Q, "overhead lines aesthetically are no longer acceptable" was one of the arguments used by the oil companies in trying to talk cities into gas and diesel powered buses. I don't think most people had paid much attention to it until those in favor of dismantling a perfectly functional and relatively economical system brought it up and made an issue of it.

To lots of people, gasoline and diesel fumes are not only aesthetically unacceptable, they are unhealthy and they add to the growing problems of air pollution.

Don Firth