trams in Cannes, France

Rue Félix Faure

Boulevard Carnot

The electric tramway system in what is now the venue for the world's best known film festival, Cannes, began in 1900 and reached its zenith in 1907 at a system length 20.24 km.

The first lines of service were provided by 16 power cars, numbered 1 to 16, and built by La Buire in Lyon. These cars were based on rudimentary trucks and were equipped with GE58 35 h.p. motors, which was not powerful enough for the network which consisted mainly of inclined streets. Moreover, the vehicles offered little comfort: access was located too high above the ground and the access doors were at an angle. Two classes were offered to travelers.

Six supplementary power cars, numbered 17 to 22, were bought to complete the fleet. The platforms were lower than that of cars 1 to 16 and the access doors were located on the side and not on the corners.

In February 2007 the system was linked to the Tramway de Nice (see earlier post) which opened a line from Cagnes-sur-Mer to Antibes. It was then possible to travel all the way from Mandelieu to Menton by tram by changing twice.

The Cannes system was finally replaced by buses in 1933.