The mayor of the capital, Charalambos Pruntzos, emphasizing the need to seriously consider the prospect of developing such a fixed-track transit system.
In a post, Mr. Pruntzos notes that the discussion about a tram in Nicosia resurfaces periodically in the public discourse, yet to date, no concrete plan or clear direction for its implementation has been established.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
As he notes, the question of whether a tram system could serve major thoroughfares with heavy traffic has already been examined, and he cites a study conducted by the Municipality of Nicosia in collaboration with a specialized transportation consulting firm.
At the same time, the mayor also highlights the efficiency of the existing public transportation system. According to the data he cites, bus use accounts for only 4% to 5% of total travel.
Given these figures, the Mayor of Nicosia is reigniting the discussion on the need to explore alternative solutions for public transportation in the capital, with the tram being one of the options that, as he argues, should be seriously evaluated.
What is the opinion of the Minister of Transport
The Minister of Transportation, Communications, and Public Works, Evi Tsolaki, speaking from the studio of the Alpha Enimerosi program, stated that since we already have buses, improvements are needed in how they operate.
“I’ve already had meetings with the contracting companies. We need to inspect the routes on-site. We need to see if these routes are sufficient, if they actually serve the public. The Ministry’s priority is to make the buses attractive to the public—so that people can use them. In other words, we need to increase the number of routes and stops. People shouldn’t have to spend a lot of time or walk a long distance just to get to a bus stop. You shouldn’t have to transfer between many buses to reach your destination—a trip that would take only 10 minutes by car. The cost of taking the bus shouldn’t be higher than the cost of driving. The contracting companies also seem to be showing a spirit of cooperation. Park & Ride is a measure I strongly support, and I believe it’s one of the ways to solve the traffic problem. As for the tram, I believe we must first improve the bus system—how the bus service operates—and then consider other alternatives.”
The Minister of Transportation has made it clear that she does not rule out the possibility of establishing a tram system in Nicosia—and that the Limassol Municipality is also interested—but she believes that “we need to take it step by step and first see how the bus system works, whether it improves, and then move on to other options.”
*The photo was generated using artificial intelligence.
