The idea of a tramway system for Karachi was conceived and a tender for its construction was first made in 1881. On February 8, 1883, a plan for a tramway was drawn up and permission obtained from the government for the use of steam-powered trams. In October 1884 construction was started. John Brunton was the Chief Engineer of the project. The tramway was opened on April 20, 1885, employing steam-powered cars. The opening ceremony took place near St Andrew's Church (Abdullah Haroon Road and Sharah-e-Liaquat).^[2]

Steam Trams edit

The steam trams were replaced by horse-drawn ones in 1886.^[3] In 1902 the East India Tramways Company Limited was responsible for running the trams in Karachi.

By March 23, 1905, petrol-powered tram were introduced. By 1909 the entire fleet was replaced by petrol-powered trams, unlike Europe which had switched to electric trams.^[4] Each car had a capacity of 46 passengers and could travel at speeds of up to 18 mph. New tracks had to be re-laid for the petrol driven trams.^[2] The trams now ran on inverted U-shaped grooved-bridge rail with a four-foot gauge.^[3] The first two petrol-engined tramcars were designed by John Abbott and his son John Dixon Abbott, incorporating the Dixon-Abbott patent gearbox. They were built in England. By 1914, there were 37 petrol-powered tramcars running. 1945 saw the introduction of the first diesel-powered trams. Until 1955 there were still 64 petrol-powered trams in Karachi numbered from 94 to 157. These were single deck 4-wheeled cars with back-to-back cross benches. They had an 8 ft wheel base, and were 28 feet long, and 6 feet 8 inches wide. These cars were built between 1924 and 1948 with Perkins P.4 Diesel Engines and Simplex (Dixon-Abbott) Gearboxes. Cars number 145 to 157 were built as new diesel cars, while the rest of the cars were converted from petrol to diesel.^[2]

Mohamedali Tramways Company edit

In 1949 the whole tramway system was sold to the Mohamedali Tramways Company (MTC) owned by Sheikh Mohammad Ali.^[2][3]

The tram was a common mode of transport as was the horse-drawn carriage.^[5] Only the elite had cars. A few young men owned motorcycles. Both men and women went about on bicycles, for this was the most common type of transport.^[6] According to the nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan who lived in Karachi at the time, the tram fare in the 1950s was one anna (less than one cent).^[7] Another user Ian Vaughan-Arbuckle says “You could use the trams without being jostled.”^[8]

The original line which started operating on April 20, 1885, ran from Saddar to Kemari.

• Between 1891 and 1900 the Lawrence Road (in 2014 Nishtar Road) route was constructed.
• On September 30, 1911, the line was extended to Frere Street (in 2014 Dr. Daud Pota Road).
• On February 17, 1916, the Soldier Bazaar route was introduced via Mansfield Street (in 2014 Syedna Burhanuddin Road). October 22, 1928 saw the introduction of the Chakiwara route.
• In 1929 the line going to Soldier Bazaar from Mansfield Street was diverted to Bunder Road (in 2014 M.A. Jinnah Road).^[2]

The trams in Karachi closed down on April 30, 1975.^[2] It is not clear whether the MTC was a victim of the Karachi Circular Railway which started in 1969 with 14 trains or of the transport mafia.^[9]

In 2017, a proposed plan for the renovation of the Saddar area in Karachi, has included the reintroduction of trams to ease the city's transport problems.^[10] Elsewhere in the world too trams are seeing a comeback.^[4]

Transport in Karachi