DAYS OF HORSE TRAMS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 638, 15 April 1929, Page 12

DAYS OF HORSE TRAMS

CHEAP FARES AND GOOD SERVICES

EPSOM MAN GIVES DETAILS Fares were low and services were good in tlie days when horse trams and buses ran in Auckland. Mr. W. B. Fordyce, of Epsom, who was connected with the horse-drawn transport vehicles for many yeais, tells of transport conditions of nearly 30 years ago. “Buses left the Edendale Road stables each morning (except Sundays) at 7 o’clock, and a 10-minute service was run from the corner of Dominion and Balmoral Roads; also from the present tram terminus at Mount Eden, until 9 o’clock. “From 9 until 12 noon a 15-minute service was maintained, then for two hours specials were put on, which made the service practically a 10-min-ute one again. From about 2 o’clock till 4.30 p.m. the 15-minute service was run. Then for about two hours a fast service was run to meet the requirements. After 7 p.m. a 30-minute service was given till, say, about 10 p.m., when specials were put on to cope with whatever traffic there might be. On holidays and special occasions a service would need to be maintained till after midnight. “In all there were 80 trips run on each road (Dominion and Mount Eden Roads) each way, every day, Sundays and holidays excepted, and this did not include “specials.” On holidays a timetable to suit the requirements was maintained. “On both the Mount Eden and Dominion Road route, the ordinary adult fare was “threepence each way,” children half-fare. Tickets could be had at 2s 6d a dozen, or 100 for £l. Most of the residents used tickets. These fares operated day or night.