Monday, April 8, 2013

Shanghai trams, China

an Indian traffic policeman in Shanghai after WW2
The Bund (a German word cognate with 'bound' as in connected) is an historical waterfront area in central Shanghai
 
Nanking Road, 1930s
the first tram 1908

Trams in Shanghai started operating in 1908 and unusually there were three tram companies: the British system, which opened on 15 March, was the largest with seven routes and 216 trams; the French system, which opened in May, had three routes and 60 trams; and the Chinese company opened on 11 August 1913, and operated 52 trams on four routes totaling 23.5 km in length. Routes reached their maximum in 1925 with 328 tramcars and 14 routes.

The tramways had very little further upgrading and 1930s electric cars were still running in the 1970s; by the middle of that decade the trams ceased.

In 2010, trams were reintroduced to Shanghai, using a rubber tired system.

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