In its heyday the Sydney tram network moved about one million people around the city every day before it was shut down against popular opinion in the 1960s – only to make a resurgence 55 years later.
Historical images show the bustling tram system that was once one of the largest in the world, transporting Sydneysiders back and forth to work from 1899 to the late 1950s.
The black and white images show tram cars driving next to horse-drawn carts on a much less crowded George Street – the main artery of Sydney's business district.
A tram travelling down George Street - Sydney's main road in the business district - in the early 1900s (pictured). Construction is now underway on the same street more than 100 years later to replace the tram system that was shut down in the 1960s
Sydney's bustling tram network peaked in the 1930s and 1940s when it was carrying more than one million people to and from work every day. A tram travels down George Street in 1890 (pictured) - one year after the first electric tram travelled down the busy street
One of the busiest streets for transportation in the early 1900s was George Street (pictured) and it remains to be a transportation hub Sydney, which is why the new tram system runs directly down the street
In 2016, just 55 years after the historic system shut down in the 1960s, construction on a new $2.1billion light rail system to rebuilt the former system has forced George Street to close (pictured)
A $2.1billion extension to the city's light rail is now underway to bring the trams back, a move that has forced the closure of George Street.
Bright orange cones and detour signs now decorate the inner city and the trek to get home for people who drive is now longer.
Construction on the 12km city and southeast rail network will take three years and trams are expected to be running by 2019.
A spokesman for Transport for NSW said they couldn't comment on why the previous rail had been removed, or if the lack of foresight is frustrating.
'We're just dealing with what is in front of us right now,' the spokesman said.
The issue is severe congestion in the city during peak hours and a rapidly growing population.
'Currently, on every weekday morning, more than 1,600 buses enter the CBD, causing congestion and lengthy delays. CBD streets simply cannot cope with the extra buses needed to meet Sydney's forecast growth,' he said.
Horse-drawn carts carry businessmen down George Street near Town Hall (pictured) in the late 1800s. Sydney and Australia's first tram was a horse-drawn car that ran down Pitt Street from Railway station to Circular Quay
The King's Cross area in 1900 (pictured) when trams drove alongside horse-drawn carts. By 1898, the city's trams became electric and most of the system was converted from steam by 1910
Sydney and Australia's first tram was a horse-drawn car that ran down Pitt Street from Railway station to Circular Quay.
By 1898, the city's trams became electric and most of the system was converted from steam by 1910, according to railpage.com.au.
The system began to close down section by section in the late 1950s and the last tram ran in 1961, exactly 100 years from the opening of the first city tram.
Better efficiency, crowded roads and carts were listed by the city as reasons to shut down the system and replace the trams with buses.
The construction on the new system is expected to be complete in three years and the rail will be up and running in 2019
The construction of the new line has caused delays and general chaos (pictured)
Bright orange cones and detour signs now decorate the inner city (pictured)
Within a few years it was apparent to the city council that the buses were not sufficient but it was too late to go back as the trams had been destroyed and many of the rails were covered.
The tram system isn't the only new feature being added to George Street.
The city has pitched in $220 million for the tram but also to expand the footpaths to create more space for cafés and restaurants and to improve surrounding laneways.
A draft of what the new rail (pictured) and other improvements to George Street will look like. Larger footpaths will be added to provide more space for pedestrians and cafes
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