Article: Our historic trams won't be scrapped

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Neil Jones cleans one of the H-Class trams yesterday. The five remaining trams will be preserved.

ADELAIDE'S historic red H-Class tram fleet will be preserved in a move bound to delight enthusiasts and heritage groups.

Three of the five remaining timber-panelled trams - now visibly ancient compared to their modern replacements - will be housed in "fitting homes" such as museums, Transport Minister Pat Conlon has announced.

He said the final two 82-year-old trams would be retained by the Government at the upgraded Glengowrie Tram Depot.

The Government was criticised last year for keeping three of the fleet's trams at the former Mitsubishi site at Tonsley, raising fears the vehicles would be targeted by vandals and left to rot.

Tram 351 - which carried the first passengers along the Glenelg tramline in December 1929 - was among those left standing in the open car park.

Mr Conlon said it was fitting the trams would take pride of place in the state's premier collections.

"In 2005, we secured the future of 16 H-Class trams at a range of museums, transport societies and even a school, and through a thorough tender process we will ensure the same for three more," he said. "We've already had informal discussions with several organisations and expect a very strong response to the tender call, which will go out next week."

The State Government has also announced that the first of four more Flexity Class trams will be arriving from Germany next month to start operating later in the year.