Trams in Perth, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
The Perth tramway network once served Perth
, the capital city of Western Australia
, linking its central business district with many of its inner suburbs, especially on the north side of the Swan River
.
The first Perth trams ran on a horse-car line operated for a short period at the end of the nineteenth century. Very little is recorded about that line, but it probably did not carry passengers. Perth's electric tram system was inaugurated in 1899, but was wound down from 1949, and closed in 1958. It had a maximum street mileage of over 50 km (31.07 mi), in the 1930s.
Some of the former Perth trams are now preserved by the Perth Electric Tramway Society, at its heritage tramway in Whiteman Park
, in the outer Perth suburb of Caversham
.
Since the start of 2007, there have been four proposals for the reintroduction of trams to the Perth metropolitan area, in the form of light rail
. At least two of the proposals have been the subject of a detailed feasibility study. However, as at the start of 2011 none of the proposed new light rail lines had been approved for construction.
, which was then located within the Treasury Building, at the corner of St Georges Terrace and Barrack Street. The outlying terminus was said by the same source to be in East Perth. However, it now seems that, in fact, there was never a horse tram provided for the carriage of passengers in Perth.
Rather, there was - it is believed - a horse tramway which ran from quarries just north of the city to the construction site of Government House situated in St Georges Terrace. For how long the horse tramway survived is not known, nor its exact route, as information has not yet been found, although research continues. It is known, however, that a horse omnibus system did exist.
in the north to Como
and Welshpool
in the south, and from Claremont
in the west to Welshpool in the east.
More coming soon.
. At least two of the proposals have been the subject of a detailed feasibility study. However, as at the start of 2011 none of the proposed new light rail lines had been approved for construction.
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, the capital city of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, linking its central business district with many of its inner suburbs, especially on the north side of the Swan River
Swan River
Swan River may refer to:Australia* Swan River Canada* Swan River * Swan River, Manitoba * Swan River Airport * Swan River United States...
.
The first Perth trams ran on a horse-car line operated for a short period at the end of the nineteenth century. Very little is recorded about that line, but it probably did not carry passengers. Perth's electric tram system was inaugurated in 1899, but was wound down from 1949, and closed in 1958. It had a maximum street mileage of over 50 km (31.07 mi), in the 1930s.
Some of the former Perth trams are now preserved by the Perth Electric Tramway Society, at its heritage tramway in Whiteman Park
Whiteman Park
Whiteman Park is a 4000-hectare/40-square-kilometre bushland area located 22 km north of Perth, Western Australia...
, in the outer Perth suburb of Caversham
Caversham, Western Australia
Caversham is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located in the City of Swan....
.
Since the start of 2007, there have been four proposals for the reintroduction of trams to the Perth metropolitan area, in the form of light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
. At least two of the proposals have been the subject of a detailed feasibility study. However, as at the start of 2011 none of the proposed new light rail lines had been approved for construction.
Services
Horse Tram
According to one source, the central city terminus of the short lived horse tramway was the General Post OfficeGeneral Post Office, Perth
The General Post Office is a heritage landmark building in Perth, Western Australia. Located on the western side of Forrest Place in the city's central business district, its imposing stone facade is in the Beaux-Arts style. The building was completed in 1923 after almost a decade of construction,...
, which was then located within the Treasury Building, at the corner of St Georges Terrace and Barrack Street. The outlying terminus was said by the same source to be in East Perth. However, it now seems that, in fact, there was never a horse tram provided for the carriage of passengers in Perth.
Rather, there was - it is believed - a horse tramway which ran from quarries just north of the city to the construction site of Government House situated in St Georges Terrace. For how long the horse tramway survived is not known, nor its exact route, as information has not yet been found, although research continues. It is known, however, that a horse omnibus system did exist.
Electric Trams
Perth's electric trams operated under 35 route numbers, on various lines extending from Osborne ParkOsborne Park, Western Australia
Osborne Park is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stirling.Osborne Park was named after William Osborne, a butcher who owned an abattoir on Wanneroo Road and was elected to the Perth Road Board , in 1875.The suburb was originally full of market gardens,...
in the north to Como
Como, Western Australia
Como is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of South Perth. The suburb has a population of 12,423. Canning Highway divides the suburb.-History:...
and Welshpool
Welshpool, Western Australia
Welshpool is an inner southeastern suburb of Perth, located mostly within the City of Canning. The area is considered to be one of the main industrial areas of Perth, along with Kewdale, Kwinana, Henderson, Malaga, O'Connor, Canning Vale and Osborne Park....
in the south, and from Claremont
Claremont, Western Australia
Claremont is a western suburb of Perth, Western Australia on the north bank of the Swan River.-History:Prior to European settlement, the Noongar people used the area as a source of water, for fishing and for catching waterfowl. In 1830, John Butler, a settler, set up an inn at Freshwater Bay to...
in the west to Welshpool in the east.
More coming soon.
Light rail proposals
Since the start of 2007, there have been four proposals for the reintroduction of trams to the Perth metropolitan area, in the form of light railLight rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
. At least two of the proposals have been the subject of a detailed feasibility study. However, as at the start of 2011 none of the proposed new light rail lines had been approved for construction.
See also
- History of Perth, Western Australia
- Tram controlsTram controlsThe following article describes the controls on electric, rather than steam trams.-Overview:The operation of trams is relatively simple. As trams run on rails, they do not require steering controls. However they do require controls for the smooth application of power and for braking and to control...
- Trams in Fremantle, Western AustraliaTrams in Fremantle, Western AustraliaFremantle, the port city for Perth, capital city of Western Australia, once had a small but comprehensive tramway network, linking its central business district with nearby suburbs....
- Tramways in Australia
External links
- Perth Electric Tramway Society
- Perth Light Rail - a coalition lobbying for the introduction of light rail to Perth