in 1946, it was decided to replace all of london's remaining trams "as soon as possible". this time though the replacement would be by diesel buses instead of trolleybuses. the first subway route to be closed was route 31. it closed on 1 october 1950. routes 33 and 35 were closed at the end of service on saturday 5 april 1952. the last public services through the subway were 'specials' which ran on the sunday, shortly after midnight. during the early hours of the next morning, all of the remaining trams north of the subway were driven through the subway to the depots south of the thames.