Light Rail Transit Association   URBAN TRANSIT NEWS 2004

Barcelona tramway problems resolved: The Spanish city of Barcelona welcomed back trams on 3 April, when the three-route Trambaix system was opened. On 8 May the first line of the separate two-route Trambesos system was inaugurated, providing an important link to the summer Forum de les Cultures event.

However all tram services on both systems had to be withdrawn on 10 May after problems became evident with the elastic polymer track encapsulation used to insulate the rails on street sections. This was running onto the railhead, which caused adhesion and braking problems for the new Alstom low-floor trams. For a week feverish activity went on to remove all the faulty polymer and substitute an alternative product.

Trambaix services resumed at 14.00 on 15 May, and Trambesos service from 17 May.

18 May 2004