Trams in Amsterdam

Amsterdam Tram

Trams on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, 2009.

Operation

Locale

Horsecar era: 1875 (1875)–1906/1916 (1906/1916)
Status	Converted to electric operation
Operator(s)	Amsterdamsche Omnibus Maatschappij (AOM) (1875–1899) Gemeentetram Amsterdam (GTA) (1900–1916)
Track gauge	1,422 mm (4 ft 8 in)
Propulsion system(s)	Horses

Electric tram era: since 1900 (1900)
Status	Operational
Routes	15
Operator(s)	Gemeentetram Amsterdam (GTA) (1900–1942) Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf (GVB) (since 1943)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in)
Propulsion system(s)	Electricity
Electrification	600 V DC Catenary
Stock	200
Track length (single)	200 km (120 mi)
Route length	80.5 km (50.0 mi)
Stops	500
Website	GVB

The Amsterdam Tram (Dutch: Amsterdamse tram) is a tram network in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The network dates back to 1875. Since 1943, it has been operated by municipal public transport operator GVB, which also runs the Amsterdam metro and the city bus and ferry services. The Amsterdam Tram is the largest tram network in the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe.

The trams on the network run on standard gauge track. Since 1900, they have been powered by electricity, at 600 V DC. At the terminus station of almost every tram route is a turning loop, so that the route can be operated by unidirectional trams. The only exception is Amstelveen Binnenhof, one of the termini of route 5, which must therefore be served by bidirectional vehicles.

As of 2016^[update], there are 14 tram routes. The network comprises a total of 80.5 kilometres (50.0 mi) of route, and 200 kilometres (120 mi) of track. The fleet consists of 200 trams, of which 24 are bidirectional for use on the loop-less route 5.

On 3 June 1875, Amsterdam's first horse-drawn tramway was opened. It linked Plantage with the Leidseplein, and was operated by AOM (Amsterdamsche Omnibus Maatschappij), which had been founded in 1872 by Karel Herman Schadd, amongst others.

In the last quarter of the 19th century, horse trams ran through the main streets of Amsterdam, linking all neighborhoods inside the Singelgracht with Dam Square, and were extended to newly constructed residential areas. By the end of the century, about 15 routes led to or from the Vondelstraat, Overtoom, Willemsparkweg, Amsteldijk, Linnaeusstraat, Weesperzijde, Bilderdijkstraat and Ceintuurbaan.

...
Wikipedia