DESCRIPTION
Milan tram service (initially operated as horse tram) opened in 1876 (Milan-Monza) and 1877 (Milan-Saronno); the electrification was completed in 1901. The tram network was continuously extended during the years, becoming one the most extended in Europe; the maximum development of the network was reached in 1940 (more than 300 km).
Some important reductions occurred in the successive decades, due also to the insertion of the new metro network, but differently from other towns the tram operations never had complete or massive interruptions. The current length of the tram system is about 170 km.
In the last years the tram network has been renewed and modernized by the adoption of a modern low floor rolling stock and by the addiction of new modern LRT lines ("metrotranvie") characterized by a relevant lane segregation in many sections and/or right-of-way at the grade level crossings. These innovations have increased the average commercial speed and the system efficiency.
The first of the so-called "metrotranvie" (Line 7 or Metrotranvia Interperiferica Nord: from Mattei-Bicocca to Zara-Lagosta) started its operations at the end of year 2002; it was extended in 2003 from Lagosta to Procaccini. Line 7 interchanges with metro M1 (at Precotto), with M3 (at Zara) and with driverless metro M5 (at Zara, Marche, Istria, Ca' Granda and Bicocca).
Line 4 or "Metrotranvia Nord" (from Parco Nord to Largo Cairoli) and Line 15 or "Metrotranvia Sud" (from Piazza Fontana to Rozzano) opened at the end of 2003. Line 4 interchanges with metro M3 (at Maciachini) and metro M2 (at Lanza); Line 5 interchanges with M1 (at Piazza Venezia), with M2 and M3 (at Stazione Centrale) and with driverless metro M5 (at Marche, Zara, Istria and Ca' Granda).
Line 31 or "Metrotranvia Milano-Cinisello Balsamo" opened on 7 December 2008, connecting Lagosta to Cinisello Monte Ortigara; it shares part of its track with Line 7/Metrotranvia Interperiferica Nord. It interchanges with metro M5 (at Bicocca, Ponale and Bignami).