Melbourne Trams

[colinw]

This is pure gold!  Make sure you follow the links to the blog and read the full exchange.

The Age -> Biffo? No. From tram-ride trauma to joyful exchange

[ozbob]

Daniel Bowen Blog --> 1929 metropolitan plan: "the tramcar is the most efficient user of street space"

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Peak-hour crush worse for some lines but easing on others

Peak-hour crush worse for some lines but easing on others
Adam Carey
June 5, 2012



OVERCROWDING worsened on several of Melbourne's tram routes last year but peak-hour crushes also eased on other routes that had previously suffered chronic load breaches.

Where overcrowding eased, it was put down to a combination of larger trams being shifted to crammed routes, and commuters ditching tram travel.

The figures are contained in the Department of Transport's latest six-monthly tram load standards report, completed in October and published online last week. Passenger numbers were recorded at dozens of tram stops during the morning and afternoon peaks.

The worst example of overcrowding occurred on the route 48 tram, from North Balwyn to Docklands, where passenger numbers were more than 25 per cent above capacity by the time they approached the city in the morning peak. Seven of 21 breaches occurred on this line.

Yarra Trams has blamed Metro timetable changes that led to some trains running direct to Flinders Street Station instead of through the city loop.

''Jolimont has grown as a key interchange point due to Epping and Hurstbridge trains running direct to Flinders Street,'' a spokesman said.

The second most overcrowded point was on route 112, outside St Vincent's Hospital on the city's northern fringe. Increased activity along Brunswick Street was blamed.

But a sharp drop in breaches was observed on what has long been one of Melbourne's worst tram routes for overcrowding, route 55 from West Coburg, as passengers abandoned the chronically crammed route.

There was a 5.4 per cent drop in patronage, the report said, even as three new peak-hour services were added to the route, which is also one of the city's most scenic, running through Royal Park and past the zoo. A spokeswoman for Public Transport Victoria said timetables had been boosted on 11 tram routes.

The first of 50 new low-floor trams are also due to arrive in Melbourne by the end of the year, and will be gradually introduced over the next five years.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/peakhour-crush-worse-for-some-lines-but-easing-on-others-20120604-1zsge.html

[somebody]

Hmm, what does 100% capacity equal?
- seated load
- seated+sensible standing load
- seated+crush standing load

What restricts them from putting more trams on:  Fleet size and/or tracks?

[ozbob]

All out on the job.  100% is the maximum design load.  Bit like our EMUs (6 car) that have maximum design load short distance of 1000 pax, but occasionally get up 120%  (1200, although I haven't seen that for a while).

Understand 50 trams to be delivered over the next 5 years, locals are querying if that will be enough.

[SurfRail]

All out on the job.  100% is the maximum design load.  Bit like our EMUs (6 car) that have maximum design load short distance of 1000 pax, but occasionally get up 120%  (1200, although I haven't seen that for a while).

Understand 50 trams to be delivered over the next 5 years, locals are querying if that will be enough.

Highly doubtful.  They will create a capacity increase, but probably not any real frequency upgrade due to the Zs being gradually withdrawn.  I expect it will basically be a one for one replacement.

150 might have made a dent in things, although they would need somewhere to keep them.  I don't know if the existing depots would be up to it as these are bigger units.

[ozbob]

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/4114-metro-and-yarra-trams-improve-punctuality-in-may-2012.html

Metro and Yarra Trams improve punctuality in May 2012

Thursday, 07 June 2012
From the Minister for Public Transport

Melbourne's train and tram operators Metro and Yarra Trams improved their punctuality in May 2012 even though each operated more trips than in May 2011, Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder said today.

"The benefits of the Coalition Government's sustained investment in maintenance are starting to show. During May and June, Metro is spending more than $11 million on specific infrastructure renewal works," Mr Mulder said.

Mr Mulder said that Metro's performance was good despite it timetabling 3,458 more trains in May 2012, 5.6 per cent more scheduled trains than in May 2011, with network-wide punctuality increasing from 82.1 per cent in May 2011 to 90.7 per cent in May 2012, an 8.6 per cent rise.

"For the second consecutive month, Metro's timekeeping improved on all of its 15 electrified lines and one non-electrified line despite the number of timetabled Metro train trips increasing from 60,731 in May 2011 to 64,189 in May 2012. Metro's performance on the operationally challenging Hurstbridge and Werribee lines was particularly pleasing," Mr Mulder said.

"The Hurstbridge line is single track with train passing loops beyond Greensborough, while the Werribee line includes the Altona Loop, has a junction with the Williamstown line that is extremely busy during weekday peak periods and shares the tracks with V/Line's Geelong and Warrnambool trains.

"On the Hurstbridge line, Metro's punctuality increased from 83.2 per cent of train arriving at their destination less than five minutes late in May 2011 to 93 per cent in May 2012. On the Werribee line, the rise was from 80.8 per cent of trains officially on time to 91 per cent."

Mr Mulder said that on longer metropolitan rail lines such as Frankston (72 per cent punctuality in May 2011 to 89.3 per cent in May 2012, Pakenham (71.8 to 88.4 per cent), Belgrave (79.7 to 86.9 per cent), Cranbourne (76.9 to 88.3 per cent), Glen Waverley (91.7 to 94.2 per cent) and Sydenham (81.4 to 86.6 per cent), the increase in train timekeeping was consistently good.

"On shorter routes such as Upfield, Metro's punctuality rose markedly from 77.3 to 89.9 per cent despite the labyrinth of tracks that these trains must thread their way over between North Melbourne and Southern Cross. The two most punctual were Frankston to Hastings and Stony Point (97.7 per cent, up from 93.7 per cent) and Sandringham (91.6 to 96.1 per cent)," Mr Mulder said.

Mr Mulder said Yarra Trams had improved its punctuality over the length of its routes from 80.3 per cent in May 2011 to 81 per cent in May 2012 despite timetabling 2793 more trips.

"Route 57 along Elizabeth Street to West Maribyrnong rose in punctuality by 2.9 per cent to 86.9 per cent while Route 75 along Flinders and Spencer Streets from Vermont South, Burwood East and Camberwell improved by 1.8 per cent to 80.1 per cent,", Mr Mulder said.

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Tram strike threatens

Tram strike threatens

July 13, 2012

MELBOURNE'S tram workers could strike next month as part of industrial action planned by their union.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union yesterday lodged documents with the industrial umpire.

These would see tram staff take strike action against Yarra Trams after a ballot of workers.

It follows similar action on Monday by the union representing Metro Trains' 700 infrastructure staff, who have started protected industrial action over a new workplace agreement.

Rail staff are threatening to ban only some construction and maintenance, and overtime. But tram drivers and staff lodged their application for a protected action ballot with Fair Work Australia yesterday, with their union asking staff to vote on strike action.

Among the proposed industrial actions were options that would see Melbourne's tram system badly disrupted.

It will be at least four weeks before a vote of staff at both train and tram operators will be completed.

A spokesman for Yarra Trams said it was premature to comment on the dispute.

But he said the Fair Work Act had some mechanisms during the bargaining process that could help avert a strike.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/tram-strike-threatens-20120712-21ywt.html

[SurfRail]

^ At least they are unlikely to go welding bars across the track to hold up services...

[Fares_Fair]

^ At least they are unlikely to go welding bars across the track to hold up services...

Where has that occurred? 

[SurfRail]

^ Late 80s and early 90s when things were particularly feral down there.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Trams cop a low blow as report slams design flaws

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Yarra Trams cleared in safety check

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Special: W-class icon T946 on track to full restoration

Special: W-class icon T946 on track to full restoration

Date July 23, 2012  Andrew Heasley

WIRELESS internet connectivity and mobile phone applications may supersede the old recorded monologue on Melbourne's City Circle historic tourist trams, Premier Ted Baillieu says.

''I'd be delighted to see the messages change,'' Premier Baillieu said. ''We're talking about all sorts of opportunities for different messages, whether on the destination board or on the audio. There are opportunities also, in this age of communication, to provide a bit more wi-fi,'' he said.

Mr Baillieu revealed the technology push as he showed off a circa-1940s W-Class tram undergoing a government-funded restoration.

The tram, number T946, could be the first W-Class to feature wireless internet technology when it joins the City Circle route in October.

The government has earmarked $8 million to remanufacture a handful of mothballed W-Class trams to more modern specifications - dubbed ''W8''.

''The W-Class has long been the symbol of the tram in Melbourne,'' said Mr Baillieu.

''We believe it is worthwhile to preserve the heritage, to have that heritage actually operating in the system.''

But there's no on-board provision for that other public transport marvel - myki.

Apart from the tram's roof, bumper bars and some trim items, tram T946's chassis, floor, panelling, polished timber trim and seats have been manufactured in Preston and Bendigo's historic workshops, using original engineering blueprints as a guide.

The tram is being fitted with updated braking, suspension and motor technology, including a modified chassis for greater crash safety for drivers, after a spate of traffic smashes a decade ago saw most W-Class trams, including T946, pulled from service.

It has cost about $1.5 million over six months to get T946 to the stage it's at now - up on blocks at the Preston workshops, awaiting its motors, suspension and wheels.

But Yarra Trams' project manager David Cigognini said the first tram to undergo such a refurbishment was always going to be the most costly and time consuming, as engineers, workers and suppliers figured out how to remake a Melbourne icon from original blueprints.

''With the old blueprints, there's no order, no structure of how to build things ... everything's in imperial and you want to buy components in metric,'' Mr Cigognini said.

Once T946 is finally sorted, other W-Class restorations will be undertaken at the Bendigo tram workshop.

The 38 historic trams already trundling around the City Circle and selected inner urban routes would ''eventually'' be upgraded mechanically, too, Mr Baillieu said.

But more than 100 W-Class trams in tramway storage yards were past the point of repair.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/special-wclass-icon-t946-on-track-to-full-restoration-20120722-22i6x.html

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Passengers, drivers at risk in 'cheap as chips' trams

[ozbob]

Yarra Trams - tram bells  --> http://www.yarratrams.com.au/media-centre/downloads/

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Tramcar catches fire


http://images.theage.com.au/2012/08/11/3548024/tramcar_353-300x0.jpg

Tramcar catches fire
August 12, 2012

ONE of Melbourne's iconic tramcar restaurants caught fire yesterday afternoon leading to the evacuation of 30 diners and three staff.

Firefighters were called to the smoking tram about 1.30pm in East Melbourne, after it ground to a halt in Victoria Parade near Nicholson Street.

Metropolitan Fire Board Commander Martin Braid said the fire, believed to be caused by an electrical fault, started in the tram's dining carriage floor. ''

It's the first fire in a tramcar restaurant that I've been to,'' he said.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/tramcar-catches-fire-20120811-241i7.html

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

New low-floor trams miss first stop by seven months


http://images.theage.com.au/2012/08/17/3564532/bombardier-tram-620x349.jpg
The Bombardier design. Photo: Michael Clayton-Jones

New low-floor trams miss first stop by seven months
August 18, 2012 Adam Carey

PRODUCTION of 50 new low-floor trams for Melbourne has fallen a year behind schedule because Dandenong-based manufacturer Bombardier has battled with the complex demands of building them.

The first of the trams was meant to be delivered to the state government on December 19 but will instead arrive by the end of July, seven months late.

Bombardier spokesman Andy Spink said it would take the company 12 months to catch up to its original construction timeline, and that the last of the 50 trams would be delivered by early 2018, as was planned when the former Brumby government contracted the company to build them in September 2010.

''We've designed a tram that's going to be fit to meet Melbourne's infrastructure requirements, and that's been really complex,'' Mr Spink said. ''It's a brand new [type of] tram that's being built and that's had its engineering issues.''

A number of Bombardier's local suppliers have also struggled with the project's demands with some going out of business. But Mr Spink said the company was on top of its problems now, and would speed up production.

Public Transport Victoria chief executive Ian Dobbs said it was now clear Bombardier had underestimated the complexity of the project.

''We are extremely disappointed with Bombardier's failure to meet the contract delivery date for the first tram,'' Mr Dobbs said. ''We accept that they have faced a lot of problems with construction and also with the collapse of some key suppliers, but until recently we had received assurances that new processes would be put in place to make up lost time.''

Bombardier will be financially penalised for missing its deadline, although a Public Transport Victoria spokesman said the authority had not yet calculated the amount.

The new trams are a $300 million project to add capacity to Melbourne's straining network. The first will be deployed on route 96 between East Brunswick and St Kilda, the city's busiest tram route.

The trams carry 210 passengers, more than any other in the network, and are the first to be manufactured in Melbourne since the early 1990s. Bombardier has also built 134 VLocity train carriages for V/Line, Metro's ageing fleet of Comeng trains, and Yarra Trams' Z, A and B-class trams.

The delay in low-floor trams in turn delays deployment of high-capacity trams from route 96 to other lines. Yarra Trams spokesman Colin Tyrus said the operator was looking forward to getting the first new tram, to be called the E-Class, but did not say which routes would get the freed-up high-capacity trams.

New low-floor tram stops have recently been built along High Street in Northcote as part of a $30 million project to improve tram travel times along route 86 from Bundoora to Docklands. Low-floor trams do not yet run along that route.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/new-lowfloor-trams-miss-first-stop-by-seven-months-20120817-24e1q.html

[ozbob]

Tram Heritage Study

--> http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/heritage/publications-and-research/thematic-and-typological-studies/tram-heritage-study

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Tram 'super stops' improve traffic flow

Tram 'super stops' improve traffic flow
September 5, 2012 Adam Carey



MELBOURNE'S tram ''super stops'' were designed to improve passenger safety and disability access, but research shows they help speed up commuting.

The platform stops - there are now 360 in Melbourne - reduce tram stopping times by about a third over kerbside stops, a Monash University study has found.

The study compared tram stopping times in Melbourne and Toronto, the two cities with the biggest networks, where trams and cars share the road. It found that Melbourne's many super stops helped it achieve superior tram travel times.

It showed for every 10 passengers getting on or off, trams stopped an extra 6.6 seconds on average at kerbside stops.
Advertisement

The study's leader, professor of public transport Graham Currie, said the research showed Melbourne's super stops were helping to improve reliability, and could convince more people to leave their cars at home.

ADAM CAREY

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/tram-super-stops-improve-traffic-flow-20120904-25cp7.html

[ozbob]

Trams: Moving Pictures

--> http://prov.vic.gov.au/whats-on/old-treasury-building/trams-moving-pictures

[ozbob]

Melbourne, Australia ‏@Melbourne

Today there's a new tram in town! The @zoosvictoria Love Your Locals tram - fighting extinction of our local animals.

--> http://instagram.com/p/RGnL6zLD3O/

[ozbob]

Latest tram load standards survey results now available

--> http://ptv.vic.gov.au/news/news-promotions/latest-tram-load-standards-survey-results-now-available

[ozbob]

Twitter

Daniel Bowen ‏@danielbowen

Breaking #gunzel news: New #PTV logos on tram 2049. http://flic.kr/p/dBh2g6  http://flic.kr/p/dBh2Bt

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Tickets please for a nostalgic ride through Melbourne

Tickets please for a nostalgic ride through Melbourne
December 17, 2012
Tessa Van Der Riet

IF THERE'S one form of transport that Melburnians have a soft spot for, it's their trams.

''They're the everybody transport,'' says Kate Luciano, curator of a new exhibition that documents the early history of the city's well-loved vehicles. ''I think that's what was so brilliant about tram travel through the ages.''



Trams: Moving Pictures features century-old photos of the earliest horse-drawn and cable trams from the late 1800s, as well as the early W-class electric trams from the 1920s.

Whereas trams are now often used for product advertising, many of the exhibited photographs show past trams decorated in military themes. One celebrates the Britain's Boer War victory in the Siege of Mafeking; Another encourages soldier recruitment during the World War II: ''Don't you hear the call? Fall in!'' the tram's banner reads.

Trams were also often decorated when a new tram route began.

''They were such big moments,'' Ms Luciano said. ''Thousands of people would rejoice in the opening of a new line.''

Another special feature of the exhibit is a screening of the oldest surviving documentary about Melbourne, made in 1910. The film, Marvellous Melbourne: Queen City of the South, offers a rare glimpse into city life 100 years ago and includes the first recorded vision of trams.

Some of the film, produced by Londoner Cozens Spencer, is shot from the tram's point of view, giving viewers the sense they are moving through Melbourne streets.

''It's an amazing view of the early Melbourne streetscape,'' Ms Luciano said.

To travel on a tram in the early 1900s, a ticket would cost you two or three pence.

While fare evasion these days can land you a fine into the hundreds, ticket inspectors a century ago were not quite as strict.

''Boys used to jump on cable trams and then jump off at the next stop,'' Ms Luciano said. ''I think the penalty was often a slap on the wrist.''

Trams: Moving Pictures, a free exhibit at Old Treasury Building, opens on Monday.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/tickets-please-for-a-nostalgic-ride-through-melbourne-20121216-2bhig.html

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Operator sorry for tram chaos affecting travellers to Australian Open

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Dirty tracks blamed for tram driver's electric shock

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Not good enough, new Yarra Trams boss tells staff

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

New Yarra Trams chief in push to reduce travel times

New Yarra Trams chief in push to reduce travel times

    Amelia Harris
    Herald Sun
    February 28, 2013 7:52PM


TRAMS must increasingly be segregated from cars and given more priority at traffic lights to reduce commuter travel times, the new Yarra Trams CEO says.

Clement Michel said Melburnians had also become accustomed to poor customer information, such as upcoming stops not being announced.

Passengers on the 59 D class Combino trams that run on routes 5, 6, 8, 16 and 72 will receive automated next-stop announcements from next week.

Future loudspeaker and electronic display announcements could include connections with other tram, train and bus routes and places of interest.

Outlining his vision for Yarra Trams, Mr Michel hoped the Route 96 project - segregating trams and cars and giving trams priority at traffic lights on the journey from East Brunswick to St Kilda - would become a blueprint for improved travel.

The 50 new low-floor trams, which are a year behind schedule, are expected to begin on the route in August.

Mr Michel said a peak-hour tram could carry 50 per cent of the people on a stretch of road, but spent 17 per cent of its time stuck at lights.

"To go from the route 96 terminus to Southern Cross station it was 20 minutes in the '50s and now it is 29 minutes," he said.

Asked to give Melbourne's tram network a score out of 10, Mr Michel offered 8.5 for frequency and four for average speed because "it is one of the worst in the world".

Previously Yarra Trams' chief operating officer before starting the top job on February 4, Mr Michel wants trams to arrive within a minute of scheduled times.

He said passenger perception of trams arriving on time was more important than the company's performance contract with the State Government.

A tram is considered on time if it arrives between 59 seconds early and four minutes and 59 seconds after the scheduled time.

He said previous operator Transdev TSL had tried to teach drivers the circumstances in which the company could be penalised and rewarded, but he wanted a back-to-basics approach.

"The measure of the contract might be five minutes, fine, but (one minute) is what we want to achieve," he said.

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Yarra Trams may introduce 45m trams to cope with growing demand in Melbourne



The 45m-long Keolis tramway now running in the French city of Bordeaux. Source: Supplied

[SurfRail]

^ So in other words Gold Coast spec (albeit running on 600v DC and slower).

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Cars still taking on '30 rhinos' in Collins Street

[ozbob]

1938 MMTB Map

--> http://issuu.com/yarratrams/docs/1938-mmtb-map

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Trams project shelved

[ozbob]

Domain Interchange Redevelopment

Between 29 March and 12 April 2013, scores of workers undertook one of the largest redevelopment projects recently seen on Melbourne's tram network. Work took place non-stop during this time.

The redevelopment project consisted of replacing tram tracks to create a smoother ride, the construction of two platforms for accessible boarding and increased real time passenger information.

This video shows time-lapse footage of the entire project as it unfolded.

Domain Interchange is one of Melbourne's busiest tram stops and is used by thousands of passengers every day on nine different routes.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Vicsig ‏@vicsig 41m

One of Melbourne new E class trams under testing at Dandenong. http://t.co/c8gYhoVPxL

[ozbob]

New PTV Tram livery --> http://tdu.to/36496.att

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Melbourne's art trams back on track

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> 4WD parents dropping kids to school blamed for tram delays

[huddo45]

Twitter

Vicsig ‏@vicsig 41m

One of Melbourne new E class trams under testing at Dandenong. http://t.co/c8gYhoVPxL

It'll look good when they take it out of the packing crate!