Title of Example

Example

Introduction

In Mestre, electric trams were first used at the beginning of 1900.

The first route served by tram (Ferretto Square-Railway Station) was founded in 1905, followed in 1906 by the Mestre - S. Giuliano one.

In general, by 1930 many routes into Mestre city centre were served by tram lines.

After the building of the car bridge (1933), the link between Mestre and Venice (historical centre) was implemented using the trolleybus system, at that time very popular in USA and UK.

Long after the tram system was abandoned , in 1992, with the ”Urban Mobility Plan”, the tram system was again suggested as a good way of providing public transport, rebuilding a network similar to the old one.

The suggested 1992 network is planned in three lines:

- Favaro - Mestre centre – Railway Station - Chirignago (8.8 kilometre long);

- Zelarino - Mestre centre - S. Giuliano (8.0 kilometre long);

- Hospital - Mestre centre - Marghera (8.5 kilometre long)

In the 1992 mobility plan suggestions were made to reorganize the Venetian mainland transport network, assigning electric transport an important function.

In 1994 the City of Venice requested financial support in the National Law 211/1992 framework. From hereon, and in various following years, the Venice Municipality has presented to the Ministry of Transport proposals in order to develop the 1992 first line extending it to Venice and integrating it with a second line connecting Mestre to Marghera.

This Project has been approved by the Ministry and has been financed according to the National Law 211/92. The Municipality of Venice has signed an agreement with ACTV spa (Venetian Local Public Transport Company) that will construct the new Venetian tram system.

The new Venice - Mestre tram

After some years of planning, the tram system connecting Venice to Mestre begins construction.

The two lines are the following (see Figure 1):

1) Favaro - via S.Donà - via Ca'Rossa - Piazzale Cialdini - Viale S.Marco - S.Giuliano - Ponte della Libertà - Venice S.Marta (the blue one);

2) Piazzale Cialdini - via Poerio - via Cappuccina - via Sernaglia - sottopasso ferroviario - via Ulloa - via Paolucci - via Rinascita - via Beccaria - via Cafasso - piazzale Brunicci (the green one).

Figure 1 – Two future Venice - Mestre tram lines.

The Venice – Mestre tram system will give the opportunity to redesign the local public transport network especially in Mestre urban area, in order to:

- eliminate every year 2.500.000 kilometres run by traditional buses, with obvious positive effects on urban environment due to the pollutant emissions reduction in the city centre;

- decrease every year 500.000 kilometres run by the bus-tram network (transport optimization);

- offer a better service and a greater number of passengers/km.

Other positive effects are:

- Traffic congestion reduction: it is a high capacity mean of transport (up to 35 m) and it represents a good way to reduce the number cars driving in the city centre, by increasing the use of public transport;

- Service rationalization: it will encourage the redesign of the local public transport network especially along its routes and the new Regional Metropolitan Railway System lines;

- Quality service improvement: the tram presents an high level of travel comfort deriving from its stability, its electric traction that controls the acceleration stage and its low emissions of noise. Quality also in terms of regularity and punctuality, assured by priority routes.

- Protection of the environment: it has an electric traction so that emissions in atmosphere are completely eliminated. It also has a low level of noise emission due to electric traction/engine and to its tyres.

Tram characteristics

The Tram will have the following characteristics:

- little hindrance: it is 2,20 m wide and 2,89 m high;

- 70% of walls are glass-covered;

- 25 cm higher than the road;

- 23 cm higher than the pavement.

Acknowledgements

ACTV S.p.a. for the information provided.

Last Updated

13th January 2005