Rotterdam Trams

The first Rotterdam tram lines were laid in the year 1879 by the RTM or the Rotterdamsche Tramweg Maatschappij, which had 1435 mm gauge lines. These lines were served by over 100 horse drawn tramcars. In the successive years, the network of tram lines were expanded connecting places like Hillegersberg, Overschie, Delfshaven, Voorne-Putten and Schiedam.

Steam trams also form an integral part of the Rotterdam transportation that served a considerable part of the city in the olden days. In the 1880s, the trams that formed the most popular means of transportation in Rotterdam were the open cross-bench tramcars that offered an airy sojourn into the city. One of these tram cars is still on exhibition in a museum as museum tram car.

Advent of the electric Rotterdam trams

Electric trams in Rotterdam were first seen rolling across the city in the year 1905. Laid by the RETM, these trams were much faster and convenient to travel than the steam trams. In the year 1907, some of the Rotterdam electric trams started being drawn by horses, which made up for a unique combination of electric engineering with horse power. The motor bus line was first introduced to Rotterdam roads in the year 1906, but was closed soon after and was reopened in the year 1920. The motor buses served the southern bank of the city close to the municipality.

Rotterdam tram rates

The Rotterdam tram rates are pretty reasonable. It is best to buy a slot card or 'strippen card' worth 6.70 EU. The whole city is divided into a number of sections. The costs of the tram tickets are calculated according to the number of sections that you have to travel through plus one. These strip cards are valid only for maximum of 17 strips. 2 to 4 strips are valid for a period of one hour, 5 to 7 strips are valid for one and half hour.

As the Rotterdam trams grew in numbers, tram lines were expanded covering almost each and every corner of the city. Presently, it is one of the most convenient means of transportation in Rotterdam.