Trams in Melbourne

Melbourne tramway network
Public Transport Victoria
E-class trams on Bourke Street in 2013
Operation
Locale	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Infrastructure
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Horse tram era: 1884 (1884)–1923 (1923) Status Abandoned or Converted to electric Operator(s) Various (1884–1915) MTOC (1887–1916) MTB (1916–1919) MMTB (1919–1923) Propulsion system(s) Horse
Cable tram era: 1885 (1885)–1940 (1940) Status Converted to electric tram or petrol/diesel bus Operator(s) MTOC (1885–1916) Various (1890–1919) MTB (1916–1919) MMTB (1919–1940) Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge[1] Propulsion system(s) Cable, pulled by steam engines and electric motors
Electric tram era: since 1906 System Metlink (2003–2012) Public Transport Victoria (since 2012) Status Operational Routes 24 routes Owner(s) NMETL (1906–1922) VR (1906–1959) PMTT (1910–1920) HTT (1916–1920) MBCTT (1916–1920) FNPTT (1920) MMTB (1920–1983) MTA (1983–1989) PTC (1989–1999) VicTrack (since 1999) Operator(s) NMETL (1906–1922) VR (1906–1959) PMTT (1910–1920) HTT (1916–1920) MBCTT (1916–1920) FNPTT (1920) MMTB (1920–1983) MTA (1983–1989) PTC (1989–1998) PTC (Swanston Trams) (1998–1999) PTC (Yarra Trams) (1998–1999) M>Tram (1999–2004) TransdevTSL (Yarra Trams) (1999–2009) Keolis Downer (Yarra Trams) (since 2009) Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge[2] 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) (1906–1959) Propulsion system(s) Electricity Electrification 600 V DC from overhead catenary Depot(s) 8 depots Stock 501 trams Track length (double) 250 km (155.3 mi) 2017–18 206.3 million  1.1% Website Yarra Trams

Trams at Melbourne tram stop 14, 'Arts Precinct'

recorded 15 September 2018

---

Problems playing this file? See media help.

The Melbourne tramway network is a tramway system serving the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The tramway network is centred around the Melbourne central business district (CBD) and consists of approximately 1,700 tram stops across 24 routes. It is the largest operational urban tram network in the world and one of the most used,^[3] with more than 500 trams and 250 kilometres (160 miles) of double tram track. It served a patronage of 206 million over the year 2017-2018.^[4][5][6] Trams are the second most utilised form of public transport in Melbourne after the city's metropolitan commuter railway network.^[4]

Trams have operated continuously in Melbourne since 1885 (the horse tram line in Fairfield opened in 1884, but was at best an irregular service). Since then they have become a distinctive part of Melbourne's character and feature in tourism and travel advertising. Melbourne's cable tram system opened in 1885, and expanded to one of the largest in the world, with 75 kilometres (46.6 miles) of double track. The first electric tram line opened in 1889, but closed only a few years later in 1896. In 1906 electric tram systems were opened in St Kilda and Essendon, marking the start of continuous operation of Melbourne's electric trams.

Victoria's public transport system was reorganised in 1983 and saw the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board absorbed into the Metropolitan Transit Authority, which was in turn absorbed by the Public Transport Corporation in 1989. The network has been operated under contract since the commencement of franchising, following the privatisation of the Public Transport Corporation in 1999. The current private operator contracted to run Melbourne's tram system is Keolis Downer, trading as Yarra Trams.

Ticketing, public information and patronage promotion are undertaken by Victoria's public transport body, Public Transport Victoria. The multi-modal integrated ticketing system, myki, currently operates across the tram network.

At some Melbourne intersections (most within the CBD), motor vehicles turning right are required to perform a hook turn, a manoeuvre designed to give trams priority.^[7] To further improve tram speeds on congested Melbourne streets, trams also have priority in road usage, with specially fitted traffic lights and exclusive lanes being provided either at all times or in peak times, as well as other measures.^[8][9]