Melbourne Trams

[pandmaster]

Cutting the Free Tram Zone is not politically feasible I suppose so half the City Circle must go. Melbourne had such a good fare structure and they had to go and ruin it with the FTZ!

[ozbob]

Twitter

Daniel Bowen @danielbowen

Wow. Best pic from derailment last week. "@MAndrewWaugh: Why catch points are being removed from rail/tram crossings "

[colinw]

Cutting the Free Tram Zone is not politically feasible I suppose so half the City Circle must go. Melbourne had such a good fare structure and they had to go and ruin it with the FTZ!

The FTZ is utterly pointless!

I frequently use the trams there, as the line along Docklands Drive stops right outside our Melbourne office.

The way it used to work was you could either (a) wait for the freebie W-class city loop, which was always crowded with tourists, or (b) just hop on whatever came and swipe your Myki if it happened to be a normal service.

Now, it is always free, and it is damn near impossible to get on ANY tram in some locations.

All Melbourne needs is what it had - a tourist branded free loop using nicely presented heritage trams.  The normal PT services can be "user pays".

If a local is too cheap to pay, then by all means wait for the next freebie, and put up with the overcrowding.

[ozbob]

Fuked Tram Zone ...  what were they thinking? ...

Example:

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Twitter

Adam Carey ‏@adamlcarey 1 hour ago

Collins St tram stop, about 100 people waiting. A tiny Z-class is about to pull up. Good luck getting on



^

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 36 minutes ago

. @adamlcarey I take it the FTZ is an ' overwhelming failure ' then ...

[ozbob]

Yarra Trams --> Route 96 - Tram network upgrade - May 2015

[petey3801]

I think it was a good idea in theory, but it a victim of its own success, leading to its failure. Just spent 3 days in Melbourne and the overcrowding in the FTZ is quite something! It was good to see the trams still being used quite heavily outside the FTZ as well though.
The new E Class are quite nice to travel in, will be good once they get a bit more prevalent throughout the network.

[Otto]

When I was in Melbourne during February, I found it very difficult for me and my 85 yo mum to get onto trams in the CBD area. People were consistently being left behind due to no room. On some occasions, trams could not leave stops as people were blocking the doorways.

My wife and I will be staying in the CBD last week of this coming September, so I will see if the situation has changed.

Looking forward to our trip in the Tram Restaurant on the 28th Sept. 30th ann...

[pandmaster]

Now that the FTZ is there, it will be difficult politically to get rid of it. There probably needs to be some "trade-off" for it (e.g. lower fares, abolish Zone 2, order more trams, build some more track). If it must stay then maybe it could be expanded to trains as well (I suspect some people use the tram instead as it is free) although I suspect that would just muck up the trains as well.

[petey3801]

If the trams were all the larger size 5000/5100/6000 etc style trams, it wouldn't be as bad I don't think. A big part of the problem is the small trams still running around, especially the single car Z class (?) trams, not clearing the stops of waiting passengers. Then a longer tram pulls up and it has to take its share plus the people who missed the last one due to no space from being such a small tram.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Tardy trams prompt Yarra to pad out timetable to avoid compensation bill

[SurfRail]

If the trams were all the larger size 5000/5100/6000 etc style trams, it wouldn't be as bad I don't think. A big part of the problem is the small trams still running around, especially the single car Z class (?) trams, not clearing the stops of waiting passengers. Then a longer tram pulls up and it has to take its share plus the people who missed the last one due to no space from being such a small tram.

If the trams were all the larger size 5000/5100/6000 etc style trams, it wouldn't be as bad I don't think. A big part of the problem is the small trams still running around, especially the single car Z class (?) trams, not clearing the stops of waiting passengers. Then a longer tram pulls up and it has to take its share plus the people who missed the last one due to no space from being such a small tram.

Also exacerbated by there being too many different routes especially on Swanston St, so trams can't just fill up with everybody waiting - just replacing the Zs and As wouldn't be enough because platforms still wouldn't be swept clear if people are waiting for one of 10 or so individual services.  Need to redesign the network as well.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Twenty new trams to be ordered in $2 billion boost for Victorian manufacturing

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Car parks cash in on Melbourne's free tram zone

[#Metro]

WHO whould have forseen this embarrassing side effect!!

"The beneficiaries in this case are motorists who drive all the way into the city and then park and ride trams for free, whereas someone who comes in by tram each day from their home or catches the train from somewhere in the suburbs doesn't actually get any benefit from the free tram zone because they have already paid their daily fare," Dr Morton said.

[pandmaster]

Incentives are a powerful thing. In this case the government has them all wrong. What even is the point of the FTZ? Commuters do not save any money. Tourists probably do not care. No one expects free transport when visiting a place and the additional patronage may even turn them off. Most people on FTZ trams would be locals I suspect anyway. Drivers seem to be the main beneficiary.

I hope Andrews abolishes it.

[cartoonbirdhaus]

[ozbob]

LOL  - send the FTZ to Vermont South on a W in the middle of winter and then burn it!

[BrizCommuter]

Incentives are a powerful thing. In this case the government has them all wrong. What even is the point of the FTZ? Commuters do not save any money. Tourists probably do not care. No one expects free transport when visiting a place and the additional patronage may even turn them off. Most people on FTZ trams would be locals I suspect anyway. Drivers seem to be the main beneficiary.

I hope Andrews abolishes it.

Actually, quite a few people who I know that have recently visited Melbourne think that the FTZ is fantastic, makes it easy to use PT,  and they barely had to use their myki all holiday.

[ozbob]

Twitter

3AW Melbourne ‏@3AW693 5 minutes ago

A chilly morning (now 7.5C), but Melbourne's putting on another sunny, 20-degree day.
(Pic: @playbillpaulii/Insta)

[ozbob]

Yarra Trams --> Older trams make way for next generation

Some of Melbourne's oldest trams are being retired after close to 40 years of service as more next generation E-Class trams are added to the network.

The retirement of Z-Class trams is part of Yarra Trams and Public Transport Victoria's cascade plan, which redeploys high-capacity, low-floor trams to routes where they are needed most.

22 E-Class trams are now in service on Route 96, but the benefits of E-Class are being shared across the world's largest tram network.

A further 28 E-Class will be delivered as part of the current Tram Procurement Program, and the Victorian state government has recently committed funding for an extra 20 E-Class trams.

The Tram Procurement Program also includes the redevelopment of Preston Workshops into a state-of-the-art depot facility and other network upgrades.

Z-Class trams were first introduced to the network in 1975 and those that have recently retired had each travelled close to 1.8 million kilometres, equivalent to four and half trips to the moon.

In December 2014, the first three Z-Class trams were retired from passenger service. An additional five trams have been retired since the start of this year.

Yarra Trams and Public Transport Victoria have committed to gradually retire more older trams as new E-Class trams arrive on the network.

Before being sent to scrap for recycling, all the useful parts from the trams will be removed so they can be used on other trams.

Example of the tram cascade:

Route 19, one of the five busiest routes in Melbourne, is now able to carry more passengers on high-capacity D-Class trams that previously operated on Route 96.

Double carriage B-Class trams have transferred from the Brunswick Depot that operates Route 19 to East Preston Depot, which operates Route 11.

A-Class trams have moved from East Preston to Glenhuntly Depot to allow the retirement of Z-Class trams.

[pandmaster]

Good on them for salvaging useable parts. They seem to be doing an excellent job with the tram fleet.

[Otto]

Anyone want a ride on an E class along route 96 all in the comfort of your computer chair ?

[ozbob]

Yarra Trams --> Moonee Ponds tram upgrade project

[ozbob]

Twitter

PTUA ‏@ptua 3m

Yarra Trams considering providing WiFi -- but of course the priority is to get the trams running better! http://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/free-wi-fi-may-soon-be-available-on-melbournes-trams/story-fnii5sms-1227380288601 ...

[ozbob]

Twitter

Yarra Trams ‏@yarratrams 23m

Our City Circle tram 856 is celebrating 75 years of service today! #yarratrams #melbourne

[ozbob]

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/melbournes-mighty-e-class-trams-start-spreading-across-town

Melbourne's Mighty E-Class Trams Start Spreading Across Town

Monday 22 June 2015

E-Class trams have begun running between West Preston to Docklands, the first time the new Melbourne-built trams have run outside Route 96.

Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, said the move was great news for passengers on Route 11, which is one of Melbourne's busiest.

At 33 metres long, E-Class trams are Melbourne's biggest, with capacity to carry more than 200 people. Their low-floor design, wide doorways and dedicated spaces for wheelchairs, scooters and prams also make them Melbourne's most accessible.

Fifty E-Class trams were ordered by the former Labor Government. After a four year gap when the previous Liberal Government did not order a single tram, another 20 were ordered by the Andrews Labor Government as part of its long-term rolling stock strategy, released in May.

As these trams roll off the production line in Dandenong and onto Melbourne's tram network each month, more and more routes across Melbourne will enjoy the benefits of the trams.

Tram stops along Collins Street are being upgraded to accommodate the new trams, and make them safer and more accessible.

Ms Allan also announced today a new automated travel information system on 130 B-Class trams.

The automated system will provide real-time travel updates to passengers, on screens in the tram and through announcements over the speakers, about where they are on the network and the stop they are approaching.

The initiative is part of an $8.4 million program to improve information for passengers and help them find their way on Melbourne's tram network. Other recent improvements to real-time information include the installation of 50 tramTRACKER mini screens and 40 remote public address units across the tram network.

The new automated passenger information displays will be introduced from later this month.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan

"E-Class trams are made in Melbourne, for Melbourne, and it's great to see them spreading out across our wonderful city."

"They are the biggest, safest and most accessible trams on our network, and more and more people will get to enjoy them over the coming years as they come off the production line in Dandenong and into service."

"The new passenger information improvements will help passengers use our tram network, and get where they need to go."

"The Andrews Labor Government is investing in new trams and better technology to support Victorian jobs and make our iconic tram network better for the 600,000 passengers who use it each weekday."

[ozbob]

Rail Express --> Public opinion asked for on new tram platform

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Tram routes changed, abolished in shake-up to ease congestion

[verbatim9]

They yet to introduce priority signalling unlike the The Gold Coast light rail that successfully uses it to turn red lights green on approach

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Tram strike threat as union ups ante in pay stand-off with Yarra Trams

[ozbob]

Twitter

3AW Melbourne ‏@3AW693 7 minutes ago

"They are as Melbourne as the MCG."

A campaign to restore and save these trams http://bit.ly/1fkhByq  #IdeasFactory

[ozbob]

Twitter

Malcolm Turnbull ‏@TurnbullMalcolm  12 minutes ago

Enjoying the pleasure of the 96 tram on the way to St Kilda this evening in Melbourne the tram network of which is the largest in the world.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> $30m cost blowout in 24-hour weekend public transport trial to begin in January

[ozbob]

Melbourne Trams - A typical Sunday on Route 96 March 2015 Tram Drivers View

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Vic trams may stop over pay dispute

[ozbob]

ABC News --> National Trust campaigns to keep W-Class tram on rails as new sports facility coffee tram proposed

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Melbourne's Yarra Trams drivers set for four-hour strike on Thursday

[ozbob]

News.com.au --> Tram strike chaos to hit Melbourne commuters from 8am

[pandmaster]

ABC News --> National Trust campaigns to keep W-Class tram on rails as new sports facility coffee tram proposed

How about getting some for the Gold Coast? A heritage tram is a nice gimmick.

[SurfRail]

^ The higher voltage up here would probably cook it pretty quickly without doing a fair bit of work to it.