Cape Town is considering bringing back its historic tramway system, and the Young Urbanist team is leading the charge to explore this possibility, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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They are currently assessing the feasibility of reintroducing trams and gauging public support to determine if the revival is worthwhile.
Luke van Wyk, Engineering Lead for the Young Urbanists Committee, shared that the feasibility study is ongoing.
He explained, ‘The feasibility study is still in progress but it would operate as a regular tram with rails in the road and overhead cables… a lot of the rails are still in the CBD and underneath the tar… so it’s there, we would just need to look into it and see who we can get onboard when it comes to public operators.’
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At this stage, the focus is on raising awareness and generating excitement about the project.
Van Wyk said, ‘At this stage, we’re just trying to create awareness and excitement around it so we’ve got some public support, so that when we bring it to the City, there will be a lot of support already.’
He believes that reintroducing trams could offer an efficient transportation option for city commuters while helping to alleviate traffic congestion.
‘Trams are different to other rail systems because you can miss traffic and you have the flexibility to operate on mixed roads as well when there are space constraints,’ Van Wyk noted.
He also pointed out the potential benefits of integrating trams into Cape Town’s transport network.
‘Trams can offer an efficient way of moving people… so it would be great to have this choice… trams would fit in perfectly in this multi-modal basket of transport options in Cape Town.’
According to Van Wyk, trams could serve as a valuable mode of transportation within the city, particularly in busy areas where they could help reduce congestion and improve mobility.
Additional information reveals that Cape Town’s tram system once played a significant role in the city’s transport network before being phased out. The revival effort aims to blend historical elements with modern technology, potentially transforming how residents and visitors navigate the city.
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Picture: Wikimedia Commons