This article details the use of city tram services to carry commercial loads in some European cities. Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is developing a full-scale freight service, unloading goods from trams onto small electric delivery vehicles. It is estimated that the trams could replace up to 2500 delivery trucks per day, reducing air pollution and congestion. Goods would arrive at dedicated "cross-docks" or distribution centres from the national road network by lorry, be transferred to the tram and taken to strategic hub sites for collection by the electric vehicles. Adjusting the control and traffic signal priority system for the trial period in 2007 enabled public transport operator GVB to assess the amount of modification needed for a full service. Cargoes at first include dry waste being carried out of the city. Other cities with similar schemes are Dresden, Germany and Zurich, Switzerland. At Dresden, automotive parts for the Volkswagen car manufacturing plant are being brought in by retired passenger tramsets. In Zurich, bulky waste is transported from residential pick-up points to a terminus near a recycling plant.
Samenvatting