Taxi buyers saved money by not needing to get their new vehicles specially painted yellow.

https://www.theage.com.au/national/hail-its-victorias-new-taxi-of-choice-20041012-gdyscd.html

It also made selling retired taxis easier since they didn’t stand out as much.

Middle Footscray – houses demolished but station exactly the same. I’m reminded of level crossing removal 1920s style every time I drive down Victoria St (but not when it rains, when it becomes the wet weather version of the Napier St bridge). Has there been any station improvement at Middle Footscray since the 1920s? And the cleared land is becoming new housing. West Footscray – new station that needed to be retrofitted with a third platform (hopefully not a white elephant) where the ramp is almost where the old station was. Footscray – newly constructed bridge needed retrofitting to cater for two new tracks.

As for the Commonwealth Games in 2006:

Routes 3 and 5 replaced with Routes 53 and 55. (12th – 26th March)
– 53 – East Malvern – Dudley Street, via William Street (City). Peak hour trips extend to West Coburg
– 55 – Malvern – West Coburg, via William Street

Via https://vicsig.net/trams/event/Commonwealth-Games

Good catch – my ‘5’ key is right above the ‘8’ key.

I think you’re right. In addition, there was a Route 53 during the Commonwealth Games as well to alleviate crowding on Swanston Street as well.