page_title: History of the Helsinki tram system
section_title: 1900–1908: Electric single-track lines
hierarchical_section_title: History of the Helsinki tram system / 1900–1908: Electric single-track lines
caption_attribution_description: English: Kummer trams in Helsinki in the early 20th century Suomi: Kummer-raitiovaunuja Helsingissä Läntisellä Viertotiellä 1900-luvun alussa
context_page_description: Helsinki is Finland's only remaining city with tram traffic. Two other cities—Turku and Vyborg —have had tram systems. Vyborg abandoned its trams in 1957 after it was ceded to the Soviet Union after the end of World War II. Turku withdrew its trams in 1972.
context_section_description: In 1897 HRO received the right to construct an electrified tramway into Helsinki. A call for bids was sent out the following year, and the contract was awarded to the Germany-based O.L. Kummer. By terms on the agreement Kummer had to construct and electrify the new tram system as well as construct the trams used on it, and the company would be responsible for trafficking the new system for up to three years in order to ensure good quality of construction. Electrification of the network was mostly completed in 1900, with one short horse-drawn line lingering until 1901. Kummer had made notable profits from operating the new electrified system, and already in 1901 HRO assumed responsibility for operating the tram network. Following the electrification the number of lines grew into four, but all lines remained single-track. At the same time colours were taken into use as line identifiers.
  Within a few years the single-track lines proved insufficient to meet the passenger demand, but the majority of stock owners were unwilling to fund the conversion into double track, while Julius Tallberg and his associates were strongly for the conversion. In 1906 Tallberg and his supporters acquired a stock majority in the HRO, and during the same year the company applied for and received a permission to convert their track network into double track. The contract also specified certain lines that HRO had to operate, as well as certain extensions that had to be built.
caption: O. L. Kummer built the first electric trams for Helsinki, photographed here on Läntinen Viertotie (present-day Mannerheimintie).
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