OPINION

The A2 is a typical modern Melbourne tram

Melbourne
Take a streetcar to the world’s
most liveable city
28 FOCUS MARCH 2014
Melbourne is different.
During the 1950s, when
cities in the English-speaking
world were dismantling
their tramways, Melbourne
started to modernise its
already extensive network
with new and extended
routes to its fast-growing Above: Z3 and (rear) B2 trams picking up passengers

suburbs. David Huntley

puts us on the right track Melbourne’s tram system is an astonishing survivor
to discover the latest that expanded when most of the rest of the world’s
systems were scrapped, and has enjoyed a renaissance
developments in its in recent years. A couple of the shorter suburban

tramway system and railways were assumed into the tramway networks,
too. A few trams terminate in the city, but most cross
what we can learn from the centre, enabling quite long journeys with good
interchange points. Currently, the daily operations are
a successful survivor. outsourced to contractors.

Today there are 250 miles of tramway, more than any

other in the world (with Moscow and a few European
cities as runners-up) and about 500 vehicles. Older
trams have high floors and steps up from the street
level, although boarding platforms to the first step are
now being built. Their ample seating capacity is well
AUTHOR received by the public, although disabled access is
David Huntley very limited indeed.
FURTHER INFORMATION
During the late 1990s, new German and French-style
See page 30
low-floor, multisection trams were introduced. These
SECTOR HIGHLIGHTS allow level boarding where platforms exist and a single
step elsewhere. They are much longer than older
models, consisting of three, four or five articulated
sections, but very much lower seating capacity than
the high-floor models. A long ride standing all the way
is a feature not so welcomed by commuters.

A major factor in Melbourne’s pro-tram decision is the

very spacious layout of the streets. Even the original
Victorian city centre was laid out on a gridiron of wide,
spacious boulevards. Thus, downtown much of the
tramway runs on its own road-centre reservation, as it
does elsewhere, except in some inner suburbs. It is
only in the latter that a road vehicle driver may be
unable to overtake (on the left, of course) a tram.

A newcomer driving within the city-centre tramway

system must get used to the well-signed hook turn.
Melbourne’ impressive new E-Class trams are now in service Due to the tram track layouts, at these, road vehicles
making a right turn do so from the left lane!

www.ciltuk.org.uk 29
OPINION MELBOURNE

Train networks – electric, 5ft track gauge – serve
most suburbs through a network that radiates out
from the central four-track underground circle. Bus
routes are mostly limited to feeder services to the
trams or trains; few buses are seen in the city centre.
As with the trams, bus routes are contracted out to
local operators.
Ticketing for trams, buses and trains is solely by the
Myki stored value cards, which are also valid on certain
intercity trains. Cash fares payable to the driver are
not available on trams. Myki cards are sold and topped
up at staffed rail stations, machines as major tram stops,
convenience stores or newsagents. Those paying
concessionary rate fares, such as resident seniors and
qualifying students, can obtain a Myki card that
charges half fares and offers certain other concessions.
The visitor’s overall impression is of a very clean,
frequent and fast tram system, with excellent vehicle
acceleration. No time is wasted manoeuvring into and
out of stops as a bus must do. Increasingly near-level
boarding and good in-tram and at-stop information
make for a quick and relaxed journey in the world’s
most liveable city.
About the author
Dr David Huntley MILT recently travelled to
Melbourne where he was struck by the historic
yet modern tramway infrastructure.

Above: Melbourne’s extensive tramway network

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FURTHER INFORMATION HAVE YOUR SAY FURTHER RESOURCES

To find out more about the issues
raised in this article, why not join our
Light Rail & Tram Forum Forum:
www.ciltuk.org.uk/AboutUs/Profession
alSectorsForums/Sectors/Rail/LightRail
Tram.aspx
Are trams a cost effective solution to
urban transport congestion?
www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=65049
89&trk=my_groups-b-grp-v
Melbourne’s latest tram projects
Restoring historic W–Class to service:
http://ptv.vic.gov.au/projects/trams/res
toring-w-class-trams/
Video of the launch of Melbourne’s
new E-Class tram
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm
-qXcx_OA4

30 FOCUS MARCH 2014

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