Trams in Adelaide

Until 1958, Trams in Adelaide formed a network spanning most of suburban Adelaide, with a history dating back to 1878. Adelaide ran horse trams from 1878 to 1914 and electric trams from 1909, but has primarily relied on buses for public transport since 1958. Electric trams and trolleybuses were Adelaide's main public transport throughout the life of the electric tram network. All trams except the Glenelg Tram were closed in the 1950s. The Glenelg line remains in operation and was upgraded and extended in 2007-2010.

The early use of trams was for recreation as well as daily travel, by entire families and tourists. Until the 1950s, trams were used for family outings to the extent that the Municipal Tramways Trust (MTT) constructed gardens in the suburb of Kensington Gardens, extending the Kensington line to attract customers. By 1945 the MTT was collecting fares for 95 million trips annually — 295 trips per head of population.

After the Great Depression, the maintenance of the tramway system and the purchase of new trams suffered. Competition from private buses, the MTT's own bus fleet and the growth of private car ownership all took patrons from the tram network. By the 1950s, the tram network was losing money and being replaced by an electric and petrol-driven bus fleet. Adelaide's tram history is preserved by the volunteer-run the Adelaide Tramway Museum at St Kilda (commonly called the "St Kilda tram museum"), and the continuing use of 1929 H type trams on the remaining Glenelg tram line.

The Glenelg Tram was extended to Adelaide railway station in 2007 and to Adelaide Entertainment Centre in Hindmarsh in 2010. The upgrade included the first new tram purchases in more than 50 years. Three types of electric tram, built in 1929, 2006 and 2009 respectively, now run on the line.

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