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Transportation
The Tram
Thessalonika History
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"Dur! Şeytan araba geliyor!"
"Pull away! Here comes the cart of the devil!"
With this Turkish phrase and the sound of the horns the tram workers warned the people, who strolled leisurely in the streets of Thessalonika {Θεσσαλονίκη} [Place Names], at the end of the 19th century.
The "Nymph of the Thermaikos Gulf" {Νύμφη τού Θερμαϊκού}, was still under Ottoman rule, but the government, in 1889, passed the right to operate the horse driven tram to Ahmet Hamdi Bey, (later mayor of the city).
The first cars had a special design, as they were divided into separate compartments: second class at the front, third class at the back, whilst in the middle there was the first luxury class for Turkish Hanim (women living in a harem). The first class had semi-transparent windows, white curtains and leather seats.
The line branched off in two directions: one which went along the old coast and another which went through Egnatia {Εγνατία} Street, passed from the marvellous Kamara {Καμάρα}, and terminated at the station of the Eastern Railways. The tram at the beginning had as its terminus Buyuk-Dere, Georgiou {Γεωργίου} stop, but later the necessary bridges were constructed and it was moved to an area which is, even today, called Depò.
Soon after the year 1900, tram transportation faced the strong competition of the caiques which sailed from Customs House to the Allatini {Αλλατίνη} area. Thus, in 1908 the tram network was electrified, whilst new lines were added: Depò, Olgas {Όλγας}, Lefkos Pirgos {Λευκός Πύργος ~ White Tower}, Paralia {Παραλία}, Eleftherias {Ελευθερίας} Square, Depò, Queen Olga, Queen Sofia {Σοφία}, Sindrivani {Συντριβάνι}, Egnatia, Vardaris {Βαρδάρης}.
After the liberation from the Turks and until 1934, there have been constructed extensions towards Harilaou {Χαριλάου}, the service is more frequent, every 3 minutes, and as the trams grow so does their popularity to the passengers. The local electric power company jointly runs the trams with the tram company from the year 1912.
The Second World War, however, is the cause of great damage to the network, while after 1950 there is an increase of the pressure exerted by bus owners, who want to take charge of the transportation. D.E.I. {Δ.Ε.Η.} (Hellenic Public Power Corporation {Δημόσια Επιχείρηση Ηλεκτρισμού}) takes over the lucratice part of power distribution and the operation of the deficit creating tram lines is left to K.E.T.TH. {Κ.Ε.Τ.Θ.} (State Company of Thessalonika Tramways {Κρατική Εκμετάλλευση Τροχιοδρόμων Θεσσαλονίκης}).
With
various excuses (e.g. road constuction works), the gradual removal of the lines begins and
from 1957 the network is abolished, while public transportation becomes the responsibility
of O.A.S.TH. 
{Ο.Α.Σ.Θ.}
(Thessalonika Urban Transport Organization {Οργανισμός Αστικών Συγκοινωνιών
Θεσσαλονίκης}).
Source:
Eleftherotipia {Ελευθεροτυπία} Newspaper, Featured
Article: The History Of The Railway, Saturday, July 3rd,
1999.
11-30-2003