Another instalment in my photos from ten years ago series – this time it is November 2013.
Trains
We start the month with an ongoing project – Regional Rail Link. Work was underway to make room for a third pair of tracks through Footscray.
And the rebuilt station was starting to take shape.
Meanwhile at Southern Cross Station was another project – constructing the 699 Bourke Street office tower on top, a design feature proposed a decade earlier.
A hole was cut in the deck above platforms 13 and 14.
And a steel tub installed in it – possibly the base for lift shafts and escalators.
Was this the work that damaged the lights above platforms 13 and 14, leaving them in darkness? It’s quite possible.
New trams
Monday 4 November 2013 saw the first of the E class trams enter service – the first Melbourne-built trams for 20 years.
Trams E.6001 and E.6002 entered service on route 96 through the city.
Supplementing the bright yellow ‘Bumblebee’ trams.
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is held on the first Tuesday of November, and the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant used to run a special breakfast tram out to Flemington Racecourse to start the day.
But in the afternoon the most convenient tram stop to leave the racecourse was closed to create an extra lane for cars.
Trams instead shunting through the third track on Union Road back at the Showgrounds.
Or crowding onboard high-floor Z3 class trams on route 57.
Slow progress
Work on the new platform stop at Collins and Elizabeth Streets was still progressing in November, months after the tracks were first relaid.
The yet to be commissioned stops confusing passengers.
A disappearing act
The Franklin Street tram stop on Elizabeth Street – now you see it.
And now you don’t.
In theory the stop was removed to speed the passage of trams through the CBD, but the reality is different – trams have to stop at both the new tram stops, and the traffic lights beside the removed tram stops.
Traffic light priority for Melbourne trams is still a dream!
And another something different
November 2013 also saw me fly off to China, visiting the cities of Shanghai, Beijing and Xi’an and riding high speed trains between them.
Followed by two weeks in Hong Kong.
Along with a short transit through Changi Airport in Singapore.
And a Myki related footnote
I tried my Myki card on the Yikatong card reader in Beijing, and the ‘invalid card’ message appeared quicker than anything the 1st generation Myki readers would give you.
Footnote
Here you can find the rest of my ‘photos from ten years ago‘ series.
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