Back to previous section -- Forward to next section -- Return to Table of Contents By the late summer of 1925, as automobile competition continued to increase, it became increasingly apparent that rail service on the EH&A could not be continued much longer and on October 1, the directors voted to suspend all trolley operation until the following summer and to substitute motor bus service for the street cars during the fall, winter and spring. The necessary petitions were filed with the Public Service Commission and permission to make the change was granted November 5.

The last cars ran on Saturday, January 2, 1926, with bus service beginning the following day. The single coach used was owned and operated by the Exeter, Hampton & Amesbury Transportation Company, organized by the railway's directors. Weekday schedules called for nine round trips daily between the Exeter depot and Hampton depot, a 10th trip being operated on Tuesday and Saturday nights, and two round trips daily between Hampton Village and Hampton Falls. On Sundays, there were seven round trips between the Exeter depot and Hampton depot and two round trips between the Hampton depot and the North Shore Hotel, on Ocean Boulevard, Hampton Beach, near the Coast Guard station.

There were five fare zones: from the Exeter depot to the Exeter House; from the Exeter House to the car barn; from the car barn to Hampton depot; from Hampton depot to Hampton Falls, and from the Hampton depot to the North Shore Hotel. Ten ride tickets, good between Exeter and Hampton, were sold for $2.50. On Tuesday and Saturday nights, special tickets, good for a round trip between Hampton and Exeter and for admission to the Ioka Theatre, Exeter, were sold for 60 cents.

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