The last tram to grace these rails ran on Saturday 5 April 1952, when London Transport abandoned the Kingsway tram subway.

It took just 7 minutes by tram to travel from Westminster to Bloomsbury.

The Kingsway trams were so convenient that one of the most frequent passengers was a senior government minister, who commuted between the House of Commons in Westminster and a flat in Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

The same journey today takes at least twice as long, even in a chauffeur-driven ministerial car. And for ordinary commuters, it’s nearly four times longer by public transport.

Who was this tram-loving minister? That is revealed in my new book, The Great Tramways Conspiracy, which will be published by Pen and Sword (@penandswordbooks) next month.

But here’s a clue to be going on with. The minister in question did nine months inside for supporting the suffragette cause, went on hunger strike and had to endure brutal force-feeding.