Trams in Caen was the former public transit system serving the city of
Caen,
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
. The original tramway network, operated by Compagnie des tramways électriques de Caen opened in 1901 and closed on 23 January 1937, after which
buses took over as the primary means of public transport in Caen (until the 2002 opening of
Caen Guided Light Transit
The Caen guided light transit or Caen ''TVR'', locally known as "the Tram", was an electrically powered guided bus system in Caen, France, which uses Bombardier Guided Light Transit (''TVR'' in French) technology.
After a construction time la ...
replaced by the
Caen tramway
The Caen tramway (french: Tramway de Caen) is a tram in the city of Caen, France.
The tram opened on 27 July 2019 and replaced the Caen Guided Light Transit (TVR) that closed in December 2017. The tramway uses the same route as the TVR, with a s ...
in 2019).
Public transport began in 1860 with a horse omnibus service; in 1895, the Compagnie des Omnibus et Transports à chevaux was created to provide an organised urban transport service to the inhabitants of
Caen.
Network
The network of
narrow gauge
A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge narrower than standard . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and .
Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with tighter curves, smaller structu ...
lines spread over 11 km and all three lines opened in 1901, connecting the Route de Falaise (La Guérinière),
Caen-Ouest Station, Saint Pierre, Place du Canada (
Saint Martin), La Maladrerie and Venoix. The depot was situated on the Eastern side of the Bassin Saint Pierre, in the city centre of Caen, with the tram lines crossing the
Calvados' line to
Ouistreham
Ouistreham () is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandy region in northwestern France.
Ouistreham is a small port with fishing boats, leisure craft and a ferry harbour. It serves as the port of the city of Caen. The town borders the ...
.
While the tramway closed on 23 January 1937, the tracks remained for several years after that.
Rolling stock
The company operated a fleet of single car trams as well as trailers.
See also
*
Caen tramway
The Caen tramway (french: Tramway de Caen) is a tram in the city of Caen, France.
The tram opened on 27 July 2019 and replaced the Caen Guided Light Transit (TVR) that closed in December 2017. The tramway uses the same route as the TVR, with a s ...
Caen
Caen
Caen
Transport in Normandy
Metre gauge railways in France
{{Europe-tram-stub