Tramway du Havre

The Tramway du Havre was a tramway system serving the city of Le Havre, France. The tramway operated by Compagnie des tramways électriques du Havre opened in 1894 and closed in 1957, letting trolleybuses take over public transport.

Public transport in Le Havre

It is in 1832 that the first organised collective service began. An omnibus service between the "Musée" and the "Octroi de Rouen" (Boulevard de Graville). By 1860, the town is served by two lines.

In 1872, a Belgium businessman presented a tramway project to the municipal council. After authorisation was given, construction began with the first horse drawn tramway opening on 1 February 1874 between "Musée" and the "Barrière d’Or" (Octroi de Rouen). A second line opened on the 15th of the same month between the town hall and the Rond-Point. Le Havre was the fourth city in France to possess a tramway network after Paris, Lille and Nancy.

Trolleybuses

On 1 August 1947, line 8 ("Gare" - "Hallates") closed to let trolleybus takeover. On 5 May 1951, line 6 ("Gare" - "Bléville"), then on 14 August 1957 line 5 ("Gare" - "La Hêtraie") were also converted to trolleybus operation.

In Le Havre as well as in cities across France, increase in car transport encouraged Le Havre city council to set up one way streets. The tramway and trolleybus operator was faced with a large bill to extend its network further into the suburbs and so decided to replace all its overhead vehicles with motor buses on 28 December 1970.

Network

The network of lines spread over the city of Le Havre and its neighbouring suburbs. Tramway lines lead to Le Havre Station and town hall.

Operations were severely severed after the bombardements of 1944, but the 7 lines were reopened as soon as the end of 1946.

Rolling stock

The company operated a fleet of single car trams.

Trolleybuses

Second hand Vétra CS60 and new VBRh formed the bulk of the trolleybus network. In 1960, four Chausson-Vétra APV trolleybuses were introduced. In the following years, the CGFT acquired more rolling stock from other networks, in Marseille and Strasbourg.

External links

* [http://www.amtuir.org/dossiers/trolley_france/liste_alpha_tb/le_havre/texte_tb_lh.htm#lh_1 Trolleybuses of Le Havre]
* [http://www.lehavrephoto.canalblog.com/ History of Le Havre (inc trolleybuses]