TRAM Metropolità d'Alacant

There has been a long history of urban rail service in Alicante. The tram service began on 13 July 1893 and the network was rapidly expanded to Mutxamel (1902), Elche (Elx) and Crevillent (1905) and Sant Vicent del Raspeig (1906). Initially, the streetcars were horse-drawn. From 1903 the trams were powered by steam engines, leading to the disappearance of the horse-drawn trams by 1924. The electrification of tram lines began in 1923. In the 1920s and 30s the network was further expanded throughout the city and was extensively used in the 1940s. In the 1950s, due to the high cost of electricity, trams were gradually losing the competition against growing automobile services and by 14 November 1969 they completely disappeared from the streets. Thirty years later, on 13 March 1999 the trams returned with the inauguration of an experimental route between Plaza del Mar and Albufereta that was extended to El Campello in 2003.