Trolleybuses in Auckland

Trolleybuses in Auckland were part of the Auckland public transport system from 1938 until 1980.

Trolleybuses in Auckland
Trolleybuses on Queen Street in December 1971
Operation
Locale	Auckland, New Zealand
Open	19 December 1938
Close	26 September 1980
Operator(s)	Auckland Regional Authority Auckland Transport Board

History

On 19 December 1938, a one kilometre trolleybus route opened to service the Farmers Trading Company department store (now the Heritage Hotel) in Hobson Street, travelling via Queen, Wyndham, Hobson and Victoria Streets. It was operated by the Auckland Transport Board with four Leyland TB trolleybuses.[1][2][3]

In September 1949, a second route was introduced to Herne Bay. Between 1951 and 1961, further routes were added with the last trams replaced in 1956. The Meadowbank route closed in 1968, with the network contracting throughout the 1970s, with the last route ceasing on 26 September 1980.[4]

However the Auckland Regional Authority had placed an order for equipment to build a new system from Herne Bay to Newmarket prior to this.[5] The proposal was abandoned in 1981 and the equipment, including 20 unused Volvo B10M bus chassis, was sold to Wellington.[2][3][6]

Vehicles

Fleet numbers	Quantity	Chassis	Body	Entered service
1–4	4	Leyland TB	DSC & Cousins	1938
5–59	55	BUT 9711T	Metro Cammell Weymann	1949–54
60–99	40	BUT RETB/1	Saunders-Roe	1954
100–133	34	BUT RETB/1	Park Royal	1957–59

References

1. Trolleybus Trials for Auckland Truck & Bus Transportation February 1939 page 12
2. McNicol, Steve (1989). New Zealand Trolleybus Selections. Elizabeth, South Australia: Railmac Publications. pp. 9–12. ISBN 0 949817 68 6.
3. McCrystal, John (2007). On the Buses in New Zealand. Oriental Bay: Grantham House Publishing. p. 87. ISBN 978 1 86934 101 5.
4. Trolley bus end nears Rails November 1977 page 16
5. New Vehicles Ordered Electric Traction December 1979 page 207
6. Trolley Buses Electric Traction December 1981 page 207