Limassol tram called a promising project costing hundreds of millions of euros

The idea of launching a tram service in Limassol looks promising, said Cyprus Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Evfthia Tsolaki. However, no final decision has been made: a research group is studying more than 30 options for organising transport in the city.

In an interview with the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s publication Entrepreneurial Limassol, the minister stressed that the key assessment criterion should be the project’s sustainability in relation to its cost.

The study is being coordinated by the University of Cyprus and Frederick University, while an interdisciplinary group of Cypriot and international specialists is headed by Professor Lucas Demetriou. According to him, a tram is a “major intervention in the urban environment” that could cost hundreds of millions of euros, so it is necessary to determine whether such an investment is truly needed and how it fits in with the city’s other projects.

“There is no clear ‘yes’ or ‘no’ yet, but there is definitely room for a tram,” Demetriou said. The issue is not limited to a line along the seafront: different routes and scenarios are being considered. The first six months were spent collecting data, including through a large-scale survey of residents, who responded noticeably positively to the idea.

The options will be assessed based on expected passenger numbers, construction and operating costs, connections with other modes of transport, and environmental impact. The municipalities did not impose ready-made solutions or routes on the researchers.

The tram issue was raised by Limassol Mayor Yiannis Armeftis. In his view, the project concerns not only transport but also public spaces: for example, on Aktaias Street (Aktaias), a tram could be integrated into the redesign of the street to prioritise pedestrians and public transport. The mayor points to international examples where trams operate in small cities as well. According to him, the final decision will depend on three factors: sustainability, the overall cost, and the ability of the investment to pay for itself.