No. 22, 1910s
The year 1905 saw the beginning of the Malta Tramway. The intention behind its inception was to service the more populated urban areas that were not on the railway route, such as Sliema - providing a reliable mode of transport for both locals and tourists.
The tram service started operating with 16 double-deck carriages. Tram transport soon became very popular - although it was not a very fast means of travelling, electric trams were clean and quiet unlike the railway. The fleet eventually increased to 25 trams.
The trams were electric-powered, an innovation at the time, though they were smaller and less powerful than those used in larger cities - purposely designed to navigate the narrow, winding streets of the island. They were described as being quite charming, with brightly coloured carriages, wooden interiors and open-topped in some. The tram terminus stood instead of today’s Tritons’ Fountain in Valletta.
Like the railway, the tram system faced competition from buses and the increasing use of automobiles. This, combined with the economic impact of the Great Depression in the early 1930s, led to a decline in the viability of the tram network. In 1929, after 24 years of operation, the tram system was discontinued. Buses quickly took over as the primary form of public transport on the island, a role they still hold today.
Though the tram era was short-lived, it represents an important chapter in the island's infrastructural development and remains an important part of Malta’s transportation history.
The year 1905 saw the beginning of the Malta Tramway. The intention behind its inception was to service the more populated urban areas that were not on the railway route, such as Sliema - providing a reliable mode of transport for both locals and tourists.
The tram service started operating with 16 double-deck carriages. Tram transport soon became very popular - although it was not a very fast means of travelling, electric trams were clean and quiet unlike the railway. The fleet eventually increased to 25 trams.
The trams were electric-powered, an innovation at the time, though they were smaller and less powerful than those used in larger cities - purposely designed to navigate the narrow, winding streets of the island. They were described as being quite charming, with brightly coloured carriages, wooden interiors and open-topped in some. The tram terminus stood instead of today’s Tritons’ Fountain in Valletta.
Like the railway, the tram system faced competition from buses and the increasing use of automobiles. This, combined with the economic impact of the Great Depression in the early 1930s, led to a decline in the viability of the tram network. In 1929, after 24 years of operation, the tram system was discontinued. Buses quickly took over as the primary form of public transport on the island, a role they still hold today.
Though the tram era was short-lived, it represents an important chapter in the island's infrastructural development and remains an important part of Malta’s transportation history.
The year 1905 saw the beginning of the Malta Tramway. The intention behind its inception was to service the more populated urban areas that were not on the railway route, such as Sliema - providing a reliable mode of transport for both locals and tourists.
The tram service started operating with 16 double-deck carriages. Tram transport soon became very popular - although it was not a very fast means of travelling, electric trams were clean and quiet unlike the railway. The fleet eventually increased to 25 trams.
The trams were electric-powered, an innovation at the time, though they were smaller and less powerful than those used in larger cities - purposely designed to navigate the narrow, winding streets of the island. They were described as being quite charming, with brightly coloured carriages, wooden interiors and open-topped in some. The tram terminus stood instead of today’s Tritons’ Fountain in Valletta.
Like the railway, the tram system faced competition from buses and the increasing use of automobiles. This, combined with the economic impact of the Great Depression in the early 1930s, led to a decline in the viability of the tram network. In 1929, after 24 years of operation, the tram system was discontinued. Buses quickly took over as the primary form of public transport on the island, a role they still hold today.
Though the tram era was short-lived, it represents an important chapter in the island's infrastructural development and remains an important part of Malta’s transportation history.