Innsbruck's Alpine Tramways > Reviews
Ray Deacon has long been an aficianado of Innsbruck’s fascinating public transport system, which he brings vividly into focus in this new work.
With chapters covering the origins of what became an extensive interurban and later urban network of tramways, the author takes us through the development of each route and the different electrification employed for the lines out into the valleys surrounding the city as compared with the urban services.
The interesting types of rolling stock employed and the gradual emergence of through running between the interurban and city-based operating companies, culminating in the creation of the Innsbrucker Verkehrs Betriebe, are all well covered.
In a series of maps superbly drawn by Roger Smith the growth of the tram system can easily be followed and the story of Innsbruck’s two generations of trolleybus service is also told.
Following the post-war influx of German-designed but Austrian-built Grossraumwagen and subsequently articulated trams for the urban routes, the modern era began and attention was given to upgrading the interurban lines to Igls and Fulpmes (the beautiful Stubaitalbahn) though sadly that to Hall-in-Tirol was closed. Judicious acquisition of second-hand but well-maintained Düwag articulated cars from Bielefeld and Hagen arguably rescued the first two from the fate of the third!
Bringing the story right up to date, the author describes the background to the purchase of new low-floor Bombardier cars and the decision to build two new routes to replace the trolleybuses.
This book is a must for anyone with an interest in this attractive region and is highly recommended to all who want to know more about a small city’s pursuit of public transport excellence!
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