Dublin tramways

For the current light rail system in Dublin, see Luas.

Dublin tramways
The last DUTC tram to run in Dublin city, needed police protection from souvenir hunters on its final trip to the Blackrock Depot
The last DUTC tram to run in Dublin city, needed police protection from souvenir hunters on its final trip to the Blackrock Depot
Trams passing the Parnell monument in 1913
Trams passing the Parnell monument in 1913
Overview
LocaleDublin, Ireland
Transit typetrams
Number of lines23 (1928)
Annual ridership88,530,737 (1937)
Operation
Began operation1872
Ended operation1949
Operator(s)Dublin United Tramways Company
Technical
System lengthover 60 mi (97 km)
System map
Trams as Dublin's main form of transport – early 1920s, with detail of all tram routes, fares and zones, times to stops, and the long-distance lines, several kilometres out from the city, as well as the very few bus routes, and the "heavy" rail system

Dublin tramways was a system of trams in Dublin, Ireland, which commenced line-laying in 1871, and began service in 1872, following trials in the mid-1860s.[1] Established by a number of companies, the majority of the system was eventually operated by forms of the Dublin United Tramways Company (DUTC), dominated for many years by William Martin Murphy. Most of the services ran within the city centre and near suburbs, with the majority of major suburbs served (and many of the remainder handled by mainline rail). Additionally, there were two longer-range services, one reaching the "excursion" destination of Poulaphouca Falls, and two services concerning Howth.

At its peak, with over 60 miles (97 km) of active line, the system was heavily used, profitable and advanced in technology and passenger facilities, with near-full electrification complete from 1901. Heavy usage lasted from the late 19th century into the 1920s. The tram system was also central to the Dublin Lockout, which caused major distress within the city.

Elements of the system went out of service from the mid-1920s, in part overtaken by the bus.[2] The decline of the trams accelerated in the 1940s and the last trams ran on 9 July 1949 in Dublin city[3] and in 1959 on Howth Head, near Dublin.[4]

  1. ^ Thacker, Andrew (2 May 2003). The Hibernian metropolis. Manchester University Press. ISBN 9780719053092. Retrieved 10 July 2008.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Clontarf was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Dalkey tram was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Tram history was invoked but never defined (see the help page).