Editing Tram (section)

==Debate==
{{More citations needed|section|talk=Talk:Tram#Debate_Section_Needs_Sources!|date=July 2024}}
{{Disputed|what=section|date=July 2024|discuss=Talk:Tram#Debate_Section_Needs_Sources!}}

=== Advantages ===
[[File:Canal Street Streetcar, New Orleans.jpg|thumb|Produced in 1923–24, 900 Series trams are still use in [[Streetcars in New Orleans|New Orleans]]. Trams typically have longer service life than internal combustion buses.]]
[[File:Flickr - IngolfBLN - Nantes - Tramway - Ligne 3 - Orvault (17).jpg|thumb|A tram running down [[green track|tracks embedded in grass]] in [[Nantes]].]]
[[File:Fiat Cityway Messina T11.jpg|thumb|[[Trams in Messina|Tramway system in Messina]], opened in 2003]]

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* Trams (and road public transport in general) can be much more efficient in terms of road usage than cars – one vehicle replaces about 40 cars (which take up a far larger area of road space).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.humantransit.org/2012/09/the-photo-that-explains-almost-everything.html|title=Human Transit|date=21 September 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331233137/http://www.humantransit.org/2012/09/the-photo-that-explains-almost-everything.html|archive-date=31 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/sr/sr257.pdf|title=Special Report 257: Making Transit Work<!-- Bot generated title -->|access-date=12 March 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808042854/http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/sr/sr257.pdf|archive-date=8 August 2017}}</ref>
* Vehicles run more [[Fuel efficiency in transportation|efficiently]] compared to similar vehicles that use rubber tyres, since the [[rolling resistance]] of steel on steel is lower than rubber on asphalt.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bathtram.org/tfb/tQ24.htm |title=Why are trams different from buses from Trams for Bath |publisher=Bathtram.org |access-date=8 December 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608062642/http://www.bathtram.org/tfb/tQ24.htm |archive-date=8 June 2013}}</ref>
* Trams and light rail transit use sustainable technologies like electric propulsion and support limiting urban sprawl which in return lowers the carbon footprint.<ref>{{cite book |last1=van der Bijl |last2=van Oort |title=Light Rail explained: Better public transport & more public transport |date=2014 |publisher=European Metropolitan Transport Authority |pages=17–19 |url=https://research.tudelft.nl/en/publications/light-rail-explained-better-public-transport-and-more-than-public |ref=LRE14}}</ref>
* There is a well studied effect that the installation of a tram service – even if service frequency, speed and price all remain constant – leads to higher ridership and mode shift away from cars compared to buses.<ref>{{cite book |last1=European Conference of Ministers of Transport |title=Scope for the Use of Certain Old-Established Urban Transport Techniques (Trams and Trolley-Buses) |date=1977 |publisher=OECD Publications and Information Center |location=Washington, D.C. |page=63 |url=https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/transport/scope-for-the-use-of-certain-old-established-urban-transport-techniques-trams-and-trolley-buses_9789282105740-en}}</ref> Conversely, the abandonment of tram service leads to measurable declines in ridership.
* Being guided by rails means that even very long tram units can navigate tight, winding city streets that are inaccessible to long buses.
* Tram vehicles are very durable, with some being in continuous revenue service for more than fifty years. This is especially true compared to internal combustion buses, which tend to require high amounts of maintenance and break down after less than 20 years, mostly due to the vibrations of the engine.
* In many cases tram networks have a higher capacity than similar buses. This has been cited as a reason for the replacement of one of Europe's busiest bus lines (with three-minute headways in peak times) with a tram by [[Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe]].
* Due to the above-mentioned capacity advantage, labor costs (which form the biggest share of operating costs of many public transit systems) per passenger can be significantly lower compared to buses.
* Trams and light rail systems can be cheaper to install than subways or other forms of [[heavy rail]]. In Berlin the commonly cited figure is that one kilometer of subway costs as much as ten kilometers of tramway.
* ULR (Ultra Light Rail) developments with prefabricated track and onboard power (no OHL Over Head Line) in the UK are aiming for £10 m per km<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/target-cost-timescale-revealed-coventry-light-rail-scheme-25-09-2019//|title=Target cost and timescale revealed for Coventry very light rail scheme <!-- Bot generated title -->|date=25 September 2019|access-date=}}</ref> as opposed to convention tram rail and OHL at £20–£30 m per km.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bathtrams.uk/4-cost-of-tram-light-rail-installation/|title=1 tram light rail track installation costs £20-£30 m per km is a good ball-park figure. <!-- Bot generated title -->|date=30 July 2019|access-date=}}</ref>
* Tramways can take advantage of old [[heavy rail]] alignments. Some examples include the [[Manchester Metrolink]] of which the [[Bury Line]] was part of the [[East Lancashire Railway]], the [[Altrincham Line]] was part of the [[Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway]], and the [[Oldham and Rochdale Line]] was the [[Oldham Loop Line]]. Other examples can be found in [[Paris Tramway Line 2|Paris]], [[London]], [[Boston]], [[Trams in Melbourne|Melbourne]] and [[Sydney]]. They hence sometimes take advantage of high speed track while on train tracks.
*As tram lines are permanent this allows local authorities to redevelop and revitalise their towns and cities provided suitable planning changes are made.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01957503|title=The renaissance of tramways and urban redevelopment in France <!-- Bot generated title -->|year=2017|doi=10.1515/mgrsd-2017-0005|access-date=|last1=Boquet|first1=Yves|journal=Miscellanea Geographica|volume=21|issue=1 |pages=5–18|s2cid=54004937|doi-access=free|bibcode=2017MiscG..21....5B }}</ref> Melbourne will allow higher buildings (5 to 6 story) along tram routes leaving the existing suburbs behind unchanged whilst doubling the cities density.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.transformingaustraliancities.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Transforming-Australian-Cities-Report.pdf|title=Transforming Australian Cities : Urban corridors <!-- Bot generated title -->|access-date=}}</ref>
* Trams produce less air pollution than rubber tyred transport which produce tyre, asphalt and brake based pollutants. The use of regenerative electric motor braking in trams lowers mechanical brake use. Steel wheel and rail particulates are produced but regular wheel alignment and flexible track mounting can reduce emissions.
* Tram networks can link to other operational heavy rail and rapid transit systems, allowing vehicles to move directly from one to the other without passengers needing to alight. Trams that are compatible with heavy rail systems are called [[tram-trains]], while those that can use subway tunnels are called [[semi-metro]], [[pre-metro]] or [[Stadtbahn|U-Stadtbahn]].
* Trams can integrate more effectively with pedestrian heavy environments than other forms of transport due to compactness and predictable movement. Passengers can reach surface stations quicker than underground stations. Subjective safety at surface stations is often seen to be higher.
* Trams can be tourist attractions in ways buses usually are not.
* Many modern tram systems plant low growing vegetation – mostly grasses – between the tracks which has a psychological effect on perceived noise levels and the benefits of [[Urban open space|greenspace]]. This is not possible for buses as they deviate too much from an "ideal" track in daily operations.

===Disadvantages===
[[File:Midland Metro - Cyclist dismount sign - Andy Mabbett.jpg|thumb|Tram tracks pose a hazard for cyclists, as their wheels may get caught in the track.]]
* Installing rails for tram tracks and overhead lines for power means a higher up-front cost than using buses which require no modifications to streets to begin operations. 
* Tram tracks can be hazardous for cyclists, as bikes, particularly those with narrow tyres, may get their wheels caught in the track grooves.<ref name="bv.com.au">{{cite web|url=https://www.bv.com.au/general/bikes-and-riding/10429/ |title=Crossing tram tracks – Bicycle Network |publisher=Bv.com.au |date=14 July 2004 |access-date=8 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331204418/https://www.bv.com.au/general/bikes-and-riding/10429/ |archive-date=31 March 2012 }}</ref> It is possible to close the grooves of the tracks on critical sections by rubber profiles that are pressed down by the wheelflanges of the passing tram but that cannot be lowered by the weight of a cyclist.<ref>{{cite web |title=Novel highly durable rubber safety profiles for rail-based traffic systems such as tram lines which make cycling safer in inner cities by closing gaps to prevent bike accidents |url=https://een.ec.europa.eu/partners/novel-highly-durable-rubber-safety-profiles-rail-based-traffic-systems-such-tram-lines |publisher=[[Enterprise Europe Network]] |access-date=18 January 2022 |language=en}}</ref> If not well-maintained, however, these lose their effectiveness over time.{{Citation needed|date=May 2014}}
* When wet, tram tracks tend to become slippery and thus dangerous for bicycles and motorcycles, especially in traffic.<ref name="bv.com.au" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rulesoftheroad.ie/rules-for-driving/traffic-signs-road-markings/trams-lightrail.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071129222601/http://www.rulesoftheroad.ie/rules-for-driving/traffic-signs-road-markings/trams-lightrail.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 November 2007 |title=Trams/Light Rail – Road Safety Authority Rules of the Road |publisher=Rulesoftheroad.ie |access-date=8 December 2012}}</ref> In some cases, even cars can be affected.<ref>{{cite web |author=Andrew Heasley |url=http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/slippery-issue-on-track-20100824-13kvf.html |title=Slippery issue on track |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]].drive.com.au |date=29 April 2004 |access-date=8 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108212756/http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/slippery-issue-on-track-20100824-13kvf.html |archive-date=8 November 2012}}</ref>
* The opening of new tram and light rail systems has sometimes been accompanied by a marked increase in car accidents, as a result of drivers' unfamiliarity with the physics and [[Track geometry|geometry]] of trams.<ref>{{harvnb|McCaleb|1994|p=67}} Besides recounting statistics and anecdotes, this source also reprints a ''[[San Jose Mercury News]]'' cartoon of one such accident, in which a bemused tow truck driver quips, "Dang! [[Rod Diridon, Sr.|Rod Diridon]] was right! The trolley does reduce the number of vehicles on the road!"</ref> Though such increases may be temporary, long-term conflicts between motorists and light rail operations can be alleviated by segregating their respective rights-of-way and installing appropriate signage and warning systems.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=2536 |title=Light Rail Service: Pedestrian and Vehicular Safety &#124; Blurbs &#124; Main |publisher=Trb.org |date=30 March 2014 |access-date=8 March 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080601181812/http://trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=2536 |archive-date=1 June 2008}}</ref>
* Rail transport can expose neighbouring populations to moderate levels of low-frequency noise. However, transportation planners use [[noise mitigation]] strategies to minimise these effects.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=2593 |title=Wheel/Rail Noise Control Manual &#124; Blurbs &#124; Main |publisher=Trb.org |access-date=8 March 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080601181818/http://trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=2593 |archive-date=1 June 2008}}</ref> Most of all, the potential for decreased private motor vehicle operations along the tram's service line because of the service provision could result in lower [[ambient noise level]]s than without.
* The overhead power lines and supporting poles utilized by trams (except for those using a third rail) can be unsightly and contribute to [[visual pollution]].<ref name="Shodorf_1973">{{cite thesis |last=Schodorf |first=Robert J. |date=1973 |title=A Study of Visual Pollution from Overhead Wires and Associated Structures |url=https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/2719 |degree=MA  |chapter=1, 2 |publisher=ScholarWorks at WMU |oclc=22870575 |access-date=30 January 2024}}</ref>