加尔各答（英语:Kolkata,旧名Calcutta）是印度西孟加拉邦首府，这里也是印度的文化中心，无数的戏剧节、电影节以及书展在这里举行，它拥有独特的音乐和舞蹈传统；它拥有世界上最多的书店：近乎一万个书店；它曾产生过3位诺贝尔奖得主（泰戈尔、拉曼、德蕾莎修女）；作为英属殖民地时期的印度前首都，它是印度现代文学和艺术思想的诞生地，这使得它赢得了“狂野创造力之城”的称号⋯⋯
但是，对于很多初到这座城市的人来说，加尔各答是一座尘土飞扬、处于建设中的异国城市，在这里，宝马车与自行车行驶在同样的道路上，五星级酒店与贫民窟比肩而立，住在上等房子里的人和住在大街上的人擦肩而过……这是一座具有双面性的城市。
印度基础建设情况相当于中国的20世纪90年代，加尔各答的大多数马路基本只能够容纳两辆车相向通行，而且左拐右拐，很难见到一条笔直的城市马路，也很难见到一条不拥挤的、干干净净的马路。公共汽车是首选的交通模式，加尔各答是印度唯一保留了有轨电车的城市，动作缓慢的电车被限定在该市的特定区域运营。
Trams in Kolkata加尔各答有轨电车
The tram system in the city of Kolkata, West Bengal, India, operated by the Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC), is currently the only tram network operating in India.It is the oldest operating electric tram in Asia, running since 1902.
印度西孟加拉邦首府加尔各答的有轨电车网络由Calcutta Tramways Company (加尔各答有轨电车公司CTC)运营，是目前印度唯一在运营的有轨电车网络。它从1902年开始运营，是亚洲最古老的在运营有轨电车网络。
Overview概述
Locale位置：Kolkata加尔各答
Transit type运输类型：Tram有轨电车
Number of lines线路数量：25
Daily ridership日均载客量：70,000 daily每天
Operation运营：
Began operation：开始运营 1873
Operator(s)运营者：Calcutta Tramways Company加尔各答有轨电车公司
Number of vehicles车辆数：257 trams (125 in operation运营中)
Technical技术指标：
System length系统长度 57.17 km
Track gauge轨距：Standard gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in)标准轨距
Electrification
电气化指标 550 V DC Overhead line
Route map of trams in Kolkata
加尔各答有轨电车线路图
DevelopingRoad发展之路
Trams were the brainchild of the then Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon. His motives were to ensure better public transport for inhabitants and better passage of goods from ports and dockyards to their destinations.
有轨电车是当时的印度总督Lord Curzon的主意。他的初衷是为居民出行和将货物从港口和船厂运往目的地提供更好的交通工具。
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1873-1900: Introduction of horse-drawn trams引入有轨马车
The first horse-drawn trams in India ran for 2.4-mile (3.9 km) between Sealdah and Armenian Ghat Street on 24 February 1873. The service was however discontinued on 20 November 1873. The Calcutta Tramway Co. Ltd was formed and registered in London on 22 December 1880. Metre-gauge horse-drawn tram tracks were laid from Sealdah to Armenian Ghat via Bowbazar Street, Dalhousie Square and Strand Road. The route was inaugurated by the Viceroy, Lord Ripon, on 1 November 1880.In 1882, steam locomotives were deployed experimentally to haul tram cars. By the end of the 19th century the company owned 166 tram cars, 1,000 horses, seven steam locomotives and 19 miles of tram tracks.
1873年2月24日，印度最早的有轨马车在Sealdah和Armenian Ghat大街之间3.9公里的道路上开始运营。然而，服务在1873年11月20日就停止了。1880年12月22日，加尔各答有轨电车有限公司在英国注册成立。米轨有轨马车轨道从 Sealdah经过Bowbazar大街, Dalhousie广场和Strand路铺设到Armenian Ghat。1880年11月1日，Lord Ripon总督为这条线路主持了开通仪式。1882年，蒸汽机车被尝试性地用于拉动车。到19世纪末，公司拥有166辆车，1,000 匹马和7辆蒸汽机车，轨道长度为19英里。
Horse-drawn trams in Kolkata, India (life-size model at City Centre arcade)
印度加尔各答有轨马车（市中心拱廊的真物尺寸模型）
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1900-1951: Introduction of electric trams引入有轨电车
In 1900, the electrification of the tramway, and reconstruction of tracks to 4 ft 8½in (1,435 mm) (standard gauge) began.In 1902, the first electric tramcar in India ran from Esplanade to Kidderpore on 27 March, and on 14 June 1902, services ran from Esplanade to Kalighat. In February 1943, the Calcutta section was connected with the Howrah section through the new Howrah Bridge. With this extension, the total track length reached 42.0 miles (67.59 km).
1900年，开始了网络的电气化和将轨道转换为标准轨道的建设工作。
1902年，印度第一辆有轨电车于3月27日从 Esplanade开往Kidderpore ，6月14日，服务从Esplanade 开通到 Kalighat 。1943年2月, Calcutta部分与Howrah通过新的Howrah Bridge相连。有了这个扩展，总轨道长度达到42英里（67.59 公里）。
A tram in 1945/1945年的有轨电车
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1951-1990: Nationalisation国有化
In 1951, the government of West Bengal entered into an agreement with the Calcutta Tramways Company, and the Calcutta Tramways Act of 1951 was enacted. The government assumed all rights regarding the Tramways, and reserved the right to purchase the system (with two years' notice) on 1 January 1972 or any time thereafter.In 1967, the Government of West Bengal passed the Calcutta Tramways Company (Taking Over of Management) Act and assumed management on 19 July. On 8 November 1976 the Calcutta Tramways (Acquisition of Undertaking) ordinance was promulgated, under which the company (and its assets) united with the government.In 1970, the Howrah sections were closed in October; the 1971/1973 Nimtala route was closed down in May 1973, and realignment of the Howrah Station terminus occurred. Total track length was now reduced to 38 miles (61.2 km).
1951年，西孟加拉邦政府与加尔各答有轨电车公司达成协议，1951年加尔各答有轨电车法案得以实施。政府取得所有关于有轨电车的权利，并且保留在1972年1月1日或其后任何时间收购有轨电车系统的权利（提前两年通知）。1967年，西孟加拉邦政府通过了加尔各答有轨电车公司（接管管理权）法案，并于7月19日承担了其管理权。1976年11月8日，加尔各答有轨电车（公司收购）法令颁布，有轨电车公司（及其资产）被政府收购。1970年10月，Howrah路段关闭；1973年5月，1971/1973 Nimtala 线路关闭，Howrah火车站终点站调整了位置。轨道总长度当时缩短到38英里（61.2公里）。
In 1980, tram tracks on Bentinck Street and Ashutosh Mukhopadhyay Road closed for construction of the Kolkata metro; following construction, these stretches were not reopened. In 1982, the Sealdah Station terminus (along with the Sealdah – Lebutala stretch on Bipin Bihari Ganguli Street) closed for construction of an overpass. The site is now occupied by Sealdah Court and a bus terminal. On 17 April 1985, tracks were extended connecting Maniktala to Ultadanga via Maniktala Main road and C. I. T. Road 3.7 km (2.30 mi).On 31 December 1986, further extension of tram tracks from Behala to Joka was completed.
1980年，Bentinck大街和Ashutosh Mukhopadhyay路的有轨电车轨道因为修建加尔各答地铁而关闭；修建结束后，这些路段并没有重新开通。1982年，Sealdah火车站的有轨电车终点站（还有Bipin Bihari Ganguli大街的 Sealdah – Lebutala路段）因为修建立交桥而关闭。这个位置现在是Sealdah法院和一个公共汽车终点站。1985年4月17日，轨道延伸了3.7公里将 Maniktala与Ultadanga 经过Maniktala干道 C. I. T.路连接起来。1986年12月31日，有轨电车轨道进一步从Behala延伸到Joka 。
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1990-present：1990年-现在
In 1992, Calcutta Tramways Company undertook a new venture by introducing bus service from 4 November, initially with a fleet of 40 buses.In 1993, Howrah Station terminus closed and tram tracks removed on Howrah Bridge; the cantilever bridge proved too weak for trams. All routes terminated there were shortened to the Burrabazar (Howrah Bridge) terminus (formerly Burrabazar Junction).
1992年11月4日，加尔各答有轨电车公司通过引入公共汽车服务开始了一项新业务，最初的车队由40辆公共汽车组成。1993年， Howrah火车站的终点站关闭， Howrah大桥上的有轨电车轨道被拆除；这座悬臂式大桥对有轨电车来说太不牢固了。所有以那里作为终点站的线路都缩短到Burrabazar (Howrah 桥) 终点站（原来的Burrabazar枢纽站）。
By the 1990s the system had become seriously degraded, and the then Minister for Transport Shri Shyamal Chakraborty planned to close the network. However, in 1994 a tram conductor from Melbourne, Australia, Roberto D'Andrea, who was on a visit to the city, befriended fellow Calcutta conductors. Hearing of the planned network closure, he spurred an art project of decorating the trams, as was done in his home city. The result raised awareness of the network and its value, and ultimately saved it.
到20世纪90年代，系统的状况严重恶化，那时的运输部长Shri Shyamal Chakraborty计划将系统关闭。然而，在1994年，一位来自澳大利亚墨尔本的有轨电车售票员，Roberto D’Andrea，他是加尔各答有轨电车售票员同仁的朋友，到加尔各答作客的。他听说了有轨电车关闭计划后，就极力鼓动了一项很有艺术性的装饰有轨电车的计划，就像他的家乡做过的一样。结果提高对网络及其价值的认识，最终拯救了有轨电车网络。
In 1995, High Court terminus closed for reconstruction of Strand Road. Rails and wires were removed from there and from Strand Road, Hare Street and Shahid Khudiram Basu Road. The site is now occupied by the newest building of the Kolkata High Court. In 2004, Garhiahat Depot – Garhiahat Junction link on Gariahat Road closed for construction of the Gariahat overpass. In 2006, Mominpur – Behala stretch on Diamond Harbour Road closed for construction of an overpass at Taratala. Initially, there was a plan to route tracks on that overpass after its completion, but the road was later converted to a National Highway and the plan dismissed. Until 2012, the Behala – Joka stretch was still in existence, along with the Behala terminus.
1995年，最高法院终点站因为Strand路的重建而关闭。轨道和电线从那里还有Strand路, Hare大街和Shahid Khudiram Basu路拆除。此地现在是加尔各答最高法院的新大楼。2004年，由于修建Gariahat立交桥，关闭了Gariahat车辆段——Gariahat路上的Gariahat枢纽站。2006年，由于修建Taratala的立交桥关闭了钻石港路上的Mominpur – Behala路段。最初，计划在立交桥竣工后在其上铺设轨道的，但是，这条路后来转换为一条国道，计划也因此而取消。直到2012年，Behala – Joka路段一直随着Behala终点站而存在。
In 2011, Joka-Behala stretch and Behala depot closed down for construction of the Joka-BBD Bag metro project;Ballygunge-Kalighat stretch closed for reconstruction.Lalbazar-Mirjapur down line was closed but up line still opened. In 2015, Park Circus depot closed down for construction of the Park Circus Flyover & Nonapukur Depot was reopened. But Garhiahat Depot was still now opened. In 2016, Gariahat section has been reopened after 12 years. The tram depot next to the Gariahat Mall became operational. On 30 September 2014, a tram functioning as a museum opened to the public and displays the history of the tram system.
2011年,为了修建Joka-BBD Bag地铁项目，Joka-Behala 路段和Behala车辆段关闭;Ballygunge-Kalighat路段关闭重建。Lalbazar-Mirjapur下行线关闭，但上行线仍然开通。2015年,因为Park Circus的重建，Park Circus车辆段关闭。 Flyover & Nonapukur车辆段重新开始使用。Garhiahat 车辆段仍然在使用。2016年， Gariahat路段在12年后重新开通。Gariahat购物中心附近的有轨电车车辆段投入运营。2014年9月30日，一辆作为博物馆运营的有轨电车向公众开放，用于展现有轨电车的历史。
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Future将来
Plans have been proposed to refurbish stock and wires, extend the system to more areas or tunnel under the Hooghly River,There have also been some proposals to replace the current double-coach SLC type trams with the new single-coach trams and extend the tram system to places like Salt Lake, Rajarhat and Bantala and reopening of some closed routes. There are also plans for a tram route across the riverfront of the Hooghly River.
已经提出的计划包括：整修车辆和电线，将系统延伸到更广阔的区域或者Hooghly河底隧道。还有建议提出：将目前的双节编组的SLC型有轨电车更换为新的单节编组有轨电车；将系统延伸到盐湖，Rajarhat和Bantala 这样的地方；重新开通一些关闭的线路。还有在Hooghly河的河滨区修建有轨电车线路的计划。
There have occasionally been plans to gradually phase out the tram system due to criticisms that the trams occupy too much road space, slow down other road vehicles due to their slow pace and carry too few passengers although they have been cancelled due to the environmentally friendly and iconic status of the trams in the city.
偶尔，会有逐步废除有轨电车系统的计划，因为有人批评说：有轨电车占用了太多的道路空间，由于它们速度慢降低了其他车辆的速度，它们载客量太少。但是由于有轨电车是环境友好型交通工具，没有污染，并且在加尔各答具有偶像地位，这些计划都被取消了。