The public transports

Over the last decades, around twenty tram-train networks have been implemented throughout Europe, a new transport system that combines the advantages of tram and railway, allowing direct connection between city centres and their nearby towns and villages. Since the new networks started in Germany in 1979, tram-trains have spread along the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, the Netherlands, and especially France. Each one of these networks are analysed in this book through a detailed historical and technical tour.

Tramways returning to Spain is a fact that can be seen in the large number of tram networks, light rail and tram-trains that are running or under construction along the Spanish geography. The current tramway is very different from the one that existed in Spain until the 1970s. Nowadays we talk about sustainable, silent, safe and comfortable transport. This book describes more than 30 networks that exist in Spain at the date of its publication, which, with their service, have modernized and revalued living in their cities.

The new citizen demands for a proper quality of life require rethinking the traditional urban concept, as well as proposing a new city project that responds to the needs of sustainable mobility to combat global warming. In this context, the new tramway is a comfortable, efficient and ecological transport which is presented as one of the solutions. Consequently, European tram networks have grown exponentially recently. This book describes the 327 networks existing in Europe at the date of its publication, earnestly detailing their history and technical characteristics.