Amsterdam tries cargo trams
A pilot scheme is underway to run cargo trams through Amsterdam, which could help reduce particle air pollution in the Dutch city by 15 percent.
City Cargo Nederland is carrying out the trial, which runs March 7-31. The trams will use the existing tram system of the Municipal Transportation Co. (GVB), but is restricted to lines with sufficient free capacity to avoid conflicts with passenger trams. The cargo trams operate from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. to avoid nocturnal noise.
City Cargo Nederland calculates that the air pollution in the inner city can be reduced by up to 20 percent if the number of freight trucks in the main city area can be halved.
The city’s council will decide in May whether to continue or expand the project.
