Public transport in New Plymouth is undergoing a revival after many years of minimal council support since the early 1990s.
Despite having had stations at the breakwater, Elliot Street, Fitzroy, Egmont Road and Bell Block, suburban rail services have never operated in the city.
[3] New Plymouth’s electric tramway system (proposed as early as 1906[4] ) began operations on 10 March 1916 between Fitzroy and Weymouth Street (a short distance past the railway station).
New Plymouth Corporation Tramways was reputedly the smallest municipality in the world to operate trams on the overhead electricity system.
No 5–6 were larger double-bogie vehicles also from Boon & Co. No 7–9 were Birney Safety Cars introduced in 1921 (nicknamed “Tin Lizzies”) and were purchased for the Westown extension.
There was also a short run to Cutfield Road which was the closest point to Rugby Park where a turning circle could be located.
The council's preference when purchasing new vehicles was to tag its orders onto those of larger cities, resulting in a fleet of top specification.
[9] Council continued operating these until the end of 1991 when the fleet was sold to Gold Star Buses, a Hamilton company that failed a few months later.