Silesian Interurbans

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Silesian Trams (Polish: Tramwaje Konurbacji Śląskiej) is one of the largest tram systems in the world and the largest and longest tram system in Poland, located entirely within the Silesian Voivodeship. Started as a part of the German Empire in 1894, the system currently has 677 stops across 29 lines and serves the region’s population inhabited by more than two million people. Silesian Trams is at the heart of a region known for its dense historical and current industrialisation (coal, coke, steel and other industries). Due to the deindustrialization since the 1990s and subsequent lack of investment, several branches were decommissioned in waves. The system runs on a mixture of on-street track shared with other traffic and reserved track sections segregated from other traffic. The network is spread over more than 50 kilometres (east-west axis) and covers twelve cities and towns in the Metropolis GZM of southern Poland: Katowice, the capital city of the region, Bytom, Chorzów, Mysłowice, Ruda Śląska, Siemianowice Śląskie, Świętochłowice, and Zabrze in Upper Silesia, as well as Będzin, Czeladź, Dąbrowa Górnicza, and Sosnowiec in the Dąbrowa Basin. Until 2006, trams also frequented Piekary Śląskie and Wojkowice, and until 2009 trams ran through Gliwice (trams still run to the depot at the border of Gliwice and Zabrze where passengers can switch to buses). The system is operated by Tramwaje Śląskie using a mixed fleet of modernized Konstal 105Na, Düwag and Lohner trams and brand new Pesa Twist trams. In recent years, the network benefited from investments from the European Union. Rolling stock was modernized to include low-floor cars and multiple track sections were upgraded. Recently, two major investments since cutbacks have been approved to extend the network length. A new section opened in December 2022 in Zagórze, Sosnowiec, and a connector track between Chorzowska and Gliwicka streets...