Principles of planning a tramway system in an urban environment and its application to the city of Athens

The tramway is a modem transportation means that consolidates many useful characteristics but works with some limitations. For example, the tramway needs, for its function, certain space on the road, exclusively for it. The question naturally arises: how a well (or even not so well) organized transportation system can accept the application of such a new system, under which circumstances, with what disturbance for the rest of transportation network and finally, what would the results be and how we can set them? We are able to demonstrate the main advantages and disadvantages that occur with the operation of a tramway system in an urban environment, like the one that is under study in the capital of Greece, Athens. We will examine the capabilities of applying such a system in addition to the existing public transportation networks (trolleys, buses, metro, etc.). We will examine the necessity for applying a tramway system related to the alternative means of public transportation and its complementation. Features concerning the planning demands, the infrastructure and the superstructure of a tramway system, will be mentioned. Finally, we will lead to the main assumptions and the necessary questions that should be taken into consideration, for the planning and application of a tramway network in the city of Athens.