Trams in Kolkata

1873–1901: Horse-drawn trams The first horse-drawn trams in India ran for between Sealdah and Armenian Ghat Street on 24 February 1873. The service was discontinued on 20 November of that year. One year later, a second route towards north Kolkata up to Shyambazar via College Street was opened for residents and students of medical college, university, and various schools & colleges. A second route from Wellington Square (now known as Subodh Chandra Mullick Square) to Sealdah Station via Moula Ali was also opened for more transportation of railway passengers. Sealdah tram terminus was at that place where Sealdah metro station of the Kolkata metro line 2 is. At the same time, the first opening a westward tram route was opened by the High Court via Strand Road (now Rajib Gandhi Sarani) was connected by tram network for pleaders, law-related peoples, and river-bathers of Ganga. High Court tram terminus was at that place where now the annexure building of the High Court is situated. Another connection from Metcalf Hall towards Nimtala via Strand Road (now Rajib Gandhi Sarani) was also opened for serving the crematorium and serving of businessmen. Nimtala tram terminus was at that place beside of the red temple building is now situated. In 1967, the Government of West Bengal passed the Calcutta Tramways Company (Taking Over of Management) Act and assumed management on 19 July. Until that time, it was the golden age of Kolkata, with maximum number of rolling stocks, route kilometers and passengers. Some 415 trams were in daily service, out of a total of 459. Decline The decline of tram networks started in India during the early thirties, when the Kanpur tram was closed. However other cities had continued trams, but mass closure started from the mid-fifties to mid-sixties, when tram networks of Chennai, Delhi, and Mumbai gradually closed. Overall in the world, at that time, trams were thought of as an old technology and inflexible. The number of automobiles was increasing, so it started occupying tram tracks especially on narrow streets, and tram services got hampered. But surprisingly, car and bus drivers started blaming the tram, which was fueled by political leaders. So it was decided to close the entire Kolkata tram network within 1980. On 8 November 1976, the Calcutta Tramways (Acquisition of Undertaking) ordinance was promulgated under which the company (and its assets) was nationalized. However closures were continued. In 1998, the Gariahat Depot–Gariahat Junction link on Lila Roy Sarani closed for construction of the Gariahat overpass. It was early planned to relaying tram tracks on two sides of the road under the overpass, but it was finally cancelled because of then Mayor Subrata Mukherjee. During his reign, tram network again got on threat of closure, because he was a strong anti-tram person. Four years later, the Mominpur–Behala route on Diamond Harbour Road closed for the construction of an overpass in Taratala. The Park Circus Depot closed for construction of the Maa Flyover in 2015 and the Nonapukur Depot/Workshop has started regular service; the Gariahat Depot remained. In 2019, first A.C. tram route (AC-1) of Kolkata starts which runs between Esplanade and Shyambazar. The state government decided to stop tram-plying on the 37 years old Sealdah Flyover (Vidyapati Setu), after the survey of the bridge-advisory committee officers in 2019 and thus tram-plying along the Mirzapur-Nonapukur, Purabi Cinema-Sealdah and Moulali-Subodh Chandra Mallik Square stretches has also been stopped. State Government also decided to shut down tram-plying on Belgachia Bridge permanently due to the excessive load on the bridge. In a press conference held in December 2023, the mayor Firhad Hakim has stated his intent to close down all the tram routes in the city except Route 36, which would be run as a truncated heritage line till Victoria Memorial. This work was started around September 2024, but after High Court declined this work on 14 January, 2025 that work get stopped and removed all wires on very next day. On 2 February, 2025 tramcar number 252-1 successfully turn into bidirectional tram for heritage line. But after canceling of heritage line, it will give normal service later. Timeline • 1992 - Esplanade – Planetarium route reclosed. (Route 12A). Bus service introduced. • 1994 - Howrah Station terminus closed and converted to public bus terminus. Route 11, 20 & 26 had come back to Howrah Bridge terminus. Metcalfe Hall – Howrah Bridge terminus closed. (Route 15, 21, 30 & 32 diversion). Ultadanga new terminus opened. • 1995 - Dalhousie Square – Metcalfe Hall - High Court route closed. Route 14 had come back to Dalhousie Square terminus. • 1998 - Gariahat Depot – Gariahat Junction route closed. (Route 25 & 26 had come back to Gariahat Depot) • 2002 - Mominpur – Behala route closed. (Route 27, 35 & 37) • 2004 - Shyambazar Junction – Galiff Street route closed. (Route 13, route 12 had come back to Rajabazar) • 2008 - Dalhousie Square terminus redesigned for underground car parking. • 2011 - Behala – Joka route closed for conversion to metro line 3. • 2012 - Bagbazar terminus closed, Bagbazar – Galiff Street section doubled. (Route 8 had extended to Galiff Street) • 2019 - Maniktala - Shyambazar – Belgachhia route closed. Belgachhia depot became a full bus depot. (Route 1, 2, & 4. Route 11 had started from Shyambazar terminus). Mirzapur – Sealdah – Moula Ali – Nonapukur route closed. (Route 12, 17, 20, 26) Wellington Square – Moula Ali route closed. (Route 12, 17) • 2020 - Kalighat – Wattganj closed (Route 24, 29, 30). Rajabazar – Maniktala – Ultadanga closed. (Route 16, 17, 18). Khidirpur - Esplanade closed. (Route 36). • 2024 - Tolleygunge – Ballygunge (Route 24/29) suspended == Rolling stock ==

CTC owns 257 trams (as of Sep. 2024), of which 125 used to run daily till 2011. Each single-deck articulated car can carry 200 passengers (60 seated). But the number of trams sharply decreased due to government's negligence and now only 17 trams run daily (as of Sep. 2024). The early horse-drawn cars and steel cars manufactured before 1952 were imported from England. Early trams were single-coach, similar to those in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kanpur. Triple-coach trams were tried without success. The later stock was the SLT type: double-coach with three doors, four wheels under each coach and no wheels between coaches. SLT trams had no front iron net but had a front-coach trolley pole. The both-end type had a front iron net and a rear-coach trolley pole. These were gradually replaced by articulated trams on all routes. The SLC type was introduced much later on the Bandhaghat line, and continued until its closure in 1971; after that, SLC trams began running on the Gariahat and Tollygunge lines on the Kolkata side. Two trams were recently renovated with front and back glass, fluorescent lights, FM radio, digital display boards, angled seats, and a fibreglass ceiling. The Nonapukur workshop began manufacturing 19 new trams from 2008 to 2010, of which four were nearing completion. The roof is clear polycarbonate sheeting with a wide window, and it has comfortable seating and better visibility from within. The workshop is also renovating steel-body (BSCL) cars. With plans for banquet-cafeteria and air-conditioned trams to attract commuters and foreign tourists (increasing CTC revenue), a single-coach, air-conditioned banquet tram has been introduced for heritage tours of North Kolkata in the morning and South Kolkata in the evening. Although the air-conditioned tram had poor ridership when it was introduced, more air-conditioned trams have since been introduced. and the world's first shopping (glam) tram and library tram. == Rolling stock classification ==

• Horse Trams - The service was started with this class in 1873. Horse drawn cars were withdrawn gradually after electrification of the network from 1902. • Steam Trams - Steam propelled trams were introduced as a substitute to horse-drawn trams and withdrawn within a very short period after electrification of the system. • J Class / Single coach (old) Trams - The J Class trams were 4 Axled Single Car Trams numbered from 301 to 306. • K Class Trams - The K Class trams (often called the English Cars) were articulated 6 axled wooden trams manufactured between 1931 and 1939. These trams were numbered between 307 and 489. • L Class Trams - The L Class trams (often affectionately called the Hatigari or Elephant Car) were Streamlined articulated trams manufactured between 1942 and 1951 at the Nonapukur Workshop. These trams were numbered between 490 and 559. The L class trams were one of the most iconic types of trams to have ever ran on Kolkata's streets, it had extra overhand both at its front and rear. • Pay As You Enter or PAYE Trams- after the closure of the Bombay (now Mumbai) tramways in 1964, CTC obtained 45 sets of maximum-traction trucks and controllers from Bombay Electricity Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST). These running units were used in a class of six experimental Pay As You Enter (PAYE) trams. The prototype (201) was built in 1965, and 202-203 followed in 1966, with 204 - 206 being added in 1967. In about 1970 the PAYE system was dropped and the trams were modified to conventional layout with roving rather than seated conductors, and the entrances at the ends of the trams were sealed. • Sundari Trams - Sundari trams were wooden articulated trams similar to the K Class built in 1976 - 77. These trams were numbered between 561 and 587. The chief difference was that these trams were fitted out as double first-class cars. This feature also won the trams their alternative title of "De Luxe" trams. The double headlamps gave way to a single unit but, on the other hand, the blue and white livery was adorned with black and white flashes on the dash, and black and white chevrons on the fenders and trolley poles, and a glass windscreen. • Burn standard Trams – After many years of SLC and articulated trams, rolling stock arrived from Burn Standard India which is stronger, heavier and faster than earlier designs and reversed the declining public perception of trams in the city. The improved stock began running throughout the city on all routes. The Burn standard Trams were delivered between 1982 and 1989, and were numbered between: A- 207 to 281, B- 291 to 299, C- 600 to 659 and D- 701 to 725. • Jessop Trams- The Jessop & Company made trams were sleeker than the Burn standard in design and were delivered between 1988 and 1989 and were numbered between 681 and 700. This was the last original fleet added to the system other than refurbished cars. Some of them were modified with front glass; some were modified to resemble Melbourne's B-class trams with fluorescent lights, back glass and double ends. • Fibre Body Trams – Before the introduction of the single-coach tram in December 2012, this was the last new rolling stock. Refurbished in the *Nonapukur Workshop*, various L Class, Burn standard and Jessop trams were completely torn down and refurbished from scratch. Some were modified with front glass; one was modified with fluorescent lights, FM radio, digital advertising and route boards. These refurbished cars were built between 2008 and 2011. • Single-coach (new) – Introduced on 24 December 2012, they were reportedly faster and more manoeuvrable than double-coach trams; the carriage is longer than those in double-coach trams. More single-coach trams were planned across the city (including air-conditioned coaches), possibly replacing double-coach trams and enabling some closed routes to reopen. ==Power supply==

The trams have a 550 V DC power supply from overhead lines. Power was obtained from a trolley pole, a current collector mounted on top of the tram. The track rails were the return path for the current. DC power was supplied by mercury-arc rectifier (converter) stations, located throughout the city. ==Workshops, Depots and termini==

Workshop Kolkata Tram system has a central workshop at Nonapukur, Kolkata, referred to as Nonapukur Workshop, which makes tram components and assemble, repair, service, refurbrish trams. The workshop can also produce brand new trams. Tram Depots • Kalighat – 1881 to 2019 = 138 years, now abandoned. (Route 30, 31, 24/30, 30/36) • Khidirpur – 1883 to 2020 = 137 years, now a bus depot. (Route 36, 29/36, 30/36) • Belgachhia – 1903 to 2019 = 116 years, now a bus depot. (Route 1, 2, 3, 4, 11) • Tollygunge – 1903 to 2024 = 121 years, now a bus depot. (Route 29, 32, 29/36, 24/29) • Ghasbagan – 1908 to 1971 = 63 years, now a bus depot. (Route 41, 42) • Rajabazar – 1910 to 2021 = 110 years, now a bus depot. (Route 12, 14) • Park Circus – 1925 to 2016 = 91 years, now a bus depot. (Route 20, 21, 22) • Gariahat – 1943 to still running, also an electric bus depot. (Route 25) Terminus • Dalhousie Square – 1881 to 2017 = 136 years, suspended as tram terminus. (Route 2, 4, 6, 8, 13, 14, 16, 22, 24, 25, 29, 30) • Sealdah Station – 1881 to 1981 = 100 years, now a parking lot. (Route 14) • Esplanade – 1881 to present, now tram & bus terminus. (Route 5 and 25) • High Court – 1882 to 1995 = 91 years, now annex building of high court. (Route 14, 15) • Nimtala – 1882 to 1973 = 91 years, now a street. (Route 19) • Shyambazar – 1903 to present, tram terminus. (Route 5) • Bagbazar – 1904 to 2012 = 108 years, now a godown. (Route 7, 8) • Galiff Street – 1908 to 2017 = 109 years, now a street. (Route 8, 12, 13, 50, 12/7) • Howrah Station – 1908 to 1994 = 86 years, now a bus terminus. (Route 11, 12A, 18, 20, 21, 26, 28, 30, 32, 40, 41, 42) • Bandhaghat – 1908 to 1971 = 63 years, now a street. (Route 41, 42) • Shibpur – 1908 to 1971 = 63 years, now a street. (Route 40) • Behala – 1908 to 2011 = 103 years, now a street. (Route 27, 35) • Racecourse – 1927 to 1976 = 49 years, now a street. • Ballygunge – 1928 to 2024 = 96 years, now abandoned. (Route 24, 25, 26, 27, 24/29) • Planetarium – 1979 to 1992 = 13 years, now a park. (Route 12A) • Ultadanga – 1985 to 2020 = 35 years, now abandoned. (Route 16, 17, 18) • Joka – 1986 to 2011 = 25 years, now a bus terminus. (Route 37) == Routes ==

Active Routes Defunct Routes == Accidents ==

• On 14 October 1954, Bengali poet Jibanananda Das got hit by a tramcar. He died eight days after; as a result of being involved in that accident. Witnesses had later recounted that the tramcar had blown its whistle, but Das did not stop, and got struck. Some have also speculated the accident was suicide. • On 3 December 2012, a seven-year-old was killed by a tram entering the Ultadanga depot. The boy was reportedly playing near the tracks when the tram approached and it struck him, before the brakes could be fully applied. • A bus driver attempted to overtake a tram on 31 January 2013. The rear of the bus grazed the tram, amputating a bus passenger's arm. The man was rushed to the hospital for his arm to be reattached. • On 19 June 2014, a driverless tram struck 10 cars. No fatalities or injuries were reported. == Present-day advocacy and awareness ==

Calcutta Tram Users Association (CTUA) is an apolitical organization created in December 2016 and registered under the Society Act, formed by tramway users and advocating for the tramways of Kolkata since 2016. == In popular culture ==

Several movies have been shot on the Kolkata tram network and in its depots: • Howrah Bridge • Bari theke Paliye • The World of Apu • Mahanagar • Interview • Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi • City of Joy • Char Adhyay • Calcutta Mail • Hey Ram • Yuva • The Namesake • Parineeta • Sukno Lanka • Kahaani • Barfi • Open Tee Bioscope • Piku • Bullet Raja • Jay Jay • Parineeta • Detective Byomkesh Bakshy • Meri Pyaari Bindu • Raavan • Kushi • Natasaarvabhowma • Chaalchitra • Chaalchitra Ekhon • Oti Uttam == See also ==