City politicians, community groups and Waterfront Trust officials unveiled last week two trolleys that will travel from the waterfront to the city’s core starting in June until September.

“It will make the waterfront a destination point and a tourist draw,” said Councillor Chad Collins.

The 26-seat trolleys will provide free rides from Hamilton’s downtown area to the waterfront. The rides are expected to begin by the summer, said Mr. Collins.

The trolleys were custom built to resemble Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) trolleys that plied the city’s streets in the late 1800s. The street cars are painted in the colours of the former HSR trolleys, and have similar wooden slot seats and period advertising that were displayed on the street cars over 100 years ago.

The trolleys were part of the city’s $18 million transit fleet purchase the city made last year. The city contributed $8.5 million for the 22 diesel/hybrid buses while the federal and gas tax revenues provided $9.4 million, and the Ontario Transit Vehicle Program provided the rest of the funding.

The trolleys, said Mr. Collins, will build on the other successes the waterfront has had over the years with the other activities the Waterfront Trust has introduced to the waterfront, including the Harbour Queen ship, the waterfront trolley which carries passengers along a 12km ride along Pier 8 and Williams Coffee Pub.

“It’s very unique,” said Mr. Collins. “The trolleys along the waterfront have been a success.

But the trust is looking to expand the number of activities on the waterfront to make it a year-round destination.

Mr. Collins said the trust is eyeing a parcel of land to construct an open-air ice rink for people to enjoy from about November to March.

He said the project is in the design stage, as the trust attempts to secure the land.

“This is another step to make our waterfront a year-round destination place for residents and revitalize the area,” he said.