Tenerife Tram

Tenerife Tram

Two trams at the Gracia stop on Line 1
Overview
Native name Tranvía de Tenerife
Owner Metropolitano de Tenerife
(80% owned by Cabildo de Tenerife)
Locale Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
Transit type Tram (light rail)
Number of lines
Number of stations 27 (across two lines)
Daily ridership 50,000
Annual ridership 13,000,000
Operation
Began operation 2 June 2007
Operator(s) Tranvía
Technical
System length 15.1 km (9.4 mi)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
System map

Tenerife Tram (Spanish: Tranvía de Tenerife) is a light rail or tram service located on the island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands (Spain). It is operated by Metropolitano de Tenerife, a limited company 80% owned by the Cabildo of Tenerife. Service started on 2 June 2007 over a 12.5-kilometre (7.8 mi) route which linked the Intercambiador in Santa Cruz de Tenerife with Avenida de la Trinidad in La Laguna. A second line between La Cuesta and Tíncer opened in 2009 (connecting with Line 1 at Hospital Universitario and El Cardonal). It is the only existing tramway or train in the Canary Islands.

History

A streetcar (tram) system had once existed on Tenerife. It was inaugurated on 7 April 1901, with a service that began in Santa Cruz and finished in La Laguna. It was designed by the Spanish engineer and military man Julio Cervera Baviera. In 1904 the line was extended to Tacoronte. In 1927 the Cabildo of Tenerife took control of the operating company due to economic problems. The tram car lines remained functional until 1951, when, due to a series of problems and accidents, and increased competition with the car and bus (on Tenerife, buses are called guaguas), the service was discontinued.

Construction

After much political debate on investment in trams versus buses, approval was eventually given to the €306 million budget.[1]

Construction started in 2004, and by December 2005 sufficient track existed for train supplier Alstom to start test-running on a 600 metres (2,000 ft) section of track between the systems train depot and the Hospital Universitario de Canarias in La Cuesta. The last of the 20 tram units were handed over in August 2006.

The construction phase officially ended on 2 June 2007 with the opening day tram on Line 1. Free service was provided to all passengers from that weekend all the way through to the following Sunday, before tariffs and tickets were introduced.[2]

Rolling stock

A tramcar in La Laguna during a test run (2007)

The light rail (tram) rolling stock is entirely made up of the Citadis 302 model, 100% low floor from Alstom, as already used on the Madrid Light Metro, the Casablanca Tramway, the Parla Tram, and lines Trambaix and Trambesòs of the Barcelona Metro. These low-floor and floor lighted trams have a maximum speed of 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph), and are powered through a 750 V DC catenary. The trams are each made up of five carriages, two driving carriages sandwiching three passenger/power carriages.

Operations

Tenerife Tram
Legend
 0,0 Intercambiador for Santa Cruz Travel Time
 (SC) Fundación 3min
 (SC) Teatro Guimerá 4min
 (SC-Plaza) Weyler 6min
 (SC) La Paz 8min
 (SC) Puente Zurita 10min
 (SC) Cruz del Señor 12min
 (SC) Conservatorio 14min
 (Ofra) Chimisay 15min
 (Ofra) Principes de España 17min
 (Ofra) Hospital La Calendaria 19min
 TF5 Motorway
 Taco 20min
 Linea 2
 Tram depot
 (Taco) El Cardonal 23min
 TF5 Motorway
 (La Cuesta) Hospital Universitario 24min
 Linea 2
 (La Cuesta) Las Mantecas 27min
 (LL) Campus Guajara 29min
 (LL) Gracia 30min
 (LL) Museo de la Ciencia 32min
 (LL) Cruz de Piedra 33min
 (LL) Padre Anchieta 36min
 12,5 (La Laguna) La Trinidad 37min
Where it runs at street level the Tranvía de Tenerife is separated from other traffic
Inside a typical tramcar, looking forward towards the driver

Line1

Line 1 (SC Interchange - Trinidad) consists of 21 stops along a route of 12.5 kilometres (7.8 mi), transporting an average of 46,000 people per day in the metropolitan area. Each of the 20 trams is capable to transport 200 passengers (60 seated) at a maximum speed of 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph), though for safety they only reach a maximum speed of 50 kilometres per hour (31 mph) on this line.

Line 1
Stop Image Líne/s Notes
Intercambiador Also known as the Tenerife Transport Exchange. For Santa Cruz and Auditorio de Tenerife
Fundación
Teatro Guimerá
Weyler
La Paz
Puente Zurita
Cruz del Señor
Conservatorio
Chimisay
Príncipes de España
Hospital La Candelaria
Taco ---
El Cardonal
Hospital Universitario
Las Mantecas
Campus Guajara
Gracia
Museo de la Ciencia
Cruz de Piedra
Padre Anchieta
Trinidad For San Cristóbal de La Laguna

In January 2011 the Padre Anchieta stop was moved from its initial location in the Trinity Avenue, to its current location next to the Exchanger of transport of La Laguna, at a cost of €900,000.[3]

Plans are in place to lengthen the line with four additional stops, including Tenerife North Airport. There would also be new stations in San Antonio, San Lazaro (Park and Ride) and Los Rodeos-TFN.

Line 2

Line 2 opened on 30 May 2009, running from La Cuesta to Tíncer, sharing stops at University Hospital and El Cardonal with Line 1. It is planned to extend the line by 2.5 km from Tincer to La Gallega (district of the District southwest of Santa Cruz) to give coverage to the greater population.

Line 2
Stop Image Líne/s Notes
La Cuesta
Ingenieros
Hospital Universitario
El Cardonal
San Jerónimo
Tíncer

Line 3

A third line is expected to be built, proposed to run along the coast of the capital of Tenerife, and not as speculated through the center of the city of Santa Cruz.[4]

Tariffs

Ticket machine

In agreement between Cabildo de Tenerife, TITSA and MTSA, tram and bus systems are a fully integrated transport system, with journeys costing exactly the same, whichever system is chosen.[5]

Ticket (descriptions/prices as of 1 Aug 2012) Cost Price/journey
Single ticket (1 trip) 1,35 €
"Ida y vuelta" ticket (2 trips) 2,50 €
BonoVía €15 15,00 € 1,05 €
BonoVía 30 € 30,00 € 1,05 €
BonoVía €15 (Student concession) 15,00 € 0,80 €
Monthly pass (unlimited rides in the Metropolitan Area) 48,00 € --
Transfer over Metropolitan tram lines (over 1 hour) 0,35 € --
Higher, a concession ticket for those on lower incomes, pensioners, or the disabled 6,50 € 0,10 €
Large family/party bonus (Groups of 6 or more) 40,00 € 0,80 €
Ultimo Dia (Day Ticket) 4,50 €

References

  1. ↑ Historia del tranvía (in Spanish). Page 11.
  2. ↑ Tenerife ya puede montarse en el Tranvía
  3. ↑ El traslado de la parada del tranvía cuesta 900.000 euros
  4. ↑ http://www.laopinion.es/tenerife/2009/12/02/cabildo-niega-proyecto-linea-tres-centro/258323.html Línea 3 del tranvía
  5. ↑ Tipos de billetes y tarifas
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