Your assertion that London’s first generation tramway was overtaken by the tube network (Hidden London tram station opens to public for first time in 70 years, 4 July) is incorrect.
On its formation in 1933, the London Passenger Transport Board (LPTB) acquired a fleet of over 2,600 cars, covering a network of nearly 350 route miles. The LPTB also inherited 61 trolleybuses, all in south-west London. Their successful operation convinced the new undertaking that it should replace its remaining trams with trolleybuses and, between 1935 and 1940, the trolleybus network grew from 18 to 255 miles while the tramways reduced to 102 miles, mostly in south-east and south London, areas that to this day remain largely unserved by the tube network.
The final tram to trolleybus conversion took place in June 1940, and after the war it was decided to replace the remaining trams with motorbuses; the electrical equipment was nearing life expiry and diesel buses were cheaper to run. The first stage of the conversion took place on 1 October 1950 and the last trams ran on 5 July 1952.
Mark Lyons
Ashford, Surrey
• Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication.
