Trams in An Bhá nan Éirith Ghréine

The tramlines of An Bhá nan Éirith Ghréine (Rockallian: Línea dTráim na nBhá nan Éirith Ghréine, Fernolian: Lina Tram nan Bí nan Mhéifridh nan Éulon) are a network of serving the Rockallic capital An Bhá nan Éirith Ghréine and the surrounding Rockallic Federal District. With 18 lines, 565 trams, 202 stops, and a total length of 264 km it is the largest tram network in the world, surpassing the by 14 kilometres.

Trams have operated in An Bhá nan Éirith Ghréine since 1865, starting with a single horse-drawn tramline running from east to west. The system was electrified in 1927 and greatly expanded. The system reached its current length after the completion of the tramway to Ábergheoinn in Léacheannelochián in 1993. It is operated by the Department of Tramway Operations of the Marquessate of Transport and Infrastructure.

Horse tram
The first tram in An Bhá nan Éirith Ghréine was a running from An Iméallean na nCháteair to Óibh Ngháidhrith via the city centre of the Baronetcy of An Bhá nan Éirith Ghréine and Léacheannelochián, following roughly the route of the current Line 15, and opened in 1865. The tramway was built through a joint effort by the federal government of Rockall and the Confederate Government of the Seafaring Confederation.

The horse tram proved succesful and popular, and in 1870 three more horse tramlines were opened: the current Lines 1, 2 and 4.

Electrification
The tram network was electrified in 1927 after an act of the Parliament of the Earldom of Rockall with the approval of the Confederate Government and the Legislature of the Rockallic Federal District. With the electrification, the network was greatly expanded to cover the expanding agglomeration of the district.

Expansions
With the opening of the Red Line in 1967, additional tram tracks were laid in order to reach the new stations of Crannchóiste and An Iméallan na nCháitear. An additional tramtrack was also laid to connect Déaseoinn to the tram stop Teoirrin na nBhá nan Éirith Ghréine 's Léacheannelochián, and further on the Central Station.

The last extension to date to the tram network was the tram track to the neighbourhood of Ábergheoinn in Léacheannelochián.

Current status
As of 2015, the tram network of An Bhá nan Éirith Ghréine is run by the Marquessate of Transport and Infrastructure.

In 2001, a massive overhaul of the tram routes took place, bringing back the total number of tramlines from 25 to 18. This was done due to complaints that the system from before 2001 was unnecessarily complicated and in some cases plainly illogical. An example of this was Line 24 which ran between Déaseoinn Léabheinn na n-áibhainn and Teoirrin na nBhá nan Éirith Ghréine 's Léacheannelochián. This meant that passengers had to change platforms at Teoirrin na nBhá nan Éirith Ghréine 's Léacheannelochián, which involved crossing the heavily trafficked Sríad ag Óithear. In another example, Lines 23 and 25 were joined together and formed the current Line 11.

Future
There are currently plans to create a tramway between Méase na Déarnuiardh and Léacheannelochián Ábergheoinn-Fareoise via An Bhá nan Éirith Ghréine Airport and Óibhùirrchennog, which would eventually initiate/terminate at Léacheannelochián railway station. Works on the tramway are expected to begin in 2016 and will end in 2018. This new line will be known as Line 19.

Routes
The tram system of An Bhá nan Éirith Ghréine currently has 18 routes, covering every baronetcy except Méasa. Most routes run throughout the day, the only exception being line 18, which runs only in mornings and afternoons on weekdays.

Tracks
For additional information, see gauntlet tracks of the An Bhá nan Éirith Ghréine tram network.

All tram tracks are 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge, and electrified at 600 V DC Catenary.

Due to the fact that a large number of different tramlines often use the same stretches of track, the system makes use of a large system of ; are rare.

The stretch of track from Déarnuiardh to Ó Dhéase to Teach na Ruicheall railway station and via the Old City to Central Station is considered to be the worlds most complicated gauntlet track, especially because junctions are used on several occasions. The Teach na Ruicheall Crossroads Square is especially notorious, as 9 regular lines lines (2, 4, 7, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 an 16) converge here, as well as line 18 during rush hours.

The stretch between Teach na Ruicheall railway station and Central Station consists of four tracks rather than two tracks alongside each other, and tram stops have three platforms rather than two. These stops have both and, rather than only one or the other.

Tram stops
The system serves a total of 202 tram stops, some of which are akin to metro stations due to their size and location. Most stops are, with the exception of the termini, the tram stops at the Central Station, the tram stops at Teach na Ruicheall railway station, and the tram stops at Ó Dhéase railway station. In order to leave a tram at a given stop, a passenger must push a special button in the tram. This invokes a short sound signal, and a special red indicator lamp is lit in the passenger space, along with a signal lamp on the driver's control panel.

At a stop, when wishing to board, a passenger should raise their hand to request an approaching tram to halt.

Tickets and fares
The most common and advised of payment method on the tram system is the Ceartagh na nIomhair Peoiblí. These can be purchased online or in one of the public transport shops across the city. Any subscriptions which are granted to one CIP by the Marquessate of Transport and Infrastructure are also valid on the trams of An Bhá nan Éirith Ghréine.

It is also possible to buy a day ticket for skr. 16.50 (approximately US $8.25), a week ticket for skr. 80.85 (approximately US $40.40), a month ticket for skr. 321.75 (approximately US $160.88), or a year ticket for skr. 3192 (approximately US $1596). Children under the age of 4 travel for free, those between the ages of 5 and 12 get an 80% discount, and those between the ages of 13 and 19 can travel with a 60% discount. Students and those aged 65+ can travel for free.

Fleet
The current rolling stock of the tram network consists of 565 trams in total. This includes 20, 65 which were bought from , 215 , and 265.

The tramcars are classified according to the type of tramcar and who owns them, with an additional three numbers. A-class trams are owned by the Department of Tramway Operations (operator of all trams), B-class trams are owned by the Marquessate of Transport and Infrastructure as a whole, and C-class trams are owned by the Rockallic Federal District.

Flexity Swift



 * 265, all of them operating as of 2015

A total of 265 were commissioned by the Department of Tramway Operations under the orders of the Legislature of the Rockallic Federal District in 2001. In 2007, all 265 were in operation. They are classified as type 7 tramcars.

The Flexity Swifts are three-section, four-bogie articulated trams built by in their Tábelghe factory, with the propulsion systems and bogies coming from Bombardier's Mannheim and Siegen factories in Germany. They are 33 metres long, 2.65 metres wide, low floor with anti-slip flooring, air-conditioned, have automatic audio-visual announcements and a passenger capacity of 210.

Of all Flexity Swifts, 173 are owned by the Department of Tramway Operations and 92 are owned by the Rockallic Federal District. Those owned by the first are numbered 7A 001 to 7A 173, those owned by the latter are numbered 7C 001 to 7C 096.

Flexity 2



 * 230 ordered, 215 operating and 2 being tested as of 2015

A total of 230 tramcars were commissioned by the Department of Tramway Operations in 2010 as replacement for the type 5 trams that were in use until 2013 (see below), as well as being a partial replacement for the current type 4 trams (see below). As of 2015, 215 of the ordered 230 tramcars were in service, with another two being tested and expected to replace two type 4 trams by January 2016. It is expected that by the end of 2016, all 230 Flexity 2 tramcars will be in service. They are classified as type 8 tramcars.

The Flexity 2s are seven-section, six-bogie articulated trams built by Bombardier Transportation in their Tábelghe factory, with the propulsion systems and bogies coming from Bombardier's Mannheim en Siegen factories in Germany. They are 43.2 metres long, 2.3 metres wide, low floor with anti-slip flooring, air-conditioned, have automatic audio-visual announcements and a passenger capacity of 250.

Of all Flexity 2 cars, 160 are owned by the Department of Tramway Operations, 55 are owned by the Rockallic Federal District, and 15 are owned by the Marquessate of Transport and Infrastructure. Those owned by the first are numbered 8A 001 to 8A 160, those owned by the second are numbered 8C 001 to 8C 055, and those owned by the latter are numbered 8C 001 to 8C 015.

W-class Melbourne tram



 * 85, 65 of which are still in service, with the remaining 15 on stand-by, to be decommissioned soon together with another 15

A total of 85 of the W6 subtype were bought from the  in 1986 as a replacement for the type 3 trams (see below) on all lines except Line 1. As of 2015, 65 are still in service, with 15 to be replaced by type 8 tramcars by the end of 2016, and 15 having already been replaced by the type 8 trams. The Department of Tramway Operations intends to completely decommission the entire W-class fleet by 2021. They are classified as type 4 tramcars.

The W-class Melbourne trams are single-section, two-bogie articulated trams built by the between 1939 and 1955. They are 13 metres long, 2.4 metres wide, high floor and a passenger capacity of 54.

Of all W-class Melbourne trams, 60 are owned by the Marquessate of Transport and Infrastructure and 25 are owned by the Rockallic Federal District. Those owned by the first are numbered 4B 001 to 060, and those owned by the second are numbered 4C 001 to 4C 025.

Stadler Tango



 * 20 in operation, 50 ordered

A total of 20 were commissioned by the Department of Tramway Operations in 2008 to replace the last remaining type 3 trams (see below) on Line 1. By 2011, the type 3 trams were completely decommissioned and Line 1 was served by only Tangos. In 2015, another 50 sets were ordered in order to replace the 50 type 4 tramcars that would remain after having been partially replaced by type 8 cars. All sets are expected to be in service by 2021. The first batch is classified as type 6a and the second batch as type 6b tramcars.

The Tangos are six-section, five-bogie articulated trams built by between 2008 and 2010, and to be built between 2015 and 2021. They are 35 metres long, 2.55 metres wide, low floor with anti-slip flooring, air-conditioned, have automatic audio-visual announcements and a passenger capacity of 266.

All 20 current Tango trams are owned by the Department of Tramway Operations. Of the 50 future Tango trams, 36 are owned by the Department of Tramway Operations, 9 are owned by the Rockallic Federal District, and 5 are owned by the Marquessate of Transport and Infrastructure. The current ones owned by the Department of Tramway Operations are numbered 6Aa 001 to 6Aa 020; the future ones owned by the Department will be numbered 6Ab 021 to 6Ab 056, those owned by the RFD will be numbered 6Cb 001 to 6Cb 009, and those owned by the Marquessate will be numbered 6Bb 001 to 6Bb 005.

Horse tram



 * 100, all decommissioned

The first trams to be used were horse trams, which were in service from 1865 until electrification in 1927. By 1927, a total of 100 horse trams were in use, although in most cases they were being pulled by buses rather than horses, which were in the minority since 1915. They are classified as type 1 tramcars, but are not numbered according to the current numbering system.

The horse trams had a length of 10 metres, a width of 3 metres, and accomodated for a maximum of 40 passengers.

All horse trams were owned by the Marquessate of Transport and Infrastructure and numbered from 11 to 1100.

Blue Electric Tram



 * 346, all decommissioned

The so-called "Blue Electric Trams" (Rockallian: Tráimma a Léichtrichd Góirma, Fernolian: Trama o dTréidhin Gláisa) were the first electric trams to be used in the Rockallic Federal District. In 1926, a total of 100 of these trams were built to replace the horse trams after the electrification; an additional 246 were built between 1930 and 1936. They remained in use until 1947, when they were replaced by the type 3 tramcars (see below). They are classified as type 2 tramcars.

The Blue Electric Trams were single-section, two-bogie articulated trams built by the Marquessate of Transport and Infrastructure. They were 13 metres long, 2.55 metres wide, high floor, and had a passenger capacity of 54.

The initial 100 trams were owned by the Marquessate of Transport and Infrastructure. The additional 246 were shared amongst the Marquessate (100 owned), the Department of Tramway Operations created in 1932 (100 owned), and the Rockallic Federal District (46 owned). The initial 100 owned by the Marquessate are numbered 2B 1 to 2B 100, the second batch of 100 owned by the Marquessate are numbered 2B 101 to 2B 200; those owned by the Department are numbered 2A 001 to 2A 100, and those owned by the RFD are titled 2C 001 to 2C 046.

PCC Europe



 * 475, 75 on stand-by, 400 decommissioned

The trams were introduced in An Bhá nan Éirith Ghréine in 1947 as a replacement for the type 2 trams in an attempt to modernise the system. 346 trams were built initially, with another 129 ordered in 1955 for the (planned) expension of the network. They were largely replaced by type 4 tramcars (see above) and type 5 tram cars (see below), although 20 remained in service until 2011, when they were replaced by type 6 tramcars (see above). They initial 346 trams are classified as type 3a tramcars, the latter batch of 129 are classified as type 3b tramcars.

The trams were single-section, two-bogie articulated trams built by. They had a length of 15.39 metres, a width of 2.74 metres, high floor, and a passenger capacity of 81.

Of the initial 346 trams, 200 belonged to the Marquessate of Transport and Infrastructure, 100 were owned by the Department of Tramway Operations, and 46 were owned by the Rockallic Federal District. Those owned by the first are numbered 3Ba 001 to 3Ba 200, those owned by the second are numbered 3Aa 001 to 3Aa 100, and those owned by the latter are numbered 3Ca 001 to 3Ca 046. The latter batch of 129 tramcars all belong to the Department and are numbered 3Ab 101 to 3Ab 229.

The 75 cars on standby all belong to the Department.

Duewag trams



 * 260, all decommissioned

The were introduced in An Bhá nan Éirith Ghréine in 1975 to replace type 3 trams. 260 of these trams were built between 1973 and 1975, and they were used on the tram network from 1975 until 2001, when they were removed from service. In 2005, all units were decommissioned and sold off. They are classified as type 5 tramcars.

The trams were single-section, eight-bogie articulated trams built by in Germany. They had a length of 27.8 metres, a width of 2.63 metres, high floor, and a passenger capacity of 125.

Of all Duewag trams, 150 belonged to the Department of Tramway Operations, 92 belonged to the Rockallic Federal District, and 18 belonged to the Marquessate of Transport and Infrastructure. Those belonging to the first were numbered 5A 001 to 5A 150, those belonging to the second were numbered 5C 001 to 5C 092, and those belonging to the latter were numbered 5B 001 to 5B 018.