Reus – Salou tram

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Opening trip of the Carrilet 1887

The tram Reus – Salou ( Catalan Carrilet de Reus a Salou ) was a steam tram in Spain . Between 1887 and 1975 it connected the Catalan city ​​of Reus with the Mediterranean port in Salou . In 1966 the railway was switched to diesel operation.

founding

Share for a projected railway line from Reus to Salou (1866)

All goods from the Camp de Tarragona were traditionally shipped via the port of Salou. After plans for a canal to Salou could not be realized, better access to the Mediterranean should be created by rail. To this end, 800 shareholders founded the “Compañía Reusense de Tranvías” (Reus tram company) in 1883.

The inaugural trip on the 8.2-kilometer Cape-gauge route took place on June 23, 1887.

Although there were also passenger journeys, freight transport played the main role in the early days. In the slow freight trains, local products such as carob pods , grain , potatoes or salt , but also coal , iron goods, wood, marble or hides were transported inexpensively. There were several stops between Reus and Salou. So the carrilet also became important for the residents of the courtyards along the route.

Beach lift

At the end of the line in Reus, the Carrilet's locomotive could be moved (1910)
The Carrilet enters Salou train station (1901)

The railway acquired a certain tourist importance early on. Those who could afford it had a holiday home near the sea and used the train. But also the beach guests drove on the weekend with the fully occupied train in twenty minutes from Reus to Salou. This is how Salou became the "Beach of Reus".

Train stations

In Reus, the train station was on the southern outskirts on the road to Salou. He owned platforms for passengers and cargo handling. A depot was connected. At the former location of the train station there is now a monument with a historic locomotive. The former Carrilet train station in Salou is located next to the current RENFE train station . There is also a historic locomotive there. Today the Salou station building is a retirement home.

Decline

After the turn of the century, the port of Tarragona was expanded and the port of Salou lost its importance. In addition, the road connecting Reus to Tarragona offered the best conditions. It was a direct route and has had a solid surface since the Carlist Wars . Gradually the transport of goods shifted to the port of Tarragona.

In order to upgrade the railway, a plan was developed in the 1950s to lead it underground to downtown Reus as far as Plaça de Prim . The steam train was to be replaced by an electric one. However, this was not implemented, as was the further extension to what was then the North Station, from which the trains to Lleida ran. The exit station of the Carrilet remained on the southern edge of the city center.

Until the late 1960s, the Carrilet was the only public transport between Reus and Salou. With the establishment of bus routes and the advent of private transport, the railway finally lost its importance. The motorization of the company had advanced to such an extent that it became necessary to upgrade the parallel road to an expressway. There was no more room for the carrilet . The last train ride took place on October 10, 1975.

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