An insight into Lisbon’s transport challenges, with George Liu
This is Lisbon, Portugal, one of the oldest cities in the world. It’s characterised by its winding, compact streets and hilly geography. Nestled on the banks of the Tagus River, it has long charmed visitors with its architectural wonders, historic neighbourhoods, and cultural vibrancy, making it a top travel destination. Tourism is a major part of Lisbon’s economy, with six tourists for every resident in 2022. However, this increase in tourism has stretched Lisbon’s transport network to its limits. Overcrowded buses, hour-long waits for tram rides, and closures for maintenance are pushing transit to its breaking point.
Why did Lisbon replace its historic trams with modern buses?
Lisbon’s hilly landscape and narrow, winding streets have always posed a challenge for moving anything. Horses and people struggled with the challenging geography until the arrival of the electric tram. Fixed on rails, trams could navigate the tight spaces between buildings, and the electric traction allowed them to climb steep hills with ease. In 1884, the first electric funiculars began running in Lisbon, and trams were introduced in 1901. Trams and funiculars were unmatched, quickly forming the backbone of the city.
A hundred years ago, at the turn of the 19th century, these funiculars were the best way to get up Lisbon’s hills. Now they’ve mostly been replaced by a modern mode: the bus. Buses were faster, cheaper and a more reliable form of transport. Lisbon no longer needed to build expensive tracks and overhead wires; now, any one of the city’s many streets was fair game for transit service. With rubber tyres that gripped steep grades better than rails, buses quickly took over. They allowed Lisbon to provide more transit service than ever before, rendering the ageing tram network obsolete.
The struggle of Lisbon’s trams in a modern-day city
Since 1959, the tram network has shrunk from 27 lines to just six, with only one of those lines upgraded to modern standards. Out of the remaining six lines, only tram number 15 has been modernised with its own dedicated right of way. The rest of the trams still look like they did a hundred years ago.
The ride quality on the older trams is a horrible experience for passengers, with the incredibly loud inside and riders being tossed around. Unfortunately, these old trams get stuck in traffic along with all the other cars. They’re tiny, about the size of a minibus, and are often packed with tourists.
The rise of the buses
While the trams and funiculars remain frozen in time, buses have brought a new age of modernity to public transit. Even though Lisbon is known for its iconic yellow trams, buses are actually the backbone of the city’s network, and Lisbon has recognized this. These buses are high capacity, offer frequent service, and are air-conditioned. They are also on a low floor, which makes boarding easier and provides access for those with disabilities.
Why did Lisbon have to turn to the Metro to solve its transit challenges?
However, with Lisbon’s rapid growth, the bus system could no longer keep up. Like the trams before them, buses became slow and overcrowded, often stuck in traffic on Lisbon’s hilly streets. Lisbon realized it needed a faster, higher-capacity mode of transport. In 1955, construction began on an underground metro, which could carry more passengers and was unaffected by the hilly terrain. The metro changed everything. It was fast, frequent, and reliable, completely separated from traffic. The metro was like a portal from one place to another, transforming the city’s complex geography into an easy-to-navigate system. No longer were riders stuck on slow, crowded trams and buses. With the metro and a well-developed connecting bus network, Lisbon achieved an unprecedented level of mobility. This was the final blow to Lisbon’s once-essential trams.
Why do tourists love Lisbon’s 100-year-old trams?
The yellow electric trams, especially tram number 28, have become cultural icons. They squeeze through narrow streets and historic neighbourhoods, offering a nostalgic journey through the city’s ancient and modern landmarks. Riding these trams is like taking a journey back in time, and they are a core part of Lisbon’s identity. You see these trams on tourist brochures and advertisements all over the city. They run on extremely narrow streets, where you can almost reach out and touch the buildings. Some of the routes have grades as steep as 16%.
At the end of the day, this is not a real transportation solution—it’s a tourist attraction. And that’s entirely the point. The trams and funiculars weren’t preserved for their transportation value; they’ve become destinations themselves. Although they are part of Carris, the Public Transport Authority, these funiculars have their own fares due to their appeal to tourists. At nearly €4 a ride, they are twice the cost of conventional transit in Lisbon, making them highly profitable. These trams play a significant role in supporting the tourism economy, drawing visitors from all over the world to experience this unique piece of Lisbon’s charm.
Lisbon’s new challenge of balancing Tourism and Transportation
Lisbon’s public transport network fuels its booming tourism economy, yet it has become a victim of its own success. The city’s unique geography and history have turned its public transport into a tourist attraction, from the iconic yellow trams to the scenic ferry rides. Now, Lisbon stands at a crossroads. Any attempt to modernise the system risks leaving behind a century of history. While stringent heritage preservation prevents public transport from adequately serving the demands of modern-day commuters. This juxtaposition is at the heart of Lisbon’s current transportation dilemma.
Lisbon is grappling with an influx of tourists who, while essential for the economy, are straining the transport network, particularly in areas reliant on century-old infrastructure. But look at any postcard or souvenir, and you’ll see these bright yellow trams proudly displayed front and centre. Because without them, Lisbon wouldn’t be Lisbon.
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