Yarra Trams to deliver an additional 480 services each week

[#Metro]

http://yarratrams.com.au/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-39/44_read-2612/

From Sunday October 24 Yarra Trams is boosting services on routes 19, 55, 57, 59 and 82 as well as reintroducing the route 31 city shuttle service. In total passengers will enjoy 480 new services across the network.

The increased services will provide;

   * Increased frequency for Route 19 on weekends, with eight minutes between trams from 8am to 7pm on Saturday, and 11am to 7pm on Sunday. Four minute frequency on weekdays will remain unchanged.
   * 220 new Route 31 Collins Street services between Victoria Harbour and Victoria Parade & Hoddle Street every week. In conjunction with existing trams on Routes 42 and 48 this means a tram to and from Victoria Harbour every five minutes.
   * Extended peak frequency for Route 55 with 45 extra services weekly
   * Three new AM peak and two new PM peak services every weekday on Route 57
   * Six new trams during peak hours every week on Route 59
   * 206 trams on Route 82, with service hours increased from first train to last train to provide connectivity with Sydenham line trains at Footscray Station

* Increased frequency for Route 19 on weekends, with eight minutes between trams from 8am to 7pm on Saturday, and 11am to 7pm on Sunday. Four minute frequency on weekdays will remain unchanged.

This is unbelievable frequency. I'm guessing they will make the tram bigger too.
Its amazing that Melbourne can get high patronage on the tram network when you consider that most of the network is not rapid transit (i.e. stop spacing at or greater than 500 meters and is prioritised mixed traffic).

[O_128]

Why o why did we rip up our network, why didn't the public protest , where are the nimbys when you need them

[#Metro]

We did protest- posters went up all over the city. But buses were cheaper, didn't get in the way of cars ("causing congestion"), could stop at kerbs and buses could use the newly planned network of motorways the 1965 Wilbur Smith Plan had planned to construct all over Brisbane.

We know today that buses are cheaper, but only up to a certain point once lifecycle costs are considered. Congestion happens anyway no matter what vehicle you use, and the motorways are not really used for public transport except in peak hour (Western Freeway and Captain Cook Bridge) because they are too clogged, don't serve the right areas and the areas are pedestrian unfriendly for all day patronage, it would be better to run in a reserved corridor separate from the motorway or a transit lane.