Trams in Samarkand
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The tram system of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, consists of two lines operated by Uzbek Railways, with a total of 26 stops and a length of 11.4 kilometers.
| Trams in Samarkand | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vario LF tram in Samarkand | |||||||||||||
| Operation | |||||||||||||
| Locale | Samarkand, Uzbekistan | ||||||||||||
| Open | 29 March 2017 | ||||||||||||
| Status | Operational | ||||||||||||
| Lines | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Owner | Uzbek Railways | ||||||||||||
| Infrastructure | |||||||||||||
| Propulsion system | Electric | ||||||||||||
| Electrification | Overhead | ||||||||||||
| Stock | Pragoimex Vario LF | ||||||||||||
| Statistics | |||||||||||||
| Route length | 11.4 km (7 mi) | ||||||||||||
| Stops | 26 | ||||||||||||
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Trams in Samarkand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The modern, electrified system opened its first line in 2017, and is the first system to operate in Samarkand since the Soviet-era system was closed down in 1973. Another two lines are planned for the future, to make a total of four lines.
History
The first trams in Samarkand began operation in 1924 and were powered by steam.[1]
In 1947, the tram system transitioned from steam to electric power. A fleet of 30 vehicles served the system until 1973, when it was dismantled.[1][2] The last of Samarkand's guided transport was disestablished in 2005, when the trolleybus system (operating from 1957) was removed.[1]
In 2016, Uzbek presidential candidate Shavkat Mirziyoyev promised that a new tram line would be built in Samarkand, and construction began upon his election.[3] Despite complaints from the local population over the effects of construction on traffic and the demolition of buildings to make way for the tram, the project finished on schedule. The first system line began operation in March 2017, with Mirziyoyev as its first passenger.[3][4]
The system's original stock of Pragoimex VarioLF trams were taken from Tashkent, whose tram project had been abandoned the year before. Later, Samarkand purchased 42 of these trams directly from Czech company Pragoimex.[2][5][6]
A second tram line opened the following year, along with eight new trams.[1]
