Trondheim Tramway Controversy

The Trondheim Tramway controversy regards the political discussion of whether Trondheim, Norway, should have a tramway.

The first debate came after the 1956 Dalsenget fire, when most of the city's tram fleet was destroyed; a proposal to replace the tramway with a trolleybus line was rejected. In 1968, the Singsaker Line was closed, and replaced by a bus route. From the merger of all bus and tram companies into Trondheim Trafikkselskap in 1974, the debate was intensified. In 1984, the Elgeseter Line was closed, but a new depot was built, and eleven new trams delivered.

In 1988, the last tram line, from Lian to Lade, was terminated. The tracks in the city center and to Lade were removed, but the Gråkallen Line was kept to run heritage trams. By 1990, the trams were still not sold. Instead, the private company Gråkallbanen took over operations and seven trams, and have operated the Gråkallen Line since. The process cost two mayors their jobs.