascist rule...
.
See also
- Metropolitana di NapoliMetropolitana di NapoliMetropolitana di Napoli is the metro system serving the city of Naples, Italy. The system includes three underground rapid transit lines and commuter railways , with planned upgrading and expansion work underway...
- History of rail transport in Italy
- Rail transport in ItalyRail transport in ItalyThe Italian railway system is one of the most important infrastructure in the country, with a total length of . The network is recently growing with the construction of the new high speed rail network....
External links
- Images of the Naples tramway network, at photorail.com
- Images of the Naples tramway network, at railfaneurope.net
This article is based upon a translation of the Italian language version as at March 2011.