A tram line is not a continent detector. Lots of cities run rails through old streets. What helps is the ecosystem: pole design, catenary hardware, platform height rules, ticket-machine branding, and the specific paint scheme on rolling stock.
Europe’s tram families (without flashcard trauma)
Central European systems can share Czech-built cars or Siemens cousins. Still, the city logo on a shelter, the bike lane integration, and the language on real-time boards often break ties. Wait for one shelter word. Patience reads as skill.
North America’s smaller club
Street-running light rail in the US and Canada often sits in sunnier paint schemes and ADA-forward platforms. If you see a vintage trolley cosplay district, slow down: tourism can impersonate transit. Look for utility branding and operator maps.