[The Editors' Verdict] Cities with Trams

Professor Lee Kyung-hoon, Department of Architecture, Kookmin University.

"All cities in the world can be divided into two: cities with trams and cities without trams."

This is a phrase I once read with a snap of my fingers, but I cannot recall the source. It seems to fit perfectly in many writings, yet I have been unable to find the original text for years, so it only lingers in my mind. Yes! Cities with trams have charm. The scene of trams mingling with cars, bicycles, and pedestrians has a magical power that quickly makes even unfamiliar cities feel familiar. The rattling metallic noise, wooden seats, and trams with designs that look over a hundred years old run through historic downtowns. Milan, Lisbon, and New Orleans are cities that immediately bring trams to mind. If a city is too small or too large, it cannot have trams, so having trams likely means the city is of an appropriate size, and the city’s unique lyricism may be condensed and expressed through the presence of trams.

Trams began as an urban public transportation mode in early 19th-century Western countries. Unlike Europe, where city roads were better paved, in the United States, where road paving was poor, rails were laid and horse-drawn buses regularly operated on them. This then spread back to Europe, evolving from steam-powered trains to electric streetcars, and by the late 19th century, over 100 cities worldwide had trams. Among them was Seoul. During the Korean Empire era in 1899, Seoul started operating trams ahead of Tokyo, Japan, and it remained a major transportation mode throughout the city’s name changes from Hanseong to Gyeongseong and finally to Seoul. Tram operations ceased in 1968, which was also a global trend among major cities. The increase in automobiles caused downtown congestion, and buses and subways replaced trams.

Trams are more economical than subways. They do not need to go deep underground, making them simpler and less claustrophobic since passengers can see the cityscape while riding. Trams can have stops as frequently as buses but run on steel wheels on fixed infrastructure, operating punctually at scheduled times. They are eco-friendly transportation modes that reduce pollution, noise, and energy consumption.

Above all, trams make cities lyrical. This is not just about retro tastes or nostalgia. Trams are humane and urban transportation modes because they gather people and create opportunities for interaction. The fact that trams were pushed out by the explosive spread of automobiles after World War II ironically underscores the importance of streetcars for public transportation and walking. Many times, I have sighed while imagining the journey from home to destination. Buses take too long, and subways are inconvenient. Long and tedious transfer corridors, then coming back up to the street where walking is awkward and transferring to another bus is inconvenient, often led me to sigh and give up, choosing a taxi from the start. Most of the time, I regretted the choice because of traffic jams and delays. Compared to that, trams can be an excellent and comfortable alternative. They can be a choice instead of private cars or taxis.

Seoul already has well-established central bus lanes, making it ready to operate trams immediately. Technology has advanced so much that there is no need to hang numerous overhead wires as before, minimizing the impact on city aesthetics. Autonomous driving is possible, and the future where maglev trains appear in downtown areas is already near.

Is Seoul too big? That might be why it needs trams even more. Trams activate public transportation and walking, making the city physically and psychologically more accessible. Wherever trams stop, they create human-centered places, making a city that is large yet close, wide yet not boring. I hope Seoul becomes a city with trams.

Lee Kyunghoon, Professor, Department of Architecture, Kookmin University