The featured image above comes from the London Day at the East Anglian Transport Museum it shows a London trams running alongside one of the trolleybuses that ran alongside them and along with RT buses replaced them. [6]

‘The Modern Tramway‘ was the title of the journal of the Light Railway Transport League.

I picked up a small batch of copies of The Modern Tramway Journal which included volumes from the 1950s, 1960s and 1980s and have begun reading through them. The first Journal that I have is dated 15th July 1953. At the time of writing it is 70 years old.

Volume 16 No. 187 of July 1953 starts with an item entitled, “Tramways and the Press.” Starting with a specific instance of dubious reporting by the national dailies about tram parts being sent to Egypt, the article bemoans the way that tramways were increasingly being seen by the public, led by the press, as an outmoded form of transport.

It concludes with these words:

“In working for the retention and extension of tramways, The Modern Tramway has to cope, not only with ignorance, which is to some extent forgivable, but with interests far more difficult and involved; vested interests which care not for the economy of the country or the pocket of the citizen. We believe that tramways can not only give a better, cheaper, healthier service to the public than any other form of road passenger transport, but that they will materially contribute to the economic wellbeing of the nation as a whole. We believe this is worth striving for.” [1: p132]

In the intervening years, the UK saw the removal of almost every tramway network in favour of trolley buses and ultimately in favour of bus networks which were, at the time, seen both as a more modern and a more flexible solution to local transport needs.

There are a good number of examples on the continent of places which did not chose to follow a similar path.

In the light of development at the end of the 20th century and on into the 21st century, it is interesting, if not salutary, to consider the wisdom of the quote from July 1953, particularly in the light of the approaching 70th anniversary of that particular edition of the Journal.

“Tramways can not only give a better, cheaper, healthier service to the public than any other form of road passenger transport, but that they will materially contribute to the economic wellbeing of the nation as a whole. We believe this is worth striving for.” [1: p132]

We have discovered how valuable Light Rapid Transit options are within our larger conurbations and perhaps it is worth reflecting on, and appreciating, some of the prophet voices of the past!

Where would we be now if the debate which saw the removal of most of our trams had included more clearly the environmental benefits associated with those and future trams?

Also of interest on the same page of the Journal is an item about a visit by Councillor Hayward, a member of the London County Council, to Vienna for an international local government conference. Councillor Hayward praised Vienna’s local government, “with the exception of the city’s antiquated tramway system.”

‘Better left unsaid‘ was the title given to the editorial comment on the conference comments by the Councillor:

“We wonder how a Viennese visitor to London, standing in a rush-hour queue, would describe our inefficient bus service? The Vienna tramways, although not among the most wealthy, do their job well and efficiently; the tracks are in good condition, and if ancient open-ended trailers do appear on the streets in rush hours, this is at least the sign of an honest attempt to cater for the rush hour passenger who receives such a raw deal in London. Vienna received no new tramcars between 1930 and 1944, but a start has now been made on new construction; apart from 42 modern bogie cars from the Third Avenue Transit System of New York, post-war fleet additions include 50 4-wheel motor trams and 90 trailers, and the 1953 plan envisaged 36 modern bogie cars (18 motors and 18 trailers.). In addition, 217 older cars are to be completely reconstructed and modernised.” [1: p132]

A quick look at the tramway network which still serves Vienna, illustrates how valuable the historic network has become.

The trams in Vienna “are a vital part of the public transport system in Vienna. … In operation since 1865, with the completion of a 2 km (1.2 mi) route to industrial estates near Simmering, it reached its maximum extent of 292 km (181.4 mi) in 1942. In February 2015, … it was the fifth largest tram network in the world, at about 176.9 kilometres (109.9 mi) in total length and 1,071 stations.” [3]

References

1. Tramways and the Press; in The Modern Tramway, Volume 16 No. 187, July 1953.
2. https://homepage.univie.ac.at/horst.prillinger/ubahn/english/network_map_tramway.html, accessed on 7th June 2023.
3. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trams_in_Vienna, accessed on 7th June 2023.
4. An extract from an image used on https://www.onb.ac.at/museen/prunksaal/sonderausstellungen/vergangene-ausstellungen/wien-wird-weltstadt, accessed on 7th June 2023.
5. https://www.hippostcard.com/listing/austria-wien-opera-ring-heinrichshof-old-tram-railway-station/15828038, accessed on 7th June 2023.
6. http://caev.weebly.com/uploads/2/4/3/7/24371700/2620902_orig.jpg, accessed on 7th June 2023.