The Tenerife tram celebrates its 17th anniversary tomorrow with over 240 million passengers transported. The service covers an average of 90,000 daily passengers and reaches 66% of the resident population of Santa Cruz and La Laguna.
On June 2, 2007, the new light rail system was inaugurated on the island, a means of transportation that harkened back to the old tram that traversed it until the mid-20th century. The modern vehicles transformed mobility in the metropolitan area to provide punctuality, frequency, and high capacity, factors aimed at allowing citizens to travel safely and efficiently in an area plagued by traffic and pollution problems. An electric and sustainable transport system that changed mobility habits for the people of Santa Cruz, La Laguna, and visitors.
The tram service commenced after a significant project between Santa Cruz and La Laguna, which led to urbanizing all twelve kilometers of the route. New streets and avenues; viaducts; bridge reinforcement; tree planting; grass along a large part of the track; renewal of pipelines and service conduits; creation of spaces for cities; and the successful launch of a tram system that was enthusiastically embraced by the people from day one.
The tram network, operated by Metrotenerife, a company of the Cabildo, consists of Line 1 and Line 2, the latter of which was opened in 2009. It contributes to environmental quality by avoiding around three million private vehicle trips per year. The anniversary campaign message is directed to the users: ‘We celebrate 17 years with you’. The design will be displayed inside the trams, at the stops’ mupis, and on the company’s social media.
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Urban development.
The tram service began after a major project between Santa Cruz and La Laguna that allowed for the full urbanization of the twelve-kilometer route. New streets and avenues; viaducts; bridge reinforcement; tree planting; grass along a large part of the track; renewal of pipelines and service conduits; creation of spaces for cities; and the successful launch of a tram system that was warmly welcomed by the people from the very beginning.
The tram network, managed by Metrotenerife, a company owned by the Cabildo, comprises Line 1 and Line 2, the latter of which was introduced in 2009. It aids in improving environmental quality by averting around three million private vehicle trips annually. The anniversary campaign message is aimed at the users: ‘Celebrating 17 years with you’. The design will be visible inside the trams, at the stops’ mupis, and on the company’s social media.
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‘Snake’ with 21 rings.
At 12:00 pm on June 2, 2007, Line 1 Santa Cruz-La Laguna was inaugurated to connect the capital’s center, from the Transport Interchange, with the Aguere neighborhood in La Trinidad. A snake of 21 rings in the form of stops. Two years later, in 2009, Line 2 was inaugurated to link the neighborhoods of La Cuesta, Taco, and Tíncer. Metrotenerife developed both services based on full urban redevelopment, on the surface and underground, along the 16 kilometers.
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On the rise.
Currently, the tram service has an average of around 90,000 daily users, which is 14,000 more compared to the end of 2023. In that previous year, demand increased by 51.22% and reached a total of 22,668,132 users. As Line 1 is the backbone of the network, it continues to bear the brunt in terms of passenger volume, being used by 90% of all tram customers.
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Satisfaction.
In these 17 years of service, notable figures include over 240 million passengers, nearly 2.5 million commercial trips, and 24 million kilometers traveled. According to the most recent Tram Mobility and Demand Study in Tenerife (November 2023), passengers rate the service very positively. They highlight the Environment (8.40) and Punctuality (8.36) as the aspects with the highest degree of recognition.
Metrotenerife has established itself as a guided transport operating company and technical consulting firm, enabling it to work on mobility projects on four continents. It has also fostered significant R&D with the development of engineering solutions and technological systems that are exported and marketed in the international rail sector.
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