Silesian Interurbans, one of the largest tram systems in the world, has been in existence since 1894. The system is spread over more than 50 kilometres and covers thirteen towns in the Upper Silesiametropolitan area and their suburbs, which is densely industrialised and inhabited by more than 2 million people.
The system was established by German Empire in 1894 as a unique narrow gauge steam interurban railway. The first line was 36.5 km long and connected Gliwice with Piekary Śląskie through Zabrze, Chebzie, Chorzów and Bytom, another connected Katowice and Siemianowice. After four years electrification started. In 1912 the first short line was built in Katowice. In 1913 a separate standard gauge system connecting Bytom with suburbs and villages west of the town was opened. After World War I and the Silesian Uprisings the region was divided between newly independent Poland and Germany, and international services appeared. In 1928 another standard gauge system was established in Sosnowiec, Będzin and Dąbrowa Górnicza. Between 1928 and 1936 most of the original narrow gauge network was converted to standard, which allowed a connection with the new system in Sosnowiec. During World War II the German authorities decided to merge all the systems and administrations, and they have remained as one united network to the present day. The new route numbering system introduced in 1940 to integrate the systems is still used. In 1951 the system was taken over by a state-owned company and until the 1970s it was widely extended and partly modernised, reaching its maximum length at the end of the 1970s. Since the late 1960s, the classic rolling stock has been replaced by modern cars based on PCC streetcar technology. In the 1980s some of the non-modernised, rural lines were abandoned.The end of the 1980s brought changes in Poland, but unfortunately that did not improve the tramway service in the region - on the contrary, the condition of the tram company has been steadily deteriorating since the middle of the 1990s. The last new line was built in 1980–1982. At the end of the 1990s the Bytom - Chorzów - Katowice line was to be upgraded to light-rail standards. Due to a lack of funds, the investment was carried out only partially and the journey time on a highly overcrowded line did not change.
Present day
Today, Tramwaje Śląskie S.A. and KZK GOP are slowly repairing effects of long-period lack of funds. There are much renovations, and new rolling stocks are bought. In 2012 network operator bought 30 low-floorPesa 2012N "Twist-Step", and 12 partially low-floor Moderus Beta trams from Modertrans Poznań. They are parts of European Union project, and were partially refunded from EU.
Non-revenue cars: ca. 50 cars, mostly of N and 4N Types, though many other interesting units are in the working order. Museum cars: a set of classic N typemotor car with a 4ND Type passive trailer produced in the 1950s, renovated in 2000–2001. One 13N.
