Tenerife Tram (Spanish: Tranvía de Tenerife) is a light rail or tram service located on the island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands in Spain. It is operated by Metropolitano de Tenerife, a limited company now 100% owned by Cabildo de Tenerife.[1][2] Service started on 2 June 2007 over a 12.5-kilometre (7.8 mi) route that 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.

Tenerife Tram
Two trams at the Gracia stop on Line 1
Two trams at the Gracia stop on Line 1
Overview
Native nameTranvía de Tenerife
OwnerMetropolitano de Tenerife
(100% owned by Cabildo de Tenerife)[1][2]
LocaleTenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
Transit typeTram (light rail)
Number of lines
Number of stations27 (across two lines)
Daily ridership50,000
Annual ridership14.7 million (2018)[3]
Operation
Began operation2 June 2007
Operator(s)Tranvía
Technical
System length15.1 km (9.4 mi)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge[citation needed]
System map

History

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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

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After much political debate on investment in trams versus buses, approval was eventually given to the 306 million budget.[4]

Construction started in 2004, and by December 2005 sufficient track existed for train supplier Alstom to start test-running on a 600-metre (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.[5]

Rolling stock

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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

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Tenerife Tram
Line 1
 
Intercambiador for Santa Cruz 
 
Fundación
 
Teatro Guimerá
 
Weyler
 
La Paz
 
Puente Zurita
 
Cruz del Señor
 
Conservatorio
 
Chimisay
 
Principes de España
 
Hospital La Calendaria
 
 
Line 2
 
 
Tíncer  
 
 
Taco
 
 
San Jerónimo
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tram depot
 
(Taco) El Cardonal
 
 
Hospital Universitario
 
 
 
 
 
Las Mantecas
 
 
Ingenieros
 
 
Campus Guajara
 
 
La Cuesta  
Line 2
 
Gracia
 
Museo de la Ciencia
 
Cruz de Piedra
 
Padre Anchieta
 
(La Laguna) La Trinidad  
Line 1
 
Where it runs at street level the Tranvía de Tenerife is separated from other traffic
 
Inside a typical tramcar, looking forward towards the driver

Line 1

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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 La Laguna bus interchange at a cost of €900,000.[6]

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

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The control area of one of the trams

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 (1.6 mi) 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

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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.[7]

Tariffs

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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.[8]

Ticket (descriptions/prices as of 1 Aug 2012) Cost Price/journey
Single ticket (1 trip) €1,35
"Ida y vuelta" (return) 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

Network Map

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Nuestra Empresa". Metro Tenerife. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Our Company". Metro Tenerife. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  3. ^ "El tranvía mueve en 2018 a 14 millones de pasajeros". El Día (in Spanish). 1 June 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  4. ^ Historia del tranvía Archived 2009-09-20 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish). Page 11.
  5. ^ Tenerife ya puede montarse en el Tranvía Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ El traslado de la parada del tranvía cuesta 900.000 euros
  7. ^ http://www.laopinion.es/tenerife/2009/12/02/cabildo-niega-proyecto-linea-tres-centro/258323.html Línea 3 del tranvía
  8. ^ Tipos de billetes y tarifas
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