BUSES TO REPLACE TRAMS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22111, 5 June 1937, Page 13

BUSES TO REPLACE TRAMS

* TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN SYDNEY (fbok otm lows coreespowdeht.) SYDNEY, May 28. The congestion caused by trams in the narrow streets of Sydney has been criticised by citizens and politicians for. many years. • They have argued that, in any case, tram systems are obsolete and have been discarded long ago in many modern cities. This week, the Premier (Mr B. S. B. Stevens) announced that no more trams would be built in Sydney and that the present rolling stock would be replaced gradually by motor and trolley buses. The Premier said that the changeover would have to be gradual because of the need for keeping fares at the lowest possible level, the obligation to write off millions of pounds worth of equipment, which would have to be scrapped, and the need of capital for new equipment. He said that assets of more - than £8,000,000 were involved. Recently, the Department of Road Transport had placed an order for the construction of 27 Diesel buses to meet present needs. Future requirements •were being examined witn a view to drawing up a programme for the purchase of trolley or Diesel buses to keep pace with the expansion of traffic. At the moment, there are several large, red double-decker buses operating in Sydney, particularly along the longer tram routes. Electric trolley buses are used along densely populated routes where there is no tram service. There is, for example, a trolley bus service to Pott’s Point.