Table 3.13: Tramway, Light Railway and LRT
U.S, Canada, Western Europe and Australasia
Ma - Me         Macon - Muskegon     (3.13.1, 2008.6)
City and Country
Population Served
System Length, km / mi
Annual Passengers (million)
Average Travel Distance, km / mi
Annual Traffic Density (million)
           
Macon (GA) - 1907
US
@ 40,000
47.3 / 29.3
5.5
3 / 2
0.4
Madison (WI) - 1907
US
@ 25,000
17.3 / 10.7
3.3
2.5 / 1.5
0.5
1915
  
@ 31,000
“
6.0
2.5 / 1.5
0.8
Madrid - tram - 1949
ES
@ 1,618,000
143 / 88
188.0
2 / 1
3
Metro Ligero 1
  
u 3,130,000
5.4 / 3.3
      
Metro Ligero 2
    
8.7 / 5.4
      
Metro Ligero 3
    
13.7 / 8.5
25
4 / 2
7
Parla
  
150,000
12.2 / 7.6
7.5
3 / 2
2
* Valdemoro
  
48,000
3.5 / 2.2
      
Magdeburg - 2002
DE
250,000
59.6 / 37.0
40
“
3
Mainz - 1966
DE
@ 230,000
23.8 / 14.8
9.0
3.7 / 2.3
1.4
1985
  
@ 250,000
19.8 / 12.3
10.2
3.5 / 2
1.8
2002
  
270,000
21.3 / 13.2
10
“
2
Maitland - 1925
AU
@ 13,000
6.6 / 4.1
0.8
2.5 / 1.5
0.3
** Málaga (Malaga)
ES
600,000
13.8 / 8.6
21.1
3 / 2
4.5
Manchester - 1916
GB
@ 950,000
174.3 / 108.1
187.7
3 / 2
3.5
L&Y - Bury - 1907
    
21.4 / 13.2
0.9
5 / 3
0.4
1916
    
“
2.5
“
0.6
Altrincham - Bury - ca. 1989
    
28.5 / 17.7
7.6
9 / 6
2
1993
    
31 / 19
11
“
3
2003
  
2,600,000
39.0 / 24.2
18.9
8.9 / 5.5
4.3
Manchester (NH) - 1923
US
@ 80,000
46.4 / 28.9
11.8
3 / 2
0.8
Manhattan (NY; New York City borough): see New York City (separate tabulation)
    
Manitou Springs (CO) - 1907
US
@ 1,000
1.0 / 0.6
0.1
1 / 0.5
0.1
see also Colorado Springs (CO)
            
Mannheim - 1966
DE
@ 410,000
44.3 / 27.5
43.2
4.6 / 2.9
4.5
1984
  
@ 330,000
50.0 / 31.0
38.1
5 / 3
3.8
2002
  
320,000
59.2 / 36.7
40
“
3
OEG
  
270,000
58.5 / 36.3
14
11 / 7
2.6
see also Ludwigshafen (Table 3.7)
            
Le Mans
FR
260,000
15.0 / 9.3
17
3 / 2
3.3
Marburg - 1920
DE
@ 23,000
2.6 / 1.6
2.2
1 / 0.5
0.8
1923
  
“
“
0.7
“
0.3
1937
  
@ 28,000
3.6 / 2.3
1.5
“
0.4
Marseille - 1962
FR
  
3.0 / 1.9
5.2
1.5 / 1
2.6
2002
  
1,520,000
“
3.7
“
2.5
** New tramway
    
15.5 / 9.6
23
3 / 2
4.5
Martigny - TrMB - 1930
CH
@ 6,000
1.9 / 1.2
0.1
1.5 / 1
0.08
1940
  
@ 6,000
“
0.1
“
0.08
1955
  
@ 6,000
“
0.2
“
0.1
MC - 1910
    
20.5 / 12.7
    
0.07
1920
    
“
0.2
6.0 / 3.7
0.06
1930
    
18.4 / 11.4
0.1
6.9 / 4.3
0.04
1940
    
“
0.1
8.0 / 5.0
0.04
1955
    
“
0.2
7.8 / 4.8
0.09
1970
    
“
0.4
11.2 / 6.9
0.2
1985
    
“
0.3
9.2 / 5.7
0.2
2002
  
20,000
“
0.2
10.4 / 6.5
0.1
MO - 1910
    
19.2 / 12.0
    
0.03
1920
    
“
0.1
12.1 / 7.5
0.07
1930
    
“
0.1
10.4 / 6.5
0.05
1940
    
“
0.1
15.5 / 9.6
0.1
1955
    
25.6 / 15.9
0.3
16.7 / 10.3
0.2
1970
    
“
0.4
19.6 / 12.1
0.3
1985
    
“
0.4
17.8 / 11.0
0.3
2002
  
20,000
“
0.3
15.7 / 9.7
0.2
Marysville (CA) - 1928
US
@ 10,000
3 / 2
0.3
2 / 1
0.1
Mason City (IA) - MC&CL - 1907
US
@ 15,000
26.3 / 16.6
0.5
11 / 7
0.2
1924
    
“
1.0
6 / 4
0.2
Mayagüez (PR) - 1907 (Mayaguez)
US
@ 16,000
2.5 / 1.5
0.5
2 / 1
0.3
Medford (OR) - 1914
US
@ 5,000
3.9 / 2.4
0.02
2 / 1
0.008
Meiringen - MRA - 1930
CH
@ 4,000
2.8 / 1.7
0.07
1.7 / 1.1
0.04
1940
  
@ 4,000
“
-
-
-
1955
  
@ 4,000
“
0.02
1.7 / 1.1
*** 0.04
MIB - 1970
    
4.8 / 3.0
0.1
4.8 / 3.0
0.1
1984
    
“
0.09
“
0.09
2002
    
“
0.1
“
0.1
Melbourne - 1958
AU
@ 1,500,000
230.1 / 142.7
195.3
4.1 / 2.5
3.4
ca. 1967
    
220.5 / 136.7
140.1
“
2.6
2002
  
2,900,000
238.0 / 147.6
116
“
2.2
Memphis (TN) - 1907
US
@ 130,000
100.4 / 62.3
40.0
3 / 2
1.3
1996
  
@ 710,000
3.4 / 2.1
0.7
1.2 / 0.7
0.2
2005
  
u: 810,000
8.1 / 5.0
1.0
1.4 / 0.9
0.2
* MATATRAC - Airport
    
13.7 / 8.5
3
5 / 3
1.1
Mendrisio - TEM - 1910
CH
@ 12,000
11.9 / 7.4
0.5
5 / 3
0.2
1930
  
@ 15,000
“
0.4
“
0.2
1940
  
@ 15,000
“
0.3
“
0.1
Menominee (MI) - 1907
US
@ 25,000
21.6 / 13.4
2.2
2 / 1.5
0.3
Meran-Merano - 1911
IT
@ 25,000
6.3 / 3.9
0.9
4.0 / 2.5
0.3
Obermais - 1911
    
0.9 / 0.6
0.3
0.9 / 0.6
0.3
LM - 1911
    
7.6 / 4.7
0.5
4.7 / 2.9
0.3
Meridian (MS) - 1907
US
@ 23,000
16.9 / 10.5
2.0
3 / 2
0.4
Merrill (WI) - 1915
US
@ 9,000
2.7 / 1.7
0.2
0.8 / 0.5
0.06
Messina
IT
250,000
7.7 / 4.8
6
3 / 2
2
Key to Symbols:
* = in planning; ** = under construction.
*** = operated for less than 12 months as noted; traffic density scaled up to annual rate.
@ = population corresponds with historic data year.
u = population within municipal boundary.
 
Notes for Table 3.13
Macon: Operator title: Macon Railway and Light Company.
Madison: Operator title: Southern Wisconsin Railway Company. Closed 1935 February 25.
Madrid - Metro Ligero: "Light Metro," refers to lines built on reservation (with or without level crossings) or in tunnel, using low-floor tramway-type rolling stock.
Metro Ligero 1, also known as Metro Ligero a los PAUs (and Metro Ligero Sanchinarro), Pinar de Chamartín – Las Tablas, Nine stations, of which five underground. Construction started 2004 December. Opened 2007 May 24. Population served stated as 40,000.
System length includes two tunnel sections, 3.3 km / 2.0 mi total. Second-stage expansion in planning.
("PAU" is an acronym for Programas de Actuación Urbanística, often used with reference to new suburban residential developments.)
Metro Ligero 2, also known as Metro Ligero Oeste (and Metro Ligero Pozuelo): Colonia Jardin – Estación de Aravaca, 10.0 km / 6.2 mi, sharing 1.3 km / 0.8 mi of ML3 (below), 14 stations, of which two underground. Construction started 2005 February. Opened 2007 July 27. Population served stated as 60,000. Second-stage expansion in planning.
Metro Ligero 3 (also known as Metro Ligero Oeste, and Metro Ligero Boadilla): Colonia Jardin – Puerta de Boadilla, 15 stations, of which two underground. Construction started 2005 February. Opened 2007 July 27. Population served stated as 27,000. Second-stage expansion in planning. Traffic density estimate based on ridership forecast (90,000 / weekday).
Long-term plans outline 90 km / 55 mi of Metro Ligero lines, 79 stations.
Parla: Tranvía de Parla. Tramway (circular line) opened in stages from 2007 June 5 and 2007 September 8. Traffic density estimate based on ridership forecast (25,000 / day).
Valdemoro: Metro Ligero, in planning. Opening planned for 2011. Valdemoro is located 27 km / 17 mi south of central Madrid, and 10 km / 6 mi southeast of Parla.
Maitland: Operator title: New South Wales Government Tramways.
Steam traction. Closed 1926 December 31.
Málaga: Metro de Málaga, light metro, two lines, 13.8 km / 8.6 mi total, under construction.
Opening planned for 2009 February. "Population served" stated at 203,000. Traffic density estimate based on passenger traffic forecast (21.1 million / year, by 2010).
Manchester - Bury: Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway electrification, (1,200V d.c. side-contact conductor ("third") rail).
Manchester (Victoria) – Bury (Bolton Street), first electric services introduced 1916 April 17. Last steam trains withdrawn 1916 August.
Bury (Bolton Street) – Holcombe Brook, 6.0 km / 3.7 mi, electrified 1913 (3,500V d.c., overhead). Changed to conductor rail, reopened 1918 March 29. Electric traction replaced by steam, 1951 March 25. Branch closed 1952.
Altrincham - Bury - ca. 1989: Traffic carried by Altrincham and Bury suburban railway lines prior to closure for conversion to LRT.
Manitou Springs: Operator title: Manitou Electric Railway and Casino Company.
Mannheim: The system includes 0.7 km / 0.4 mi of tunnel, opened 1971.
Le Mans: Tramway, construction started 2005; opened 2007 November 17.
Traffic density estimate based on ridership forecast (55,000 / weekday).
Marseille: Tramway closed for reconstruction on 2004 January 8.
New: three-line network under construction. Initial segment opened 2007 June 30.
Martigny - TrMB: Tramway Martigny-Bourg. Closed 1956 December 31.
MC: Chemin de fer de Martigny au Châtelard. Opened 1906 August 20. Electric traction (750V d.c., conductor ("third") rail and overhead, traction voltage later increased to 830V d.c.).
Operated seasonally, May - October, to 1931.
Operated on 2.8 km / 1.7 mi of PLM (Compagnie des chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée, to SNCF from 1938) line Châtelard-frontière – Vallorcine (FR). Service extended Vallorcine – Chamonix – St-Gervais from 1997, using rolling stock built for through working.
MO: Chemin de fer Martigny-Orsières. Martigny – Sembrancher – Orsières, 19.3 km / 12.0 mi, opened 1910 September 1. Electric traction, 8,000V 15Hz a.c. Changed to SBB system (15Kv 16⅔Hz a.c.) from 1949 March 4.
Sembrancher – Le Châble, 6.2 km / 3.8 mi, opened 1953 August 5.
MC and MO under common management from 1990. MC marketed thereafter as Mont-Blanc Express, MO marketed as Saint-Bernard Express. Undertakings merged from 2001 as Transports de Martigny et Régions SA (TMR).
Marysville-1928: Operator title: Sacramento Northern Railway Company.
Town tramway service connecting Marysville and Yuba City.
Mason City - MC&CL: Operator title: Mason City and Clear Lake Traction Company.
Extended Mason City – Clear Lake. Operated town tramway service in Mason City. Passenger and town tramway service withdrawn in 1936. Goods service, worked by electric traction, continues by successor enterprise Iowa Traction Railroad Company (which also operates occasional passenger excursions).
Mayagüez: Operator title: Mayaguez Tramway Stock Company.
Medford: Operator title: Southern Oregon Traction Company.
Meiringen - MRA: Trambahn Meiringen-Reichenbach-Aareschlucht.
Tramway line, Meiringen – Reichenbach – Reichenbachfall – Aareschlucht. Operated primarily for tourist traffic. Opened 1912 August 24. Operation suspended 1914 August 6 - 1916 July 20, and 1918-1919, because of 1914-1918 war. Reopened 1920-1939. Operation suspended 1940-1941 because of 1939-1945 war. Operated only for 110 days in 1955 (passengers carried: 17,935). Closed 1956 September 16. Traffic density scaled up to annual rate.
MIB: (MJB) Meiringen - Innertkirchen-Bahn. Opened 1926 July 14 as a dam-construction railway. Public railway from 1946 May 6. Accumulator (storage battery) traction used from 1931 to electrification (1977 November 19).
Mendrisio - TEM: Tram elettrichi mentrisieni.
Extended Riva San Vitale – Capolago – Mendrisio – Chiasso. 1910 - 1950 December 31.
Melbourne: Ranked as world’s third-largest tramway network, after Sankt-Peterburg (RU) and Wien (AT).
Most recent extension, 3.0 km / 1.9 mi to Vermont South, opened 2005 July 23.
Memphis-1907: Operator title: Memphis Street Railway Company.
2004: Medical Center extension, Main Street – Cleveland Avenue, 4.0 km / 2.5 mi, opened 2004 March 15.
MATATRAC - Airport: Extension east and south from Cleveland Avenue to Memphis International Airport, in planning. To be worked by new light rail vehicles. Traffic density estimate based on ridership forecast (10,000 - 11,000 / weekday, by 2023).
Menominee: Operator title: Menominee and Marinette Light and Traction Company.
Operated town tramway services in Menominee (MI) and Marinette (WI).
Meran-Merano - LM: Operator title: Elektrischen Bahn Lana-Meran. 1906-1950.
Meridian: Operator title: Meridian Light and Railway Company.
Merrill: Operator title: Merrill Railway and Lighting Company. Closed 1921.
Messina: Tramway opened 2003 April 3.
Traffic density estimate based on ridership forecast (20,000 / weekday).