Tag:railway=tram

This tag can be used for tracks which are mainly or exclusively used for trams, or where tram tracks are laid within a normal road open to all traffic, often called street running (in which case the usual way of tagging is to have two ways, each using the same nodes, one tagged railway=tram and the other tagged with a highway=* value).

In the case of street running rails, consider adding a embedded_rails=tram tag to the highway to make other traffic aware that there are rails embedded on the highway.

In some places each tram tracks is mapped separately and in some places two tracks are together mapped as a single railway=tram line. Mapping each tram track separately so that two tracks are lined up side by side is preferred.

How to map

Single-Track tramways

Example of two-track tramways as a separate carriageway, embedded within a single carriageway road, and inside a dual carriageway road.

• Where single-track trams run on a street and trams share the same space with the traffic, a new way is drawn for the tram, which can also use the same nodes as the road. This ensures a clean separation of road traffic and tram and avoids conflicts of competing tags such as ref=*.
  • To make this clear embedded_rails=tram and embedded_rails:lanes=* can be added on the road geometry

Dual-Track tramways

• Where trams run two lanes on a road that is not structurally separate in directional lanes, the tram tracks are drawn as two ways and the road as a way in between.
  • To make this clear embedded_rails=tram and embedded_rails:lanes=* can be added on the road geometry
• Where tram run along a track enclosed by the road, the trams are drawn as two ways and the road as ways on both sides. Road and trams can be tagged with oneway=yes.

Editor warnings

On JOSM, railway=tram is exempt from unconnected crossings with highway=* compared to other railways and can therefore be left unconnected (note that certain mappers prefer to not connect railway=tram with highways) and neither does it throw warnings about missing railway=level_crossing between highway and railway=tram. Note that railway=light_rail (the second most likely to be embedded into roads) still throws warnings in the editor even if they too can embedded into on the highway, although JOSM too doesn't warn about missing railway=level_crossing at highway connections.

On iD, railway=tram will throw warnings with unconnected crossings between it and highway=* like any other railway. On top of that, it adds railway=tram_crossing/railway=tram_level_crossing (regardless of the type of crossing) to the connecting nodes which is deemed controversial.

Tags to use in combination

• ref=* – Line reference
• electrified=* – Tramways are often electrified (usually contact_line but exceptions do exist)
• gauge=* – Track width in mm
• frequency=* – Frequency of the traction current in Hz
• voltage=* – Voltage of the traction current in Volt
• service=* – To tag "special" or "unusual" track, see Key:service#Trams for values

See also

• railway=switch
• railway=tram_crossing
• railway=tram_level_crossing
• Highway tagging samples/urban
• tram on Wikipedia