trams vs. buses

[jballar]

Other than personal preference, is there any advantage to using trams vs. buses? thanks

[canophone]

There must be: I always use trams instead of buses wherever possible!

[Saint Landwalker]

I know that I use primarily trams to get the advantage of being more like canophone, so there's that big check in their favor right there. =P

Other than that, though, I don't... think so. If anyone knows otherwise, I'd love to find out. As a generality (blah blah always are exceptions blah blah), though, trams have higher capacity per vehicle than buses do. Prior to the mid-20th century, European trams are significantly faster than European buses, so if you're using them over distances where speed matters, they can be pretty handy that way (they make good intercity passenger transportation options if you're going for the Truck Fever achievement). The American lineup mostly favors buses for speed, but trams for capacity.

[jballar]

thanks. I am going to start a new map and use exclusively trams mainly because I normally use all buses. Plus I think the trams will look better.

[Comrade Suhov]

I tried to make a tram lane between two distant cities in 1880 and turns out it was much much more profitable than horse wagons: it's faster and hold more passenger and much more cheaper than building a train line.
Actually, this is a thing in Russia too: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimean_Trolleybus
It was built as an alternative to building a train line.

[canophone]

Originally posted by Comrade Suhov:

I tried to make a tram lane between two distant cities in 1880 and turns out it was much much more profitable than horse wagons: it's faster and hold more passenger and much more cheaper than building a train line.

It's my strategy. Also, only using a main hub for passenger rail that the neighbour city tram connects to. And utilize passenger rail lines for more distant travel. Often connecting 2 cities could be effective with just trams; while >2 could be rail, and more distant air. Water lines tend to be most effective on higher terrain maps, or vast waterways..

[SirLANsalot]

Early game Trams are the better pick because they last longer vs the 15 year short lifespan of the buses.

In most cases Trams are better, especially for the EU set, but the US set is very good too. End Game buses have 2 more capacity then trams do.....that is it, TWO passengers. So really its all up to what you like best. Only "real" advantage is Buses are faster with a higher top speed vs trams, but again, its all really what you like best.

[What is your ip]

Trams don't change routes like bus do when a road built by the game.

[The Questing Truck]

I like using Tams for city Metro and Busses intercity travel. I dont know that that is the best but it feels right.

[Hogweed Blitz]

I am trying out using trams in between cities now. I start with city to city buses (usually with a bus lane), and now will try and add a tram rail and offer that. i find lower cost transit between cities to be very popular with people, the buses were always filled, and i had a hard time keeping up with them. They always make high profits. Now i am adding trams to that route, and will see how they do. I have yet to use trams in place of buses within the cities, but for the busiest cities I will give that a try.

[ancienthighway]

I've used intercity trams quite a bit. I usually wait for the 1870ish tram because it is the same speed as the new horse cart. Higher capacity, speed, and lifespan than the stage coach.

[Yatagan]

As far as I can tell they tend to be faster and carry more passengers. I use them for my big hefty lines and use buses for smaller lines or lengthy inter-city routes.