New Volvo Tramcars Hit Wildwood Boardwalk Ahead of Memorial Day Weekend

New Volvo Tramcars Hit Wildwood Boardwalk Ahead of Memorial Day Weekend

As folks rush to the shore for this upcoming Memorial Day weekend, they’re going to be greeted in the boardwalk with a new sight, a new kind of Tram Car.

If you have ever spent time in Wildwood during the summer, chances are you have heard the famous “Watch the Tramcar Please” announcement echoing across the boardwalk.

For generations of visitors, the tramcars have become just as much a part of the Wildwoods as Morey’s Piers, Curley’s Fries, and those late-night boardwalk walks after the beach.

The history of the tramcars in Wildwood dates back to 1949 when the Sightseer Tram Cars first began operating on the boardwalk. Originally introduced as a way to help visitors travel the massive two-mile-long boardwalk, the tramcars quickly became one of the defining symbols of the Wildwoods themselves.

Over the decades, millions of riders have stepped aboard the yellow and blue tramcars while hearing the now world-famous phrase, “Watch the Tramcar Please.” The tramcars became more than transportation. They became part of the culture and identity of Wildwood.

That history is exactly why this latest announcement is drawing so much attention.

Two weeks ago, Wildwoods Boardwalk Special Improvement District Management Corporation (WSID), announced a new partnership with Volvo Cars that officials say is designed to help preserve and modernize one of the Jersey Shore’s most iconic attractions.

This partnership would introduce three fully electric Volvo EX40 vehicles into the tramcar fleet.

Officials say the transition is intended to embrace modern technology while still honoring the historic roots of the tramcars, which originally operated as electric-powered vehicles years ago.

According to the release, the first phase of the modernization project will introduce three fully electric Volvo EX40 vehicles into the tramcar fleet, joining the other new tram from last year, the Ford Maverick.

We just got our first look at the new tramcars this past weekend as they did trainings up and down the boardwalk to prepare for the summer.

The new Volvo EX40s are painted in a bright tramcar yellow body with a contrasting black roof, black wheels, and black lower trim, giving the vehicles a much sleeker and more upscale look compared to the older tram engines.

Along the side, the classic “Sightseer” logo remains front and center, helping keep the recognizable tramcar branding intact. Beneath the logo is a wave-style blue graphic that appears inspired by the ocean and boardwalk atmosphere of Wildwood.

The overall design honestly feels like a blend of old-school Wildwood nostalgia mixed with modern electric vehicle styling. It still instantly reads as “tramcar” because of the yellow-and-blue identity, but at the same time it looks cleaner, more futuristic, and much more automotive than the traditional open-air tram engines people grew up with.

The car also features a statement from Volvo which reads, “Provided by Volvo Cars to help preserve the Wildwood Tram Car experience.”

On the inside this this is packed in tech including updated safety and technology features that the older systems simply could not provide.

That includes a factory-installed speed regulator that limits the EX40 vehicles to around 8 miles per hour on the boardwalk. The vehicles are also equipped with 360-degree camera systems designed to help operators safely navigate the crowded summer boardwalk environment filled with pedestrians, strollers, bikes, and large crowds.

And let’s remember, air conditioning for the drivers.

For those wondering will these still say their famous phrases, “Watch the Tram Car Please,” dont worry, they do.

These new tram cars, though, do come with a decent amount of criticism from devoted Wildwood boardwalk fans who say these look nothing like the tram cars that we all grew up with and love.

This is something that I would like to directly comment on, because over the past 12 years, I have reported extensively on these tramcars and the massive amount of work required just to keep them operational year after year.

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Unfortunately, many of the original parts and components needed to maintain the historic tram engines are either extremely difficult to find or simply no longer exist at all. And while many people immediately say, “Why not just build new ones?” the reality is that constructing replica tram engines from scratch would cost well over $100,000 per vehicle, something that is not ideal.

That is especially important to understand because the tramcar system does not receive funding from a public transportation budget. According to officials, the operation survives primarily through its own ticket revenue and operating income, with rides currently costing around $5 each way.

And honestly, when you look at the bigger picture, the decision starts making a lot more sense.

If the choice ultimately comes down to either continuing the tramcar tradition with a slightly different lead vehicle or potentially losing the tramcars altogether someday because maintaining the old systems becomes impossible, many people will probably agree that keeping the tradition alive in some form is the better option.

The operation itself is managed by the Wildwoods Boardwalk Special Improvement District Management Corporation, also known as WSID. According to officials, the tramcar system is considered one of the rare examples of a fully self-sustaining public transportation operation that receives no government funding while still transporting roughly 600,000 passengers every summer.

Officials say rising operational costs, infrastructure concerns, and changing transportation demands all contributed to the decision to modernize the system. After evaluating multiple options, WSID says the Volvo partnership was selected because it balanced heritage, safety, sustainability, and long-term viability.

Some people are going to love the modernization, while others may worry about losing part of what made the tramcars special in the first place.

But according to officials, this project is not about replacing the tramcar tradition. Instead, they say the goal is making sure the tramcars can continue operating well into the future while still maintaining the charm and identity that made them famous to begin with.

The Wildwood Video Archive toured the tramcars in the off-season to show you what goes into storing these tramcars. You can watch that video below,

Are you excited to seeing the new tramcar?