The Szczecin tram system is a 12-line, standard gauge tramway system in Szczecin, Poland, that has been in operation since 1879 (when the town was Stettin, Prussia). The tramway operates on of route. There are two depots and twelve balloon loops (including five street ones). Daytime lines (night lines were abolished in 1996) are operated by the company Tramwaje Szczecià Âskie (Szczecin Tramways), on behalf of the ('; Road and Public Transport Administration). There is also a tourist line operated by the Szczecin's Association of the Enthusiasts of Public Transport.
On October 21, 1872, just before the demolition of fortress walls, German engineer Johannes Bussing received from the Royal Police Directorate in Berlin concession for the construction of a horse tram network. Less than six years later, an important agreement with the city have been signed . On March 25, 1879, the company Stettiner StraÃÂen-Eisenbahn Gesellschaft was established in the same year the first horse tram lines were launched. On August 23, the first line, which began nearby of pl. Gaà Âczyà Âskiego, lead through pl. ZwyciÃÂstwa and ended at Staszica Street. On October 16, the second line from Wiszesà Âawa Street to Potulicka Street was opened. The length of both routes rose to 11.5 km. Initially, in Szczecin there was 16 trams and 80 horses, and in 1898 there were 39 trams and 198 horses. In 1886, two new lines were opened : from the Szczecin Gà Âówny railway station to Chmielewskiego Street and from Wyszyà Âskiego Street to Nabrzeà ¼e Wieleckie. The first depot was located at the intersection of Wojska Polskiego avenue and Piotra Skargi Street. Later another 3 were established : at DÃÂbogórska Street, Dubois Street and Kolumba Street.
From 1896 to 1900, most of lines had become electric. Electrification have been performed by Allgemeine Elektrizitäts-Gesellschaft. The main tram routes had two tracks, the other routes had only one track. Electricity have been brought by power stations located in Pomorzany, Old Town and Gdaà Âska Street. In 1904, except for colors, tram lines also became numbers:
In 1903 the first line was built, which crossed Odra and reached the right bank of city â a new line was opened through Most Dà Âugi to ul. Energetyków, and in 1910 through Most Kà Âodny to Wendy Street at à Âasztownia. In 1907 was opened Niemierzyn depot (in Niemierzyà Âska Street), and 5 years later GolÃÂcin depot (in Wiszesà Âawa Street). In 1926, after Wyspa Jaskóà Âcza had been connected (at the back of Depot in Kolumba Street) with city, on the island have been located a storehouse. In 1927, after Daibe Airport had been built, nearby have been constructed a new tram balloon loop. The tram route has led in those days through 4 bridges: Dà Âugi and Cà Âowy, Portowy, and above Regaliczka and Cà Âowy. It was the only one at the right bank of Szczecin. Before 1929, electric traction was installed above bridges . Earlier trams had been passing those bridges by increasing their speed in front of bridges. Because of inhabitants' requests, already working tram lines have been expanded. The average speed of trams was about 16 km/h. Since 1928, in Szczecin, apart from tram system, there are also city buses. List of tram lines in 1929:
In 1934 the last tram depot was opened, at 200 Wojska Polskiego Avenue (Zajezdnia Pogodno). In 1940, the total line length measured 50.3 km and trams had transported 58.8 million passengers . After bombardments during World War II, in 1943 and 1944 a lot of routes had been out-of-order, but motorman, owing to their own work, succeeded in launching some of the tram routes.
During World War II, 45% of tracks were damaged, 75% of electric tractions, and 50% of trams. After the war, only one tram depot was working â depot in Niemierzyà Âska Street. From Brama Portowa the first postwar line, opened on 12 August 1945. Not all of prewar routes had been rebuilt, like those in Staszica Street, E. Plater Street, Rayskiego Street, part of Malczewskiego Street (from Wyzwolenia avenue to Matejki Street), Wendy Street and through Most Cà Âowy, while a part of theexisting routes had been extended. The first postwar company to manage public transport in Szczecin, was Tramwaje i autobusy miasta Szczecina. In the 1950s its name have been changed into Miejskie PrzedsiÃÂbiorstwo Komunikacyjne. That company managed 113 trams and 123 trailers. The bus stock have been fully destroyed. In 1945, Szczecin worked 23 motorman (mainly from Poznaà Â), and at the end of the same year there were already 560 motorman. In 1946 4 lines were opened, which had a total length of route 16.7 km. On 4 April 1947, the first postwar bus line had been opened. Tram lines in 1946:
Tram lines in 1948:
In 1956, 9 tram lines were working. Routes of lines 1, 5, 7 and 9 led through tram tracks in Wojska Polskiego avenue (from ZwyciÃÂstwa square to Szarych Szeregów square), Obroà Âców Stalingradu Street and through the Old Town. On 7 December 1967, at about 6:35 o'clock, a tram accident in Wyszaka Street took the lives of 15 people.
Tram lines in 1964:
On 1 December 1973, as a result of tendency to close tram lines in the centre of cities, tram transport was abolished in Wojska Polskiego avenue (from former Lenin square â current Szarych Szeregów to ZwyciÃÂstwa square), Obroà Âców Stalingradu Street and Jagielloà Âska Street (from Wojska Polskiego avenue to Piastów avenue). Apart from closing tracks, one had been opened in Bohaterów Warszawy avenue (from Jagielloà Âska Street) and Krzywoustego Street (to Koà Âciuszki square). In 1976, MPK was transformed into Wojewódzkie PrzedsiÃÂbiorstwo Komunikacji Miejskiej, which also managed public transport in other cities of Szczecin Voivodeship. In 1983, modernisation of tram depot Pogodno was finished.
Tram lines in 1988:
On 1 January 2009, Miejski Zakà Âad Komunikacyjny (operator of trams in Szczecin) was transformed into the new company Tramwaje Szczecià Âskie sp. z o.o. On 1 February 2011, PESA 120NaS "Swing" â first low-floor tram in Szczecin, began operation. On 26 March 2011, started modernisation of tram tracks in Krasià Âskiego Street, Niemierzyà Âska Street and Arkoà Âska Street. On 1 March 2012, ticket fares were changed. Current time limits are: 15, 30, 60 and 120 minutes. From April to August, during repairs of Brama Portowa square, old tram tracks had been replaced into modern ones. After 20 years of being abolished, on 3 September 2012, no. 10 tram line was launched on new route Gumieà Âce-Plac Rodà Âa. On 14 April 2014, repairs of tram tracks were finished in Piastów avenue, at the same time began repairs of run-down tram track in Potulicka Street and Narutowicza Street. Repair includes replacing old track and pavements for new. The Balloon loop "Potulicka" was also said to have been renovated. In autumn 2014, repairs of tram tracks in 3 Maja avenue had begun.
On 29 August 2015, the first stage of a new, grade-separated extension called Szczecin Fast Tram <small>()</small> opened, extending the Szczecin tram beyond the right bank of the East Oder and the Port of Szczecin to the southeastern neighbourhood of Osiedle SÃ Âoneczne via Szczecin-DÃÂ bie Airstrip and its associated request stop. The route is planned to extend into Bukowe-KlÃÂskowo neighbourhood in the near future.
It was built in 1898. It replaced earlier horse tram depot. The depot was renovated in 1926, 1979 and 1992. The first tram Konstal 105N reached the depot in June 1991. Since May 2001, the depotalso stored trams 105N2k/2000. Since 2008, the depot owns trams Tatra T6A2D, which have been bought from Berlin. Today, GolÃÂcin operates lines 5, 6, 11 and 12.
It is the largest and youngest tram depot. It was built in 1934 and expanded in 1981. All newly bought trams were sent here to 1991. Since the 1990s, The depot stores Konstal 105N trams and their newer version, 105N2k/2000. The depot also stores low-floor PESA 120Na and 120NaS2 trams. Except for these trams, Pogodno also former Berlin trams Tatra T6A2 and Tatra KT4Dt. Nowadays, depot operates lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12. The depot is currently being renovated.
Low-floor rolling stock can be found on lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12. Lines 2, 7 and 8 additionally run along the Szczecin Fast Tram extension.