November 2003: End of the Line? There has been no service on the Detroit Downtown Trolley since June 21, 2003. According to an October 24, 2003 article in the Detroit News, the operation is to be formally shut down in November, to be replaced with a rubber-tired bus operation. An October 31, 2003 article in the Detroit Free Press announced that the city’s nine cars are to be sold, and the carbarn removed. While it is possible that there might be an eleventh-hour reprieve, it looks like this is the end. A sad conclusion for a system that operated for 28 years, but not entirely a surprise given the seeming lack of interest by the city in recent years. Thanks to Tim Davis for the reports.

History: The Detroit Downtown Trolley (formerly the Detroit Citizen’s Railway) was the first purpose-built Vintage Trolley system. The initial 3/4 mile segment opened in 1976, and a 1/4 mile extension was constructed in 1980. The line uses a fleet of single-truck, narrow-gauge trolleys imported from Europe. It offers year-round service connecting downtown attractions like Grand Circus Park, Cobo Hall and the Renaissance Center. The line is single-track with two passing sidings, the majority of which is on an unusual sidewalk right-of-way. It’s operated by the Detroit Department of Transportation.

Development: The line was developed in conjunction with a program to rehabilitate a five-block stretch of Washington Blvd., including conversion of this section to a pedestrian mall. The original 3/4 mile line tied the rehabilitated street to the Cobo Hall convention center. In 1980, the trolley line was extended another quarter mile paralleling the riverfront to reach the Renaissance Center, passing Hart Plaza, where a number of major public festivals are held each year. The final cost of the line was $2.72 million which included the carbarn ($422,000). Financing came from a variety of Federal, State and City sources.

Status: In 1979, the line was carrying 75,000 riders annually. By 1998, this figure had dropped to 3,350. By this time operation was intermittent, with plans to rehabilitate the line under active discussion. Local reports as of February 2001 were that only a single car was running, with trips once an hour. A 50 cent fare was being charged.

Equipment: Detroit owns a fleet of nine single-truck cars, 7 of which are from Libson, Portugal. There is also an English double-decker and a Swiss car. The cars are European 900 mm gauge (2’11-7/16″).