Trams in Shanghai
Encyclopedia
Trams in Shanghai first started operating in 1908, as a steel wheeled electric system, but had been discontinued by the mid-1970s.
In 2010, trams were reintroduced to Shanghai
, in the form of a modern rubber tired tram system.
In the early 20th century Shanghai was served by three tram companies: the British
system, which opened on March 15, 1908, was the largest with seven routes and 216 trams; the French
system, which opened in May, 1908, had three routes and 60 trams; the Chinese
company opened on August 11, 1913, and operated 52 trams on four routes totaling 23.5 km in length. Routes were built step by step, and it reached their most widespread network in 1925 with 328 tramcars and 14 routes.
Starting from the mid-1950s, traffic congestion grew rapidly. The number of busses, taxis and private cars increased rapidly, taking over more streetspace. Tramcars were not modernized for many decades, and basically the 1930s electric cars were still running in the 1970s. On that time buses started faster and smoother journeys, whereas trams were still slower, single coach and many backdated features like trolley pole, so looked outdated. Under maintenance of tracks caused some derailments and bumpy rides, which were not liked by commuters. Due to the wars between China & Japan, reconstruction of Shanghai became urgent, and for this program, many streets were necessary for widening. The transport authority thought that a slow tram transport with fast bus transport on middle of a wide road will cause many problems for smoother city transportation. The tramway had little comfort and was slow because it was caught in the traffic jam caused by the cars, rickshaws etc. The tracks were also outdated, noisy and in the middle of the street. Cars had to pass the tramway on the right, causing danger for the pedestrians boarding and alighting the tramway. By justifying all ways, transport department decided to close the tram network.
After closing the tram network in the early 1970s, people of Shanghai thought that the only unfashioned obstacle of smooth city traveling has been removed, and the city can move faster than before, but it proved false some years later. Uncontrolled increase of petrol fuelled vehicles like bus
, taxicab
, and private car started chocking the streets. Like most Asian countries, China
suffered by many problems of developing countries, including pollution
, traffic jam, illegal migration
, low literacy
and booming increasing of population
etc. Increasing population
started increasing urbanization
of Shanghai, and it started increasing motor vehicles, which started increasing air & noise pollution
, traffic jam & smog
. From the 1980s, all these problems started and at mid-1990s, inhabitants of Shanghai realized that non-controlling of motor vehicles & closure of tram was a great mistake. Many cities around the world like Tunis
, Sydney
, Buenos Aires
, Pyongyang
etc. also understood that error, and like them, another Chinese city Tianjin
also returned tram. Following Tianjin's example, Shanghai also planned to return its tram system.
Downtown Shanghai was so overcrowded by motor vehicles around 2000, that opening a tramway system was not possible at that time, so the transport authority decided to construct it in the Zhangjiang, which is in eastern side of the main city.
In 2010, trams were reintroduced to Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, in the form of a modern rubber tired tram system.
History
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
system, which opened on March 15, 1908, was the largest with seven routes and 216 trams; the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
system, which opened in May, 1908, had three routes and 60 trams; the Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
company opened on August 11, 1913, and operated 52 trams on four routes totaling 23.5 km in length. Routes were built step by step, and it reached their most widespread network in 1925 with 328 tramcars and 14 routes.
Starting from the mid-1950s, traffic congestion grew rapidly. The number of busses, taxis and private cars increased rapidly, taking over more streetspace. Tramcars were not modernized for many decades, and basically the 1930s electric cars were still running in the 1970s. On that time buses started faster and smoother journeys, whereas trams were still slower, single coach and many backdated features like trolley pole, so looked outdated. Under maintenance of tracks caused some derailments and bumpy rides, which were not liked by commuters. Due to the wars between China & Japan, reconstruction of Shanghai became urgent, and for this program, many streets were necessary for widening. The transport authority thought that a slow tram transport with fast bus transport on middle of a wide road will cause many problems for smoother city transportation. The tramway had little comfort and was slow because it was caught in the traffic jam caused by the cars, rickshaws etc. The tracks were also outdated, noisy and in the middle of the street. Cars had to pass the tramway on the right, causing danger for the pedestrians boarding and alighting the tramway. By justifying all ways, transport department decided to close the tram network.
After closing the tram network in the early 1970s, people of Shanghai thought that the only unfashioned obstacle of smooth city traveling has been removed, and the city can move faster than before, but it proved false some years later. Uncontrolled increase of petrol fuelled vehicles like bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
, taxicab
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
, and private car started chocking the streets. Like most Asian countries, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
suffered by many problems of developing countries, including pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
, traffic jam, illegal migration
Human migration
Human migration is physical movement by humans from one area to another, sometimes over long distances or in large groups. Historically this movement was nomadic, often causing significant conflict with the indigenous population and their displacement or cultural assimilation. Only a few nomadic...
, low literacy
Literacy
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
and booming increasing of population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
etc. Increasing population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
started increasing urbanization
Urbanization
Urbanization, urbanisation or urban drift is the physical growth of urban areas as a result of global change. The United Nations projected that half of the world's population would live in urban areas at the end of 2008....
of Shanghai, and it started increasing motor vehicles, which started increasing air & noise pollution
Noise pollution
Noise pollution is excessive, displeasing human, animal or machine-created environmental noise that disrupts the activity or balance of human or animal life...
, traffic jam & smog
Smog
Smog is a type of air pollution; the word "smog" is a portmanteau of smoke and fog. Modern smog is a type of air pollution derived from vehicular emission from internal combustion engines and industrial fumes that react in the atmosphere with sunlight to form secondary pollutants that also combine...
. From the 1980s, all these problems started and at mid-1990s, inhabitants of Shanghai realized that non-controlling of motor vehicles & closure of tram was a great mistake. Many cities around the world like Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
etc. also understood that error, and like them, another Chinese city Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
also returned tram. Following Tianjin's example, Shanghai also planned to return its tram system.
Downtown Shanghai was so overcrowded by motor vehicles around 2000, that opening a tramway system was not possible at that time, so the transport authority decided to construct it in the Zhangjiang, which is in eastern side of the main city.
Tram routes
The shopping district was the main tram junction where three lines were connected or crossed.Alignment
All tram routes were on unreserved tracks and middle of the roads. Tramcars were caught in the traffic jam caused by the cars. The tracks were also outdated, noisy and in the middle of the street. Cars had to pass the tramway on the right, causing danger for the pedestrians boarding and alighting the tramway. Those were one of the strong reasons of closure of the system.Fleet
Shanghai's tram was one of the modern tram in Asia. There were two closed type coaches. Electricity were drawn by trolley poles. However, after that tramway had very little upgrade and basically the 1930s electric cars were still running in the 1970s. These vehicles looked outdated compared to the new cars and buses that were then on the streets. That was one of the strong reasons of closure of the system.See also
- Zhangjiang TramZhangjiang TramZhangJiang Tram is Shanghai's streetcar system, utilizing the French Raul company's Translohr tram system. It is a rubber-tired tram system, second both in China and Asia....
, Shanghai - The second rubber tired tram in Asia - Shanghai MetroShanghai MetroThe Shanghai Metro is the urban rapid transit system of China's largest city, Shanghai. The system incorporates both subway and light rail lines. It opened in 1995, making Shanghai the third city in Mainland China, after Beijing and Tianjin, to have a rapid transit system...
- Shanghai suburban train
- Trolleybuses in ShanghaiTrolleybuses in ShanghaiThe Shanghai trolleybus system serves the city of Shanghai, in the People's Republic of China. Of more than 300 trolleybus systems in operation worldwide , the Shanghai system is the oldest...
- Changchun TramChangchun TramThe Changchun Tram is an historic tram line in Changchun, Jilin, China. It was first opened November 11, 1941, and was constructed by the Manchukuo government. On August 15, 1945 the tram had 7 lines and 73 trains. At its peak in 1960, the tram had 6 lines and 88 trains covering almost...
- Dalian tramTrams in DalianDalian, along with Changchun and Hong Kong, represent the three Chinese cities that have had a continuously running tram system. All other Chinese cities with tram lines have since shut theirs down, and of those only Tianjin and Shanghai have reintroduced trams, but using modern rubber tire...
- TEDA Modern Guided Rail TramTEDA Modern Guided Rail TramTEDA Modern Guided Rail Tram is a Translohr Light Rail system in Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area. It is a modern, high speed rubber tired tram system, both first in China & Asia....
- rubber tired tram of Tianjin - Hong Kong tramHong Kong TramwaysHong Kong Tramways is a tram system in Hong Kong and one of the earliest forms of public transport in Hong Kong. Owned and operated by Veolia Transport, the tramway runs on Hong Kong Island between Shau Kei Wan and Kennedy Town, with a branch circulating Happy Valley...