Bus & Trams

The greatly increase population of the Rhondda Valleys in the second half of the C19th created an ever-increasing demand for improved passenger transport. In the 1860’s this lead to the Taff Vale Railway being opened for passengers and the introduction of a two-horse omnibus service between Pontypridd and Porth in 1860 and Treorchy and Treherbert in 1864.

In the late 1870’s this bus service was extended so that there were three services daily from Treherbert to Ystrad; a service from the Butcher’s Arms, Penygraig to met all trains at Tonypandy railway station and a service from Tonypandy met all trains at Llwynypia station.

In 1902 the Rhondda Urban District Council secured powers for electrification of the railroad from Hafod to Porth, whilst the Pontypridd Urban District Council secured similar powers for Hafod to Pontypridd.

However, the councils were specifically excluded from operating the tramway and so, on 14th.April 1906 the Rhondda Tramway Co. Ltd. was formed. However, as a result of opposition by the Taff Vale Railway the first service did not start until 11th.July 1908. The first electric tramcar ran into Treherbert on 12th.September 1908. The extensions that allowed tramcars to travel as far as Maerdy, Williamstown and Tynewydd were completed in April 1912.

During the Great War [1914-18] the internal combustion engine had been greatly improved. Immediately after the war the Tramways Company pressed the Rhondda Council to introduce motor-bus into certain districts. On 5th.August 1920 the first of these bus services commenced in Clydach Vale. Slowly the motor buses replaced the electric trams and the tramways system was abandoned on 31st.December 1933 in the Rhondda Fawr and on 1st.February 1934 in the Rhondda Fach.