CTPG News Summer 2002
The Cardiff Bus Centenary, 1902 to 2002CardiflPs Municipal Transport History commenced on 1^ January 1902 when theCardiff County Borough purchased the lines, 52 horse drawn tramcars and 342horses of the Cardiff Tramways Company. A programme of electrifying the tramwaysystem commenced almost immediately enabling the last horse drawn trams tobe withdrawn from the Council's routes in October the same year. By 1905, whenCardiff became a City, 131 electric trams were at work.^The imt motorbuscs owned by the Cardiff City ('ouncii commenced nmnmg on24th December 1920 alongside the many small private operators also providingservices at that time. Over the ensuing few years, motorbus services were rapidlyexpanded both within and outside the City boundaries. A service to Newport startedin 1924 and one to CaerphiUy in 1929. By 1928 the Council had built up one of thelargest municipally owned bus fleets in Great Britain.Trolleybuses were introduced on the 1* March 1942 and, as further deliveries ofthis type of vehicle were received after the war, the tram routes were graduallywithdrawn and mostly converted to trolleybus operation. Cardiff s last trams ran onthe Gabalfa service in February 1950. Further expansion of the trolleybus systemtook place in 1955 when services to Green Farm Road, Ely via Grand Avenue wereintroduced. . .In 1961 the decision was taken to phase out the trolleybuses over a period oftenyears. The last normal services trolleybuses ran in December 1969 but a limitedspecial service was operated early in January 1970 to mark the official closure ofthe system - incidentally the last in Great Britain to use three axle trolleybuses.Since the withdrawal of the trolleybuses, motorbuses have reigned supreme. Overa period of a few years the entire fleet became one-person-operated and in 1972 theold crimson lake and cream livery gave way to a new orange and white liveryiotended to convey a more modem image.The 1985 Transport Act introduced deregulation of bus services and also requiredlocal authorities to set up "arms length" companies to run their buses. Cardiff set upCardiff City Transport Services Ltd., which now trades as "Cardiff Bus". In 1999the livery changed again - this time to Surges blue and cream - in line with theCouncils corporate scheme and emphasises tlie Unk between the two organisationsjust as the crimson lake and cream did for nearly 70 years.
Cardiff Bus - Fleet UpdateAnother large batch of Dennis Darts entered service dtiringApril. This coincided with major route and timetable changesin the north and west of the city. The new vehicles completelyreplaced the F reg mk.l Leyland Lynxes 231 - 236 and 241 - 248(237 - 240, the 5-speed dual purpose batch were sold over a yearago). Of the G reg mk-l's 249 and 256 were also withdrawn,leaving just nine mk.l is left m service. More receiitly, the totalin passenger use has dropped to just six examples (250 - 255) as257 -259 have been transferred to the training school, and havereplaced the last three Leyland Olympians. Longs of Abercrafhave purchased 509, 512 and 566 for recertification as PCV'sonce more. Fvirther Volvo Ailsas have been withdrawn, leavingan operational double deck fleet of 28 vehicles,and at the timeof writing only two former Merseybus examples remain inservice.238 one of the now wthdrawn Mkl Freg Lynx seen at Penylan terminus.
- Page 1 and 2: CARDIFFTRANSPORTPRESERVATIONCROUPCT
- Page 3 and 4: THE EDITORIAL by Steve MorganWelcom
- Page 5: completely iiinded by the Heritage
- Page 9: Cardiff Corporation 1949 Crossley D
- Page 12 and 13: stock. From the operators viewpoint
- Page 14 and 15: SOUTH WALES BUSES /COACHES IN MALTA
- Page 16 and 17: GUY ARAB 424 - TOPLESSHow many enth
- Page 18 and 19: damage to its roofline in April 197
- Page 20 and 21: New Book!AIR DISPATCH LTD[ SRUCE CO
Cardiff Bus - Fleet Update
Another large batch of Dennis Darts entered service dtiring
April. This coincided with major route and timetable changes
in the north and west of the city. The new vehicles completely
replaced the F reg mk.l Leyland Lynxes 231 - 236 and 241 - 248
(237 - 240, the 5-speed dual purpose batch were sold over a year
ago). Of the G reg mk-l's 249 and 256 were also withdrawn,
leaving just nine mk.l is left m service. More receiitly, the total
in passenger use has dropped to just six examples (250 - 255) as
257 -259 have been transferred to the training school, and have
replaced the last three Leyland Olympians. Longs of Abercraf
have purchased 509, 512 and 566 for recertification as PCV's
once more. Fvirther Volvo Ailsas have been withdrawn, leaving
an operational double deck fleet of 28 vehicles,and at the time
of writing only two former Merseybus examples remain in
service.
238 one of the now wthdrawn Mkl Freg Lynx seen at Penylan terminus.
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