|
The Leeds trolleybus system served the West Riding of Yorkshire city of Leeds in England between 1911 and 1928. In July 2012, plans to construct a new system, the ''New Generation Transport'' (NGT) project, received provisional approval from the UK Department for Transport.〔 The original system was one of the first two trolleybus systems in the United Kingdom, along with Bradford.〔Joyce, J.; King, J. S.; and Newman, A. G. (1986). ''British Trolleybus Systems''. London: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-1647-X.〕 Both systems commenced operation on 20 June 1911,〔〔 but public service in Bradford did not start until four days later.〔〔 The Leeds system had three routes, and closed on 26 July 1928. If the proposed NGT project goes ahead, it will be the first non-heritage trolleybus system in the United Kingdom since the Bradford system closed in 1972.〔 Its predicted ridership is 8-9 million passengers in the first year. ==The twentieth century routes== The original Leeds route, operated by Leeds Tramways, was from City Square to Moor Top via Lower Wortley and Farnley. The route was launched at Thirsk Row, off Wellington Street on 20 June 1911. The first of two buses to set off on the first official run was driven by the Lord Mayor, William Middlebrook, and the second by his deputy, Frederick James Kitson. Both buses went on a round trip to Farnley, four miles from Leeds, returning 45 minutes later.〔 When the original route commenced operation, it had four trolleybuses.〔〔 They were manufactured by the Railless Electric Traction Company, and powered by Siemens motors.〔 They had solid rubber tyres and carried 28 passengers, who paid their fares when boarding.〔 Known officially as "trackless cars" to distinguish them from trams,〔 they ran on rural routes, to which trams were not suited. In 1915 two further routes were opened, unconnected to the first route and operated from a stone depot at Guiseley, which still exists.〔 These were feeder routes to the tram system. The three routes were:〔 *Leeds–Lower Wortley–Farnley–Moor Top, opened 20 June 1911; *Guiseley–Otley, opened 9 September 1915; *Guiseley–Burley-in-Wharfedale, opened 22 October 1915.〔 The system was not hugely successful.〔 There was controversy between Leeds Corporation and the various councils over several issues relating to its operation.〔 As time passed, internal combustion engined buses became more competitive. They soon replaced the trolleybuses, which closed on 26 July 1928.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Trolleybuses in Leeds」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|