Vado Ligure
The History of the Savona-Vado Ligure Tramway
The Savona-Vado Ligure tramway was an important connection between the city and the territory that made Ligurian history. Active from 1912 to 1948, the line underwent significant economic and political changes that influenced its development.
In the years leading up to its construction, the project for a tramway network was the subject of a long debate between supporters of private initiative and advocates of direct intervention by the municipalities. It was with specific deliberations of the Savona and Vado Ligure City Councils that the project was started.
Regular service was inaugurated on May 11, 1912 on the interurban route between Savona and Porto Vado, providing connections to the emerging industrial center. Passenger traffic began a period of steady growth which in 1913 led to the authorization of the circulation of convoys made up of 3 cars.
However, events related to World War I and the subsequent Great Depression penalized the accounts of STET, imposing reductions in service and canceling extension projects towards Noli. On April 1, 1922, tram service was suspended and only reactivated in August following an injunction by the Municipality.
The Evolution of the Tramway Network and its Economic Impact
In November 1936, STES decided to transfer its branch of motor transport to the Italian Society for Electric Trolleybuses (SIPE), renouncing at the same time any form of competition with the network. In 1942, the Italian Society of Motor Transport entered the STES capital, determining a favorable orientation towards the progressive disengagement from tramway operation in favor of road transport.
Nevertheless, the tramway network maintained a great importance for the region, providing transportation for materials, goods, and people. Its closure in 1948 had a strong impact on the local economy, marking the end of an era.
The Future of the Savona-Vado Ligure Tramway
Today, the Savona-Vado Ligure tramway represents an important testimony of the territory's history, its economic and social changes. Its memory generates interest and curiosity in the new generations, who approach its history thanks to the stories of their grandparents or through visiting museums and exhibitions dedicated to the topic.
Furthermore, the reopening of a tramway network in Savona and the Savonese coast is becoming an important topic in conversations among institutions and citizens. The goal would be to create a sustainable transportation system that brings advantages both from an environmental and economic point of view. It would be able to revitalize commercial and tourist activities, promoting the development of the territory in a modern and multimodal key.
Conclusion
The Savona-Vado Ligure tramway was a line that linked for decades the Ligurian territory, providing transportation for people and goods and representing a symbol of the economic and social evolution of the region. Its closure marked the end of an era, but today the memory of the tramway remains alive and current thanks to its historical importance and the possible future that is emerging for the territory. The reopening of a tramway network represents an opportunity for Liguria to develop in a modern and sustainable way, enhancing its roots and projecting itself towards the future.
