Trams in Besançon
The Besançon Tram network dated back to a horse tram service inaugurated in 1887. The first two electric tram lines began operating in 1897, joined later by (probably four) more. However, the system, which used only single tracks for its two lines, was badly damaged during World War II from which its finances also emerged in a parlous condition. In 1952, the operation having run out of funding possibilities, the Besançon trams were withdrawn: a city bus service was inaugurated in December 1952.
| Trams in Besançon | |
|---|---|
A tram in the Main Street (Grand Rue) of Besançon (post card 1905) | |
A CAF Urbos 3 tram at the Battant tram stop in Besançon (2015) | |
The Besançon tram network in 2014 | |
| Overview | |
| Locale | Besançon, Doubs, France |
| Transit type | Tram network |
| Number of lines | 2 (2014) |
| Number of stations | 31 (2014) |
| Annual ridership | 8.60 million (2018) |
| Operation | |
| Began operation | 1896 (narrow gauge electric trams) 2014 (standard gauge electric trams) |
| Ended operation | 1952 (narrow gauge electric trams) |
| Operator(s) | Société des Tramways électriques de Besançon, aka. TEB (1896–1912) Compagnie Franco-Belge (1912–1952) Ginko (since 2014) |
| Number of vehicles | 19 (1900–1913) 19 (since 2014) |
| Technical | |
| System length | 11 km (6.8 mi) (1903) 14.5 km (9.0 mi) (2014) |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge (since 2014) |
| Old gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge (1896–1952) |
| Electrification | 750 V DC (2014) |
| Average speed | 20 km/h (12 mph) |
| Top speed | 70 km/h (43 mph) |
Following a widely endorsed decision by the city authorities taken in 2005, a new publicly financed two route tram network opened, formally at the end of August 2014, serving the now much enlarged Besançon conglomeration. Although officially organised into two routes, for most of their length the two routes operate on the same track. Another line is scheduled to enter service in 2025.