What was announced in February became reality on 26 May 2025: the interurban tram line from Arad to Ghioroc is no longer in operation. Scheduled service ended a week earlier than originally planned to enable gradual modernisation in the coming years, partly with EU funding. However, these funds have not yet been approved and the other financing for the work has not yet been clarified, so the future of this interesting route remains uncertain for the time being.
During the planned renovation work, tram services on the Podgoria – Micălaca – Vladimirescu – Ghioroc section will be suspended. The trams will be replaced by buses that will stop near the tram stops.
On 2 June 2025, tram services resumed on the section between UTA Square – Făt Frumos – Gai Square. Lines 3 and 15 run to the Făt Frumos terminus. Trams will run as line 18 b on the route Făt Frumos – Piața UTA – Confecții – Piața Romană – Podgoria – Piața UTA – Făt Frumos and as line 7 on the route Făt Frumos – Piața UTA – Podgoria – Piața Romană – Confecții – Piața UTA – Făt Frumos.
Lines 1B and 6 will run on their usual route, while lines 9, 10, 11, 12 and 14 will be out of service.
The current tramway network:
- 1b Fat Frumos – Zona Industriala Vest
- 1 Fat Frumos – Podgoria – Piața Romană
- 3 Fat Frumos -Podgoria-Piata Romana-Gara Aradul Nou
- 6 Piata Gai – Piata UTA – Piata Romana
- 7 Fat Frumos – Piata UTA – – Podgoria – Piața Romană – Confecții – Piața UTA – Făt Frumos
- 15 Fat Frumos – Gara CFR – Sere
- 16 Piața Romană – Podgoria – Sere
- 18b Fat Frumos – Piata UTA – Confecții – Piața Romană – Podgoria – Piața UTA – Făt Frumos
The first section of the interurban tramways in the Arad area was opened in 1906 and connected Arad with the village of Ghioroc over a distance of approximately 22 km. This project was conceived at a time when Arad was still part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the region was experiencing strong economic and industrial growth. The aim was to improve connections between rural areas and the urban centre by means of a modern electric tramway.
The metre-gauge network was continuously expanded and reached towns such as Sântana, Pâncota, Lipova and others in the following decades. A total network of around 57 kilometres was created, which transported not only passengers but also goods for decades.
After the Second World War, and especially during the socialist era, the network continued to operate. It was not until 1 October 1991 that the connecting lines from Ghioroc to Pâncota and Radna were discontinued. Since 1982, the line to Ghioroc has been integrated into the network of the Arad municipal transport company, Compania de Transport Public Arad, or C.T.P. Arad for short. Second-hand tramcars from Germany were seen on the interurban line for many years.
