Silesian Trams () is one of the largest tram systems in the world and the largest and longest tram system in Poland, located entirely within the Silesian Voivodeship. Started as a part of the German Empire in 1894, the system currently has 677 stops across 29 lines and serves the region’s population inhabited by more than two million people. Silesian Trams is at the heart of a region known for its dense historical and current industrialisation (coal, coke, steel and other industries). Due to the deindustrialization since the 1990s and subsequent lack of investment, several branches were decommissioned in waves. The system runs on a mixture of on-street track shared with other traffic and reserved track sections segregated from other traffic. The network is spread over more than 50 kilometres (east-west axis) and covers thirteen towns in the Upper Silesia metropolitan area of southern Poland: Katowice, the capital town of the region, Będzin, Bytom, Chorzów, Czeladź, Dąbrowa Górnicza, Mysłowice, Ruda Śląska, Siemianowice Śląskie, Sosnowiec, Świętochłowice and Zabrze. Until 2006, trams also frequented Piekary Śląskie and Wojkowice, and until 2009 trams ran through Gliwice (trams still run to the depot at the border of Gliwice and Zabrze where passengers can switch to buses). Tramwaje Śląskie is operated by a mixed fleet of modernized Konstal 105Na, Düwag and Lohner trams and brand new Pesa Twist trams. In recent years, the network benefited from investments from the European Union. Rolling stock was modernized to include low-floor cars and multiple track sections were upgraded. Recently, two major investments since cutbacks have been approved to extend the network length. A new section opened in December 2022 in Zagórze, Sosnowiec, and an investment on an connector track between Chorzowska and Gliwicka streets in downtown Katowice is being carried out. History Steam trains and early electrification Initially planned as a metre-gauge, 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, in 1898, Kramer & Co. was chosen to start electfication on Katowice Rynek - Zawodzie line, after which Schikora & Wolff completed electrification of four additional lines. 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