The Cuenca Tramway (Spanish: Tranvía de Cuenca) is a light‑rail tram system serving the city of Cuenca in southern Ecuador. Operated as a single line, the system comprises 27 stations along a 10.7 km (6.6 mi) route that runs from the Parque Industrial district in the northeast to the Río Tarqui area in the southwest, passing through the historic centre of the city.
History and development
Construction of the tramway began in November 2013 after the municipal government signed a US $142.6 million contract with the CITA Cuenca consortium, led by Alstom and including partners CIM, Ineo and TSO. Testing of Alstom’s Citadis rolling‑stock started on the southern segment in 2015, with full‑route test runs commencing in July 2018. In September 2018, the municipality entered an operating agreement with Metro Tenerife (the tram operator of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain). The line officially entered passenger service on 25 May 2020.
Technical characteristics
- Track gauge: Standard gauge (1,435 mm).
- Number of vehicles: 14 Alstom Citadis tram sets.
- Daily ridership: Approximately 19,000 passengers (as reported in 2020).
Route
The tramway’s alignment follows a north‑south corridor, linking key urban areas such as the industrial park, the historic centre, residential districts, and the airport vicinity. The line’s termini are Parque Industrial (north) and Río Tarqui (south).
Significance
The Cuenca Tramway is the first modern tram network in Ecuador and represents a major investment in sustainable urban mobility for the country’s third‑largest city. It is intended to reduce traffic congestion, improve public‑transport accessibility, and support the city’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
References
Information summarized from the Wikipedia entry “Cuenca Tramway” and associated public sources.