Trams in Oranjestad


The Oranjestad Streetcar '' is a single-track tram line in Oranjestad, the capital city of Aruba. It is owned and operated by Arubus, the national public transportation company. It was built as a key component of a larger project to upgrade the main retail areas of the town, other aspects of which included pedestrianization of streets, planting of trees, installation of ornamental street lighting and resurfacing of streets and sidewalks.

History

The line is the first and so far the only passenger rail service on the island and the rest of the Dutch Caribbean. Three industrial railways had been constructed on the island, but have all closed. It was inaugurated on 22 December 2012, seven days after the arrival of the first single-deck car. Regular service started on 19 February 2013. The second car, an open-top double-decker, was delivered in June 2013. The heritage style streetcars were designed and manufactured by TIG/m Modern Street Railways in California, USA.
The line operates daily., service was operating from 9:00 to 17:00, with two cars in service after 11:00.

Route

The line starts from a balloon loop near the Port of Call Marketplace and serves the downtown area with a route along Schelpstraat, Havenstraat and Caya Betico Croes, the main road, which is open to pedestrians only. Between Rancho and Plaza Chipi Chipi, eastbound trams run via Schelpstraat, and westbound ones, run via Havenstraat. It ends at Plaza Nicky, with a stop also located on a loop.
There are a total of 9 stops situated approximately apart from each other. The depot is located between the stops at Port of Call and Rancho.
StationNotes
Welcome Plaza Port
Port of CallMorning service stop, touring bus station
Rancho Oranjestad Bus Terminal, tram depot
Plaza MuseoEastbound service, Archaeological Museum
Royal PlazaWestbound service
Renaissance MallWestbound service, Renaissance Mall
Plaza Chipi Chipi/Mango PlazaAlso named "Mango Plaza"
Caya Betico Croes/WatertorenNear Aruba Bank, additional stop, name not yet defined, sometimes called Watertoren
Plaza Bon Bini2 rail tracks before the station
Plaza Nicky/Plaza ComercioAlso named "Plaza Comercio", loop

Rolling stock

The fleet comprises four streetcars or trams, of which two are single-deck and two are open-top double-deck. They were designed and built by TIG/m Modern Street Railways in Chatsworth, USA, to use hybrid/electric technology: they do not take their power from external sources such as overhead wires when running but are self-powered by lithium batteries augmented by hydrogen fuel cells. Power consumption is reduced by regenerative braking.