Urban Public Transport Research Papers (original) (raw)

The first public tramline of Satu Mare was built as part of the railway project which linked the city with Viile Satu Mare and Ardud, The first plans were made in 1892 with steam power, but the preparations were long and the realization lasted until 8th of November 1900. At this date the first portion of the line was opened with an important change in the project: the train was operated with electric power, This was the most modern technology at that time and it contributed essentially to the modernization and urbanization of the city. The streets were stoned and several societies mentioned as benefic factor the electric tram.
The line started from the main railway station next to the city park, entered in the main square of the city, traversed the Somes river and reached the railway station next to the sawmill through the main road to Sätmärel. The line was conceived in order to link the most important public and cultural institutions and, in addition, several enterprises operating in the city: the city house, railway station, theater, post office, schools, churches, hotels and restaurants, the market, the Neuschloss sawmill, the steam mill and the electric plant. The new public line, therefore, served for tourists linking the most favorite sites and, in the same, for local inhabitants traveling to the public offices and working places.
The line was operated by the Local Railway Society Satu Mare — Ardud. The company had five electric motorcars produced in the Ganz Factory, Budapest. The company do not had its own generators, therefore the electricity of 550V, necessary for the cars, were bought from the electric plant of the city. This plant provided the electric power for the public and private institutions of the city and among them the railway was the one of the most important consumer. The electric line was of copper and it was mounted on pylons of 5,50 m height. The rails served as ground for the electricity.
The tram was operated between 7.00 am and 8.00 pm each day. The frequency of the services was 10 minutes initially, meaning a total of 170 lines in a day. This program proved to be too ambitious and it was not rentable. The population of Satu Mare did not changed its habits of traffic, they used the tram only occasionally. Therefore, after a month from the opening, in December 1900, the frequency of the service was reduced considerably, the program being adapted to the schedule of the railway. The frequency was more intense in days of market and Sunday. In order to attract more consumers, there were tickets for the tram which included the entrance fee for the public baths. Special service was operated in the theater season for the shows and, in order to fulfill further travel needs, in the program were included lines for scholars.
Due to several disadvantageous factors (low numbers of travelers and the high price of the electric power), the electric traction was changed to steam power at the spring of 1905. Comparing to the other cities in the region — the first electric tramline of Oradea was opened 1906, while in Debrecen and Nyíregyháza in 191 1 — the technological regression suggests that the population and economy of Satu Mare was too week to exploit efficiently this modern system, the needs being fulfilled with steam power and horse traction.