Would London's transport system have been better served if they had retained their trams?

Question

Could they be successfully re-introduced? (The last tram ran in July 1952.)

Answer 1

As the previous answer said, trams have been re-introduced in the Croydon area - the Croydon Tramlink - which is very successful. Here is a link which gives some facts and figures of usage:- http://www.croydon-tramlink.co.uk/ Two further tram routes are proposed - the Cross River Tram which is proposed to run from Euston to Waterloo with connection to Kings Cross and Camden Town in the north and Brixton and Peckham in the south. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/networkandservices/2043.aspx
Map at:- http://www.crossriverpartnership.org/downloaddoc.asp?skin=1&page=1236&id=1081

The other route is the West London tram from Shepherd's Bush to Uxbridge. See http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/networkandservices/3223.aspx

This latter proposal has met with a great deal of local opposition and is currently 'on hold' apparently whilst the Cross River project is considered in greater depth.

The pre -1952 system could not have continued, in my view, particularly as the electrical pickup was from a conduit under the road surface in central London, overhead wires not being allowed there. This was a nuisance to other road users. Also the system was very antiquated and would have needed a great deal of money spent in modernisation. It was also seen as a 'working class' method of transport which the then London County Council wanted to do away with for image reasons

Answer 2

a part of london has reintroduced trams in the south where the underground is poor. Not sure how successful it is. London seems to work well with its underground system and I'm sure they think about trams all the time in the planning.

here are some future plans for london:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modalpages/2674.aspx

Answer 3

yes