Our March program, European Tour 2022, will be presented by ERA board member and Bulletin Editor-in-Chief Jeff Erlitz (ERA #3997). Cities visited will include Milan, Vienna and Berlin.
Milan still operates around 200 Peter Witt trams on several routes throughout the city. Examples from all six of the original builders of these cars, all dating from 1928-29, are operating today. Jeff also sampled marine transport on Lakes Maggiore and Como.
Vienna has one of the finest urban transport systems in the whole world. Even after the abandonment of many tramway lines due to subway construction over the years, there are still 28 lines operating throughout the city (official PDF, Google Map and Google Street View). There is also an extensive suburban (S-Bahn) rail system and four subway (U-Bahn) lines, with a fifth currently under construction.
Berlin is another city with an extensive rail network, including tramways, subways and suburban rail. There are also three interurban tramway routes on the eastern outskirts of the city.
A special highlight of Jeff’s visit to Berlin was attending the biennial trade show known as InnoTrans. Exhibitors from all over the world showcase the latest innovations in rail transport, from long-distance travel to local urban transit. Taking place at the Berlin Messe, there are exhibits in all 28 buildings on the exhibition grounds and includes 2,834 exhibitors from 56 countries.