Editing Interurban (section)

==== Europe ====
In [[Belgium]], a sprawling, nation-wide system of narrow-gauge [[vicinal tramway]]s have been built by the NMVB / SNCV to provide transport to smaller towns across the country; the first section opened in 1885. These lines were either electrically operated or run with diesel tramcars, included numerous street-running sections, and inter-operated with local tram networks in the larger cities. Similar to Belgium, [[Netherlands]] constructed a large network of interurbans in the early 1900s called [[:nl:Voormalige streektramlijnen in Nederland|streektramlijnen]].

In Silesia, today Poland, an extensive interurban system was constructed, starting in 1894 with a narrow-gauge line connecting [[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 electrification on Katowice Rynek (Kattowitz, Ring) - Zawodzie line, after which Schikora & Wolff completed electrification of four additional lines.{{sfn|Soida|1998|p=12-14}} In 1912, the first short {{RailGauge|ussg|al=on|lk=on}} line was built in [[Katowice]].{{sfn|Soida|1998|p=37-38}} In 1913, a separate standard gauge system connecting Bytom with suburbs and villages west of the town was launched.{{sfn|Soida|1998|p=37-38}} After World War I and the Silesian Uprisings, in 1922 the region (and the tram network) was divided between newly independent Poland and Germany, and international services appeared (the last one ran until 1937). In 1928 further standard gauge systems were established in Sosnowiec, Będzin and Dąbrowa Górnicza (the so-called Dabrowa Coal Basin - a region adjoining the Upper Silesian Coal Basin). 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. By 1931, 47,5% of the narrow-gauge network was reconstructed, with {{convert|20|km}} of new standard-gauge track built.

A large network of interurbans started developing around Milan in the late 1800s; they were originally drawn by horses{{sfn|Cornolò|1980|p=23}} and later powered as steam trams.{{sfn|Cornolò|1980|pp=30–31}} These initial interurban lines were gradually upgraded with electric traction in the early 1900s with some assistance from [[Thomas Edison]].{{sfn|Cornolò|1980|pp=76–77}} By the 1930s a vast network of interurbans, the ''Società Trazione Elettrica Lombarda'', connected Milan with surrounding towns.

In the first half of the 20th century, an extensive tramway network covered [[Northern England]], centered on [[South Lancashire]] and [[West Yorkshire]].{{sfn|Royle|2016|pp=20–21}}  At that time, it was possible to travel entirely by tram from Liverpool [[Pier Head]] to the village of Summit, outside [[Rochdale]], a distance of {{convert|52|miles|km}}, and with a short {{convert|7|miles|km}} bus journey across the Pennines, to connect to another tram network that linked Huddersfield, Halifax and Leeds.<ref name="RochdaleTrams">{{cite magazine |last=Randall |first=D. |year=1954 |title=In the Shadow of the Pennines |magazine=Transport World |page=154}}</ref>