A methodology for the evaluation of alternative tramway alignments in the early stages of a feasibility study and application to the city of Thessaloniki, Greece

摘要

The tramway is a mode of public transport that, in most cases, enables mass transportation of passengers under high-quality conditions. Currently, there are some 450 tramway systems operating around the globe and about 30 are under construction. Tramway systems not only provide a good transportation alternative to other modes of transport, especially in densely-populated urban areas, but also facilitate a better planning of urban space with subsequent benefits, such as an improvement of the environment and the quality of life in general.