Arad interurban tramway closes for reconstruction

 

 

The Romanian city of Arad in addition to its metre-gauge city system also operated an interurban tramline whose origins dated back to 1913 when a three-line 57.5km electrified light railway was opened based on the small town of Ghioroc. Until 1965 this 1500V dc system was the only electrified railway in the country. In connection with the creation of a chemical plant, one part was extended and upgraded as a tramway in 1977 and in 1982 through operation to the centre of Arad started. The economic difficulties after the collapse of the communist regime in 1989 saw two branches closed with just the Arad–Ghioroc service remaining as interurban tram lines 11 and 12 with an hourly service. 

 

The service on the run-down 22km interurban was supposed to close on 2 June to enable modernisation work to start, but ended slightly earlier than expected, on 26 May, due to a substation fire. A three-year renewal programme, including the electrical supply system, has started, with trams cut back to Piata Podgoria on the city outskirts, while an application for EU funding is put together. There is some scepticism that if the funding is granted, work can be completed by 2028. The city line to FAT Frumos was re-opened on 2 June so the tram network is now as follows: 

 

1, Fat Frumos–Podgoria–Piata Romana; 

 

1b, Fat Frumos–Zona Industriala Vest; 

 

3, Fat Frumos–Podgoria–Gara Artadul Nou; 

 

6, Piata gai–Piata UTA–Piata Romana; 

 

7, Fat Frumos–Piata UTA–Podgoria–Piata Romana–Fat Frumos; 

 

15, Fat Frumos–Gara CFR–Sere; 

 

16, Piata Romana–Podgoria–Sere; 

 

18b, Fat Frumos–Piata UTA–Piata Romana–Podgoria–Fat Frumos. 

 

Only a limited service is provided on lines 1 and 1b.