LIMOGES, France Faced with the development of sophisticated subway systems in modern cities and high-speed trains crisscrossing the French countryside, commuters in the southwestern French city of Limoges prefer the old-fashioned trolley buses. According to AFP, the citizens of Limoges prefer this classic method of transportation to subways and trams, saying the trolleys are more comfortable and quieter. Though the city's 40 trolley buses operate on only 34 kilometers (21 miles) of the 200 kilometers of public transport routes, mostly in the heart of the city, they are responsible for the transportation of 54 percent of the passengers. The city also uses 62 buses to round out its transportation system. In 1897 Limoges first began using electricity for public transportation with the installation of a tram system. The first trolley line was built in Limoges in 1943. By 1951 trolleys and buses had eclipsed the tram system, providing solid advantages in the areas of reduced pollution, comfort and durability, if not in cost. A bus costs about 1.5 million francs ($200,000) and has a life span of about 12 years, while a trolley costs four million francs, though it can last for up to 25 years, said Loic Blandin, director general of the city's Transportation Service (STCL). A trolley also costs more to run because it requires a series of aerial lines and electric substations that demand upkeep by highly-skilled workers. But the trolley has many advantages, not least of which is its charm, said Limoges' Deputy-Mayor Alain Rodet, citing an urban development plan and an air pollution law which cities must comply with. Trolleys are also immune to fluctuations in the price of petroleum. They make less noise than other forms of transportation and are more comfortable because their smooth acceleration reduces the jolts and bumps passengers feel. The trolley system is so popular among Limogeans today that they commonly say, "I'm taking the trolley," even when getting on a regular bus.