Tram system in Osijek consists of 30 km narrow-gauge tracks served by 26 trams. This backbone of urban public transport is characterized by old age of both system components - vehicles have an average age of about 50 years, and the average period from the last major track section reconstruction is 15 years. In order to ensure safe, accessible and efficient future public transport, network manager GPP Osijek has foreseen the modernization of the fleet via purchase of new low-floor trams. Of course, such investments should be made with great responsibility to the users of public transport, but also to all Osijek’s citizens. It was soon concluded that the renewal of the fleet would not be able to meet the demands of modern public transport in the long run, but that the introduction of new, heavier and faster vehicles would require imminent tracks reconstruction. Due to the high cost of both system components modernization, it became of utmost importance for manager to establish the tenable strategy i.e. the dynamics of the phased approach to tramway network reconstruction. Since track geometry is one of the most important factors for ensuring a safe and comfortable ride, effective planning of phased tracks reconstruction is impossible without the knowledge of its condition and quality across the entire network. This paper describes the procedure and results of the measurement and analysis of the narrow-gauge tram tracks geometry in Osijek, carried out to determine the required investment dynamics in their reconstruction.

tram tracks, track geometry, reconstruction planning strategy