Rio de Janeiro: Santa Teresa Tram The Santa Teresa Tram is South America's last remaining tram operation. Electric tram service on this route began in 1891, replacing horse drawn carriages that began service in 1859. Only four cities have had trams running longer for a continuous period of time (New Orleans, Boston, Mexico City, and Philadelphia). At one time, Rio de Janeiro had an extensive tram system, but lines were slowly closed between the 1950s and 1970s. Today, the service is mostly a tourist attraction but it is used by commuters as well, operating on a 3.4 (6 kilometer) long route from the terminal in the center of town to the Santa Teresa neighborhood. The highlight of the line is the Os Arcos da Lapa Viaduct near the downtown end of the line.