Another instalment in my photos from ten years ago series – this time it is March 2014.
A few things new on the trams
A decade ago route 57 was my local tram route, and one night I heard something different clattering down the road – a brand new E class tram on test.
So I got in the car and chased it down the line, snaking around the reserved track of Maribyrnong until it reached the route 82 terminus at Footscray.
A decade ago I was also still commuting to the CBD for work, when I found some brand new yellow plastic kerbing in place along the Collins Street tram tracks.
Intended to make life difficult for motorists driving over the tram tracks, they didn’t seem to deter the nuffies who drive taxis in Melbourne.
Continuing to block the tram tracks and make u-turns as they please.
A problem not addressed until 2020 when the yellow plastic strips were replaced with hard concrete ones – and reducing vehicle-to-tram collisions by around 30 per cent.
And on the trains
A decade ago a new style of door handle was first trialled on the aging Comeng trains.
Eventually rolled out to the entire fleet, but in 2024 an even more secure emergency door release system on the cusp of being rolled out – just in time for the Comeng trains to be retired!
More clueless drivers
Occasionally trams need to turn back before their usual terminus, with one of these crossovers being the Maribyrnong River crossover on Maribyrnong Road, Ascot Vale.
Unfortunately this motorist didn’t realise the tram in front wanted to come back the other way – perhaps forgivable, given it’s an infrequent occurrence.
Meanwhile this driver of a Queensland registered car didn’t know what to do on Swanston Street when the road ran out, so decided to drive along the bike lane instead.
But this taxi driver should’ve known better – the tram driver going DING DING DING but the driver still decided to sneak down the tram tracks.
And this even stupider driver deciding to driving advice from a taxi driver, and follow them.
Another ‘professional’ driver was behind the wheel of this delivery van, who also decided to drive down the Swanston Street tram stop.
But unlike all the other clueless drivers this month, they didn’t get away with it – Victoria Police officers pulled them over afterwards.
Over to Moonee Ponds
Here we see the old Moonee Ponds Junction tram stop, with route 82 passengers forced to cross multiple roads to reach the narrow ‘safety zone’ tram stop on the other side of the intersection.
The tram stop was eventually rebuilt in 2016, with route 59 and 82 trams sharing a new accessible platform stop, next to the bus interchange.
Also nearby I found a route bus operated by Moonee Valley Coaches.
They continued operating two bus routes from Moonee Ponds towards Brunswick until March 2024, when the routes were sold to much larger bus operator Dyson Group.
And Southern Cross Station
March 2014 saw some more retail outlets being added to Southern Cross Station – this time on the Bourke Street Bridge.
But the congestion on the streets around the station – zero attention being paid there!
Just Grand Prix merchandise stalls to make matters worse!
But this hoarding on the Collins Street concourse had something different hiding behind it.
A big hole with a massive cage of reinforcing bar at the bottom.
So what was it?
I didn’t find out until a few months later.
Footnote
Here you can find the rest of my ‘photos from ten years ago‘ series.
And here we are a decade later and route 57 is still operated by Z class…
And they’ll still be there until the G class trams arrive!
https://www.vic.gov.au/next-generation-trams
Just a reference to the change in bus operators, about a month before Dysons took over routes 503 and 506, the routes that were previously operated by MorelandBus (510 and 512) were taken over by Kinetic Melbourne. And even though Kinetic operates the metropolitian bus franchise (which ends in 2031), the two routes that were acquired by Kinetic are up next year and are NOT part of the metropolitian bus franchise, just like the routes that were previously operated by Moonee Valley.
Some people believe that this has something to do with the routes being up for renewal next year (note that some are up in 2028, while those operated by MorelandBus and Moonee Valley were up next year). Do you think this has anything to do with it?
I suspect it’s a case of the small bus operators knowing they have no hope of getting one of the upcoming bus franchises, so were happy to take any money they could get for the current operations.
An update to this topic, but the musical chairs has begun in regards to the changes in bus operators in preparation for the new contracts starting next year, and note that this takeover will not be in effect until 1 July 2025. Australasian Bus & Coach is reporting that CDC Melbourne has retained their routes, but will take over the routes that are currently operated by Kastoria and Broadmeadows as part of the new franchise system that will begin next year. I think we will be getting more of these announcements over the next couple of months.
In all my times in Swanston Street, I’ve once seen a motorist being redirected by police. I’ve never seen anyone fined. I’ve never seen any police deal with cars entering blocked intersections at Collins and Elizabeth, Latrobe and William and Collins and King Street and I forget which intersection. These aren’t dangerous matters but they lead to a general disobeyance of traffic laws. Do Not Enter, Tram Only and one that shouldn’t be needed, Do Not Block the Intersection.
Hard edging tram tracks with a vehicle damaging raised concrete barriers is a no brainer. An anecdote for you; In the late 70s a large German born woman had a brief stint as a South Melbourne Depot tram driver. In one day Ingrid hit three cars in separate incidents in Collins Street because they were obstructing her tram. While exchanging details with them, she soundly abused them for their stupidity.
I haven’t looked for a while. Is the lovely So Cross clock still spoilt by crass advertising?
While I am used to it now, I stumbled as I entered an E Class for the first time however many years ago. I was not prepared for the slight floor ramp, nor was I when I left the tram. Maybe something that might interest you to research, why are the E Class doors all peeling their vinyl and look so shabby?
Yes, the clock is still covered in advertising, and I’m not sure if the short animation of historical images is even in the loop of adverts anymore.
In the case of the E class tram doors, the ramp is there because the floor level doesn’t quite match the standard platform height.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/access-problems-at-super-stops-prompt-trial-of-wheelchair-ramps-on-new-trams-20160503-gol7rg.html
This was after Yarra Trams went around the network c2014 raising the height of many existing platform stops.
https://wongm.com/2021/03/melbourne-tram-stop-platform-inconsistant-heights/
And as for the E class looking shabby – apparently the automatic tram washes are to blame for the stickers coming off the doors.