Problems
The tram's fleet is outdated, with only five regular cars, which are almost a century old, still running. The cars are open-sided with wooden cross-benches, leading to street children often hopping on and off for free rides. Electricity to the cars is still provided from overhead trolley poles, and all cars are bi-directional. The cars were built locally by the tramway companies, but several key components were supplied by foreign manufacturers: traction motors from English Electric, controllers from General Electric and trucks by the Peckham Manufacturing Company (Kingston, New York).
The cars and tracks are not in good repair, so the ride is slow and bumpy, though the carriages are regularly repainted in keeping with the tram's heritage image. The ride is good for sightseeing, but besides tourists, there are few regular paying passengers, and so the tramway is increasingly running at a loss and there are doubts regarding its long term future.
Read more about this topic: Santa Teresa Tram
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—Simon Blackburn (b. 1944)
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