Within two years, the first route of the electric tram system, to Kensington, opened on 9th March 1909. By the end of 1909, electric trams were working the inner lines to North Adelaide, Walkerville, Payneham, Maylands, Marryatville, Parkside, Unley and Hyde Park - and at the same time, the MTT continued to operate the remaining horse trams routes, which it had taken over, retiring each horse tram service as the electric routes became operational.

It was a remarkable feat of organisation and expertise led by a visionary man. It signalled that this was an organisation that knew what it was about and what was needed to run a complex operation for nearly 50 years – during which time the MTT had a dominant impact on Adelaide’s urban development, life, work and play.

Tram No 1 emerging from the Hackney Depot for the opening procession. 9 March 1909. MTT

Governments then, as now, were gravely concerned about costs and the MTT was told its track laying could not exceed £12,000 per mile. The MTT’s own drive to contain costs was confounded when HM Customs doubled the import duty on some tram components (to £45,000). This was still referred to in thinly veiled outrage in annual reports six years later.

As pointed out in my last report, subsequent to the passing of the Tramways Act the schedules of the Customs Duties were revised, the result being that the duties paid to date under the schedules exceed those that would have been paid under the old Schedules by no less than £45,000.
Annual Report 1911/12 p. 24.

The MTT was not above seeking budgetary improvements of its own. It made clear in its annual reports it questioned why it should be made to bear the costs for the necessary alterations to the general telephone lines, electricity supply, water, sewer and gas lines, plus road works and bridge strengthening that the government and councils insisted the MTT should pay.