The tram project's financial burden on the city's finances have led to construction of phase 2 of the first line to be delayed.

Tianshui government chose China Railway Signal & Communication (CRSC) to develop the tram line under a design-build-operate contract.

The system will be the first revenue service of CRSC's new tram subsidiary, and will also function as a demonstration of their technology.

[13] The west extension is planned to deviate from the riverbank, passing through the commercial centre of Qinzhou District, terminating at Sanzhong (Tianshui No.3 Middle School).

[14] Line 3 will be 7.25 kilometres (4.50 mi) long and service 10 stations on the south bank of the Jie River in Qinzhou District.

[2] The rolling stock on Line 1 is constructed by China Railway Signal & Communication Vehicle Company in Changsha.

[18] The trams are fully low floor, have a maximum speed of 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph) and have 58 seats, and a total carrying capacity of 370 persons.

[22][23] The trams are nicknamed "Boyue" (伯约),[24] the courtesy name of Jiang Wei, a military general from the historical Three Kingdoms period who grew up in Tianshui and was the last disciple of Zhuge Liang and the last defender of Shu Han.