Trams return to Resita

The Romanian city of Resita in the Banat region (population 58 000) was one of those that benefited from a new tramway is the communist era, when President Ceausescu was trying to reduce the country’s fuel consumption. The standard-gauge tramway was opened in 1988, but the quality of construction work was poor, and the Romanian-built TIMIS trams became unreliable. Some renovation work was carried out in 1994/5 and second-hand Düwag trams from Dortmund in Germany were acquired, but in the end the whole line closed in August 2011. 

 

Since then there have been arguments in the city council for and against trams, but the availability of EU funding was a key factor in a decision to completely overhaul 9km of line, refurbish the depot and order 13 low-floor articulated trams from Turkish manufacturer Durmazlar. The EU subsidy was EUR 25M. The trams started to arrive in summer 2023 and have been tested as the rebuilt line was completed. From 1 December 2024 there were public rides on the route between Kaufland and Piata Republic. Scheduled revenue service started on 20 December. The tram serves 18 stops and there are no cash fares, just cards and SMS payments. 

 

A second phase is planned extending the line from Piata Republicii to an interchange at Muncitoresc.