Limassol tramway could cost up to €95m per kilometre, mayor says

Limassol, Cyprus. Building a tramway in Limassol could require between €25m and €95m for each kilometre, depending on the technology chosen, mayor Yiannis Armeftis told Sigma television on Thursday. Assessing the prospects for such a system in Cyprus’ second city, he said the decision should consider benefits beyond the expense of construction.

Wider benefits and congestion costs

Armeftis said an assessment should account for potential improvements to areas served by public transport, higher land and property values, and gains in residents’ quality of life.

He also highlighted the economic losses associated with congestion, including working hours lost and time spent travelling. Limassol’s roads frequently experience lengthy queues during peak periods.

According to the mayor, Cyprus’ heavy reliance on private cars makes tackling Limassol’s congestion especially challenging. He said no city had resolved its traffic difficulties with private-car dependence at around 90 per cent, and that effective traffic management also required people to use public transport.

Bus spending and passenger uptake

Armeftis put annual government spending on public transport at approximately €100m, with roughly one-quarter allocated to Limassol. Despite that expenditure, he said, buses account for just three to five per cent of journeys across Cyprus.

He attributed the limited uptake to lengthy delays and slow routes, saying buses had become inconvenient and had lost public confidence.

However, the mayor said passengers could embrace services that were dependable and met their needs. He cited Limassol’s number 30 service, which follows the coastal road, as an example, adding that speed and frequency were essential to persuading people to choose buses over cars.