Melbourne tram route 75
Encyclopedia
Tram
route 75 is a public transport
service in Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia
. It runs from the corner of Spencer Street
and La Trobe Street
in the city centre
to Vermont South in the eastern suburb
s.
Unlike most tram routes in Melbourne, it falls within Metcard
/myki
ticketing Zone 1 and Zone 1/2.
During the 1999 election campaign the Australian Labor Party
committed to extend route 75 to Knox City Shopping Centre
, this was later changed to the current arraignment, with it terminating at Vermont South, and connecting bus, operated by Ventura Bus Lines
- the Knox Transit Link (run as part of Route 732) - running to Knox City Shopping Centre, the bus meets every tram and runs only within Zone 2. The Public Transport Users Association
is campaigning for the line to be extended to its originally proposed terminus of Knox City Shopping Centre.
From Warrigal Road to the terminus in Vermont South, the trams have their own dedicated tracks, reducing interference by vehicular traffic. Despite this, motorists are still required to turn across the tracks to enter businesses or do U-turns, leading to several incidents and accidents
.
from Bourke Street to Hawthorn Bridge
and a horse tram from Hawthorn Bridge to Auburn Road, which was converted to an electric line and extended over many years to its current terminus at Vermont South.
The first cable tram line opened by the Melbourne Tramway and Omnibus Company was from Bourke Street to Hawthorn Bridge along Spencer Street, Flinders Street, Wellington Parade and Bridge Road opened on 11 November 1885. On 27 January 1889 a horse tram from Hawthorn Bridge to Auburn Road, travelling Burwood Road, Power Street and Riversdale Road was opened.
The Hawthorn Tramways Trust
closed the horse tramway for conversion to electric traction on 31 January 1916, with the electric line opening in two stages; Power Street to Auburn Road along Riversdale Road opening on 7 May 1916, and from Hawthorn Bridge to Riversdale Road along Burwood Road and Power Street on 21 June 1916. The Riversdale Road line was extended by the Hawthorn Tramways Trust to Bowen Street, Camberwell
along Riversdale Road and Camberwell Road, passing through Camberwell Junction, opening on 31 May 1916, it was extended again to Boundary Road (now Warrigal Road) along Camberwell Road and Norwood Road (now Toorak Road) on 10 June 1916.
The Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board converted the Bourke Street to Hawthorn Bridge cable line to electric traction in three stages, closing the line on 29 June 1927. Reopening with electric trams running from Lonsdale Street - a short electric extension to the previous cable terminus of Bourke Street - to Swanston Street on 14 July 1927, from Swanston Street to Simpson Street on 17 September 1927, and Simpson Street to Hawthorn Bridge on 4 December 1927.
The lines City terminus was extended slightly north to its current terminus at La Trobe Street
, when the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board opened the La Trobe Street line on 15 January 1951.
On 19 July 1978, the route was extended from Warrigal Road to Middleborough Road, Burwood East, Victoria
, on 8 July 1993 to Blackburn Road, and on 25 July 2005 to its current terminus at Vermont South Shopping Centre, Vermont South
.
Route 75 runs from La Trobe Street
in the CBD
, it heads south on Spencer Street
, it turns east at Flinders Street
and continues past Flinders Street railway station, St Paul's Cathedral
, and Federation Square
, entering East Melbourne
east along Wellington Parade and into Richmond
continuing east on Bridge Road
.
At Hawthorn Bridge
it crosses the Yarra River
into Hawthorn
and continues east on Burwood Road, it briefly travels south on Power Street before turning east into Riversdale Road
, traversing Hawthorn and Hawthorn East
. At Camberwell Junction it crosses Burke Road and travels south east along Camberwell
, Camberwell
. It enters Toorak Road and heads east, at Warrigal Road Toorak Road becomes Burwood Highway, Burwood
, it continues east, past Deakin University
and through Burwood East
, to its terminus in Vermont South at Vermont South Shopping Centre, where a connecting bus, the Knox Transit Link (run as part of Route 732) can be caught to Knox City Shopping Centre
.
trams.
During the extension of the route from Burwood to Vermont South, all new stops were constructed as wheelchair accessible, low-floor platforms, with many other stops along the route converted to accessible platforms.
However, there has been controversy ever since in the local newspaper, as even though the platforms are wheelchair accessible, the route is operated with high floor trams with steps. Therefore, the upgrade was considered a waste of money, because if the platforms were accessible, but the trams weren't, the accessible stops wouldn't be of much use.
The government and local MP
s are being pressured by the local newspaper and disabled tram users to use low floor trams on the route.
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
route 75 is a public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
service in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It runs from the corner of Spencer Street
Spencer Street, Melbourne
Spencer Street is a major street in the central business district of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is named for John Spencer, 3rd Earl Spencer, Chancellor of the Exchequer under Lord Melbourne, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom....
and La Trobe Street
La Trobe Street, Melbourne
La Trobe Street is a major street in the central business district of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It runs roughly from east to west and forms the northern boundary of the CBD ....
in the city centre
Melbourne city centre
Melbourne City Centre is an area of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is not to be confused with the larger local government area of the City of Melbourne...
to Vermont South in the eastern suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
s.
Unlike most tram routes in Melbourne, it falls within Metcard
Metcard
"OneLink" redirects here. For the computer/cable company, see OneLink Communications.Metcard is the brand name of an integrated ticketing system used to access public transport in Melbourne, Australia. It is a universal ticket which allows users to ride on the city's Metlink network, consisting of...
/myki
Myki
myki is the contactless smartcard ticketing system being introduced on public transport in Victoria, Australia. myki is designed to replace a number of ticket systems in Victoria, primarily the Metcard and V/Line ticketing systems...
ticketing Zone 1 and Zone 1/2.
During the 1999 election campaign the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
committed to extend route 75 to Knox City Shopping Centre
Knox City Shopping Centre
Knox City Shopping Centre is a super-regional shopping centre and outdoor entertainment complex located in the outer eastern suburb of Wantirna South in the city of Melbourne, Australia. The centre opened on November 9, 1977 with an initial 88 stores and 2300 parking spaces...
, this was later changed to the current arraignment, with it terminating at Vermont South, and connecting bus, operated by Ventura Bus Lines
Ventura Bus Lines
Ventura is a privately owned bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Today the largest private Melbourne bus company, and operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government. The company purchased National Bus Company for A$45 million, and the Mount...
- the Knox Transit Link (run as part of Route 732) - running to Knox City Shopping Centre, the bus meets every tram and runs only within Zone 2. The Public Transport Users Association
Public Transport Users Association
The Public Transport Users Association is a community-based public transport lobby group in Victoria, Australia, based in Melbourne.- History and Aims :...
is campaigning for the line to be extended to its originally proposed terminus of Knox City Shopping Centre.
From Warrigal Road to the terminus in Vermont South, the trams have their own dedicated tracks, reducing interference by vehicular traffic. Despite this, motorists are still required to turn across the tracks to enter businesses or do U-turns, leading to several incidents and accidents
Tram accident
A tram accident is generally an accident in which a tram is involved . When general traffic safety is evaluated, as in traffic accident statistics, any accident involving a tram or a tram system can be considered to be a tram accident...
.
History
The origins of route 75 lie in separate tram lines, Australia's first cable tramCable car (railway)
A cable car or cable railway is a mass transit system using rail cars that are hauled by a continuously moving cable running at a constant speed. Individual cars stop and start by releasing and gripping this cable as required...
from Bourke Street to Hawthorn Bridge
Hawthorn Bridge
Hawthorn Bridge crosses the Yarra River five kilometres east of Melbourne connecting Bridge Road and Burwood Road. It was designed by Francis Bell and is the oldest extant bridge over the Yarra River....
and a horse tram from Hawthorn Bridge to Auburn Road, which was converted to an electric line and extended over many years to its current terminus at Vermont South.
The first cable tram line opened by the Melbourne Tramway and Omnibus Company was from Bourke Street to Hawthorn Bridge along Spencer Street, Flinders Street, Wellington Parade and Bridge Road opened on 11 November 1885. On 27 January 1889 a horse tram from Hawthorn Bridge to Auburn Road, travelling Burwood Road, Power Street and Riversdale Road was opened.
The Hawthorn Tramways Trust
Hawthorn Tramways Trust
The Hawthorn Tramways Trust was a tram operator in Melbourne, Australia. It was later acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board.-History:...
closed the horse tramway for conversion to electric traction on 31 January 1916, with the electric line opening in two stages; Power Street to Auburn Road along Riversdale Road opening on 7 May 1916, and from Hawthorn Bridge to Riversdale Road along Burwood Road and Power Street on 21 June 1916. The Riversdale Road line was extended by the Hawthorn Tramways Trust to Bowen Street, Camberwell
Camberwell, Victoria
Camberwell is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 9 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Boroondara. At the 2006 Census, Camberwell had a population of 19,637....
along Riversdale Road and Camberwell Road, passing through Camberwell Junction, opening on 31 May 1916, it was extended again to Boundary Road (now Warrigal Road) along Camberwell Road and Norwood Road (now Toorak Road) on 10 June 1916.
The Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board converted the Bourke Street to Hawthorn Bridge cable line to electric traction in three stages, closing the line on 29 June 1927. Reopening with electric trams running from Lonsdale Street - a short electric extension to the previous cable terminus of Bourke Street - to Swanston Street on 14 July 1927, from Swanston Street to Simpson Street on 17 September 1927, and Simpson Street to Hawthorn Bridge on 4 December 1927.
The lines City terminus was extended slightly north to its current terminus at La Trobe Street
La Trobe Street, Melbourne
La Trobe Street is a major street in the central business district of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It runs roughly from east to west and forms the northern boundary of the CBD ....
, when the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board opened the La Trobe Street line on 15 January 1951.
On 19 July 1978, the route was extended from Warrigal Road to Middleborough Road, Burwood East, Victoria
Burwood East, Victoria
Burwood East is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located 17 km east of Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whitehorse. The suburb is bounded by Springvale Road to the east, by Middleborough Road to the west, by Eley Road and Hawthorn Road...
, on 8 July 1993 to Blackburn Road, and on 25 July 2005 to its current terminus at Vermont South Shopping Centre, Vermont South
Vermont South, Victoria
Vermont South is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 20 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whitehorse. At the 2006 Census, Vermont South had a population of 11,485....
.
Route
La Trobe Street, Melbourne
La Trobe Street is a major street in the central business district of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It runs roughly from east to west and forms the northern boundary of the CBD ....
in the CBD
Melbourne city centre
Melbourne City Centre is an area of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is not to be confused with the larger local government area of the City of Melbourne...
, it heads south on Spencer Street
Spencer Street, Melbourne
Spencer Street is a major street in the central business district of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is named for John Spencer, 3rd Earl Spencer, Chancellor of the Exchequer under Lord Melbourne, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom....
, it turns east at Flinders Street
Flinders Street, Melbourne
Flinders Street is a notable street in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Running roughly parallel to the Yarra River, Flinders Street forms the southern edge of the Hoddle Grid. It is exactly one mile in length and one and half chains in width...
and continues past Flinders Street railway station, St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne
St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne, is the metropolitical and cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, Victoria in Australia. It is the seat of the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne and Metropolitan of the Province of Victoria...
, and Federation Square
Federation Square
Federation Square is a civic centre and cultural precinct in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
, entering East Melbourne
East Melbourne, Victoria
East Melbourne is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, adjacent to Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne. At the 2006 Census, East Melbourne had a population of 4,330....
east along Wellington Parade and into Richmond
Richmond, Victoria
Richmond is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra...
continuing east on Bridge Road
Bridge Road, Melbourne
Bridge Road is a major shopping strip in Melbourne, Australia. It is best known for its abundance of clothing factory outlets, which makes it a popular tourist attraction...
.
At Hawthorn Bridge
Hawthorn Bridge
Hawthorn Bridge crosses the Yarra River five kilometres east of Melbourne connecting Bridge Road and Burwood Road. It was designed by Francis Bell and is the oldest extant bridge over the Yarra River....
it crosses the Yarra River
Yarra River
The Yarra River, originally Birrarung, is a river in east-central Victoria, Australia. The lower stretches of the river is where the city of Melbourne was established in 1835 and today Greater Melbourne dominates and influences the landscape of its lower reaches...
into Hawthorn
Hawthorn, Victoria
Hawthorn is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Boroondara...
and continues east on Burwood Road, it briefly travels south on Power Street before turning east into Riversdale Road
Riversdale Road, Melbourne
Riversdale Road is a major east-west thoroughfare in Melbourne, Australia. It runs from Hawthorn to Box Hill South, and includes the many small shopping areas along it, located in Richmond, Hawthorn, Hawthorn East, Camberwell and Surrey Hills. Beyond Hawthorn, the road was originally called...
, traversing Hawthorn and Hawthorn East
Hawthorn East, Victoria
Hawthorn East is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 9 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Boroondara...
. At Camberwell Junction it crosses Burke Road and travels south east along Camberwell
Camberwell Road, Melbourne
Camberwell Road is a road running from Camberwell to Hawthorn East via the Camberwell Junction. The tram route 75 runs along Camberwell Road from Camberwell Junction to the end of Camberwell Road at the intersection with Toorak Road....
, Camberwell
Camberwell, Victoria
Camberwell is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 9 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Boroondara. At the 2006 Census, Camberwell had a population of 19,637....
. It enters Toorak Road and heads east, at Warrigal Road Toorak Road becomes Burwood Highway, Burwood
Burwood, Victoria
Burwood is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 17 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is largely the City of Whitehorse but includes the City of Monash in its south west corner. At the 2006 Census, Burwood had a population of 11,886.-History:The...
, it continues east, past Deakin University
Deakin University
Deakin University is an Australian public university with nearly 40,000 higher education students in 2010. It receives more than A$600 million in operating revenue annually, and controls more than A$1.3 billion in assets. It received more than A$35 million in research income in 2009 and had 835...
and through Burwood East
Burwood East, Victoria
Burwood East is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located 17 km east of Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whitehorse. The suburb is bounded by Springvale Road to the east, by Middleborough Road to the west, by Eley Road and Hawthorn Road...
, to its terminus in Vermont South at Vermont South Shopping Centre, where a connecting bus, the Knox Transit Link (run as part of Route 732) can be caught to Knox City Shopping Centre
Knox City Shopping Centre
Knox City Shopping Centre is a super-regional shopping centre and outdoor entertainment complex located in the outer eastern suburb of Wantirna South in the city of Melbourne, Australia. The centre opened on November 9, 1977 with an initial 88 stores and 2300 parking spaces...
.
Operation
Route 75 is run from Camberwell depot and is predominantly run with B2 classB class Melbourne tram
The B class are a two-section, three-bogie articulated tram that operates in Melbourne, Victoria. Following the introduction of two B1-class trams in 1984 and 1985, a total of 130 B2-class trams were ordered by the Victorian Government and built by Comeng in Dandenong, Victoria...
trams.
Controversy over accessibility
However, there has been controversy ever since in the local newspaper, as even though the platforms are wheelchair accessible, the route is operated with high floor trams with steps. Therefore, the upgrade was considered a waste of money, because if the platforms were accessible, but the trams weren't, the accessible stops wouldn't be of much use.
The government and local MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
s are being pressured by the local newspaper and disabled tram users to use low floor trams on the route.