Swindon Transport.pdf

Swindon Corporation Transport operated from 1904-1974, initially with a tramway system that opened in 1904 and was Wiltshire's only tramway system. The tramway had a 3ft 6in gauge and centered on the New Town, with lines radiating to Gorse Hill, Rodbourne, and the Market Square. The tram fleet consisted of 13 cars, with services commencing on September 22, 1904. However, by 1921, motorbus operators had built up a network of local services, and the tramway infrastructure began to deteriorate. The final tram service operated on July 11, 1929, and was replaced by motor buses. The first Corporation motorbuses were introduced in 1927, and by 1929, thirty-six new motorbuses had been delivered to operate over the same routes as the tramcars. The Corporation's bus fleet continued to expand, with new routes and services introduced over the years, including a proposed joint service with the Bristol Tramways & Carriage Company that was ultimately scrapped in 1932.