Trams in Adelaide: Difference between revisions

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===Horse trams===

[[File:Adelaide horse tram no. 18 at Tramway Museum, St Kilda.jpg|thumb|Horse tram 18. Used in Adelaide from 1882 to 1910, first on the Walkerville line]]

In early 1855, less than twenty years after the colony was founded, South Australia's first horse tram began operating between [[Goolwa, South Australia|Goolwa]] and [[Port Elliot]] on the [[Fleurieu Peninsula]].<ref name="criticp6">The Critic (1909), p. 6</ref> Just over twenty years later Adelaide became the first city in Australia to introduce horse trams, and eventually the last to discard them for more modern public transport.<ref name="criticP8" /> Although two trials of street level [[train]]s were run, the state of Adelaide's streets, with mud in winter and dust in summer, led to the decision that they would not be reliable.<ref>Kingsborough L.S. (1965), p. 2</ref>

A Private act, passed in September 1881, allowed the construction of more private horse tramways and additional acts were passed authorising more line construction and services by more companies.<ref name="criticP8">The Critic (1909), p. 8</ref> Most of the companies operated [[double-decker tram]], although some were single level cabs with many built by John Stephenson Co, [[Duncan & Fraser]] of Adelaide, and from 1897 by the A&ST at Kensington.<ref name="SteeleP11" /> The trams ran at an average speed of {{convert|5|mi/h|km/h|0}}, usually two horses pulling each tram from a pool of four to ten.<ref name="steele1986p5">Steele C. (1986), p. 5</ref>

 

[[File:1907 adelaide horsetrammap.png|thumb|190px|The horse tram network in 1907]]

[[File:Adelaide horse tram ca. 1908 (SLSA B-19616-3).jpg|thumb|A double-decked horse car in an Adelaide suburb, circa 1908]]

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[[File:First tramrun adelaide nov1908.jpg|thumb|right|First electric tram trial on 30 November 1908.]]

Adelaide's first experiment with electric powered trams was a demonstration run on the Adelaide and Hindmarsh Tramway company's line. A [[Battery (electricity)|battery powered]] tram fitted with Julien's Patent Electric Traction<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US384447/en|title=julien}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US384580/en|title=julien}}</ref> ran in 1889 to Henley Beach. The trial was unsuccessful due to the batteries poor capacity, and the promoters' deaths in a [[level crossing]] accident shortly after precluded further experiments.<ref>Australian Electric Transport Museum (1974), p. 24</ref>

 

On 30 November 1908, there were two trial runs from the MTT's depot on Hackney Road to the nearby [[Adelaide Botanic Garden]] and back, the evening trial carrying the Premier and [[Governors of South Australia|Governor]].<ref name="criticP21" /> At the official opening ceremony on 9 March 1909, Electric Tram 1 was driven by Anne Price, wife of [[Premier of South Australia|Premier]] [[Thomas Price (South Australian politician)|Thomas Price]], from the Hackney depot to Kensington and back, assisted by the MTT's chief [[engineer]].<ref>The Critic (1909), p. 37</ref>

 

At the 1909 opening, {{convert|35|mi|km|abbr=off}} of track had been completed with electricity supplied by the Electric Lighting and Supply Co.<ref>The Critic (1909), p. 23</ref> The electric tram system ran on 600&nbsp;[[Volt]]s [[Direct Current|DC]] supplied at first from two [[Rectifier|converter stations]],<ref>The Critic (1909), p. 32</ref> No.1 converter station on [[East Terrace]] with [[Watt|2,500&nbsp;kW]] of [[Alternating current|AC]] to DC capacity and No.2 station at [[Thebarton]] with a capacity of 900&nbsp;kW.<ref>The Critic (1909), p. 34</ref> To cope with variable loads on the system, very large storage [[lead–acid batteries]] were installed, the initial one at [[East Terrace]] comprising 293 [[Wet cell|cells]] and a 50&nbsp;[[ton]] tank of [[sulfuric acid|sulphuric acid]].<ref>The Critic (1909), p. 35</ref>

On 18 September 1918, a tram line opened from [[Sturt Street, Adelaide|Sturt Street]], via [[West Terrace, Adelaide|West Terrace]] and then [[Anzac Highway]] (then Bay Road<ref>{{cite web | title=Claret Ash (Fraxinus oxycarpa 'Raywood') | website=[[National Trust of Australia|National Trust]] | date=24 May 2018 | url=https://trusttrees.org.au/tree/SA/Keswick/4_Anzac_Highway | access-date=12 February 2021}}</ref>) to [[Keswick, South Australia|Keswick]]. It was used to transport soldiers returned from [[World War I]] to the military hospital there.<ref>{{cite web | title=Keswick Hospital: The Diggers Hospital | website=[[State Library of South Australia]] | url=https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+26285/4 | access-date=12 February 2021}}</ref> Known as the West City Line, ran down West Terrace and [[Goodwood Road, Adelaide|Goodwood Road]] turned west into Park Terrace (now [[Greenhill Road]]) before turning in to Bay Road, and terminating at the entry to the [[Keswick Barracks]]. In 1925, a small loop branch line was added, to service the [[Wayville Showgrounds]]. After redevelopment of Anzac Highway in the 1930s, the tram line was eventually truncated at the new Keswick Road Bridge in March 1939, at a stop known as Wayville West. This line was closed in December 1957.<ref name=tram>{{cite web | title=The Western Lines | website=Tramway Museum, St Kilda | url=https://www.trammuseumadelaide.com/the-western-lines | access-date=15 February 2021}}</ref>

 

 

{{main|Tram types in Adelaide}}

From 1908 to 1909, 100 electric trams were manufactured by [[Duncan & Fraser]] of Adelaide<ref name="Steele C. 1981, p. 15"/> at a cost of approximately £100 each.<ref name="Tram104">{{cite news |first= Jenny|last= Oldland |title= Tram 104 departs Foul Bay |url= http://kadina.yp-connect.net/~ypct/news/07/01/16/5.html|work= Yorke Peninsula Country Times |date= 16 January 2007 |access-date= 6 February 2007}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Up to its last tram purchase in 1953, the MTT commissioned over 300 electric trams, some of which remained in service for over 75 years. The first of 11 [[Bombardier Flexity Classic]] trams were introduced in January 2006, followed by the first of six [[Alstom Citadis]] trams in December 2009. A further three Citadis trams entered service in 2018.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-15/more-adelaide-trams-and-a-new-tramline/8122714 SA mid-year budget review: $20 million for more Adelaide trams and a new spur line] ''[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]'' 15 December 2016</ref><ref>Here & There ''[[Trolley Wire]]'' issue 352 February 2018 page 19</ref>

During the [[Great Depression]] the MTT needed to expand services but finances prevented laying new tracks. A decision was made to trial [[trolleybus]]es, and a converted petrol bus began running experimentally on the Payneham and Paradise lines in 1932. A permanent trolleybus system opened in 1937, and trolleybuses continued running until July 1963.<ref name="yellowbrochure">The Tramway Museum, St Kilda (S.A.) (Undated), information brochure on tram fleets</ref>

 

[[File:Garford bus 208 used by the Adelaide MTT.jpg|thumb|200px|Double decker [[Superior Coach Company|Garford]] bus, used by the MTT from 1927]]

From 1915 onwards the MTT had to compete against unregulated private buses, often preceding the trams on the same route to steal fares, which the MTT countered by opening their own motor bus routes from 1925.<ref>Steele C. (1981), p. 23</ref> The South Australian government began regulating buses within the state in 1927, although some private operators argued that [[Section 92 of the Constitution of Australia]], which deals with interstate matters, exempted them from following the regulation. By notionally marking each ticket as a fare from the pickup point to [[Murrayville, Victoria]] (but allowing passengers to board or alight sooner) companies avoided having to abide by the regulation for some time.<ref name="Steele C. 1981, p. 32">Steele C. (1981), p. 32</ref> The case was considered by the High Court, during the course of which Justice [[Isaac Isaacs]] offered a temporary compromise agreed to by both parties, but it appears that a final judgment was never delivered.<ref>"Murrayville" Buses, ''[[The Observer (Adelaide)|The Observer]]'', 14 July 1928.</ref> Eventually, most of the affected bus operators sold their buses to the MTT or other operators who followed the routes described.<ref name="Steele C. 1981, p. 32"/> Up until the end of [[World War I]], most Adelaideans were dependent on public transport for daily journeys. The introduction of private automobiles decreased passenger numbers until petrol rationing during [[World War II]] led to a resurgence in patronage; patronage remained higher than before the war, until rationing was discontinued in 1951.<ref>Steele C. (1986), pp.23,43</ref>

Trolley buses gradually made way for motor buses until the last electric tram or bus service ran on 12 July 1963 leaving only the Glenelg line as a remnant of a once extensive [[light rail]] network.<ref>Steele C. (1981), p. 47</ref> Except for the Glenelg Type H, the trams were sold or scrapped. Some were used as shacks, playrooms or preserved by museums.<ref name="Tram104" />

 

A {{convert|1.2|km|mi|2|adj=on}} extension of the line from the Victoria Square terminus was announced in April 2005, which would see trams continue along King William Street and west along North Terrace through [[Adelaide railway station]] and the western city campus of the [[University of South Australia]]. An additional two Flexity Classic trams were ordered to cater for the expanded services. Construction commenced in 2007 and a new Victoria Square stop, relocated from the centre of the square to the west, was opened in August 2007. Testing of the extension began in September 2007 before it was officially opened on 14 October 2007 with shuttle services along the new extension until the release of the new timetable on 15 October when normal through services commenced.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-10-14/official-opening-for-tram-extension/697752 Official opening for tram extension] ''[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]'' 14 October 2007</ref> A free City Shuttle service between South Terrace and City West also began on 15 October to complement the main Glenelg to City West service.<ref>Adelaide's Tramway Extension Opens ''Trolley Wire'' issue 311 November 2007 pages 3–8</ref> Further extensions at that time were the subject of public debate; Tourism Minister [[Jane Lomax-Smith]] expressed support for the line to be extended to [[North Adelaide]] and [[Prospect, South Australia|Prospect]] although the Transport Minister stated that this was not a practical option,<ref>{{cite news |first= Craig |last=Bildstien |title=Minister 'mortified' by ruling on trams |url=http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21101060-910,00.html |work=Adelaide Now|publisher=[[News Limited]] |date=23 January 2007 |access-date=11 February 2007}}</ref> with his preferred option the creation of a fare free city loop.<ref name="Theadvertiser20070219">{{cite news|work=The Advertiser|publisher=News Limited|date=19 February 2007 |title=Free tram network 'to drive city's future |pages=2}}</ref>

[[File:Citadis at RAH.jpg|thumb|Citadis tram 203 near Royal Adelaide Hospital in November 2021]]