121 year ago, Sarajevo got its first electric tram

Along with electric lighting, on May 1, 1895, the first electric tram began circulating through Sarajevo, replacing the then-current horse-drawn tram.

The route of the electric tram went from the Railway Station, which was located near today's hotel "Bristol", to the Latin Bridge. The vehicles used were produced by the company "Siemens-Schuckert" and were the first trams manufactured in its facilities.

The first electric tram had two doors and could carry a total of 24 passengers. This tram had separate carriages for smokers and non-smokers, and initially, there were even separate carriages for men and women. Drivers and conductors had rules regarding dress code and hygiene.

The increased number of passengers required significant changes in the traffic schedule, so instead of every 15 minutes, trams departed every ten minutes from the starting station. The line was extended to the City Hall on December 1, 1897, and less than a year later, another line was put into operation, running along today's Titova Street to the Cathedral. Via Baščaršija in 1923, the Obala and Titova streets were connected by rails, and a new depot was built behind the Tobacco Factory. 

Every year, KJKP Gras organizes a ride with a replica of the first electric tram so that citizens and tourists can briefly return to the past and feel the spirit of that time. Otherwise, Sarajevo is one of the first cities in Europe to have a tram at that time.