Trams and a Shuttle bus in Melbourne.

[pakenhamtrain]

I went into the city with a friend on the 3rd of July and took a few pics.


Z3.204 on a 16 to Kew in Swanston Street.

SW6.888 operates on the City Circle in Latrobe Street.

Z1.95 departs Domain Interchange on a 67.

Z3.151 approches Domain Interchange on a route 6.

A2.278 crosses Swanston Street infront of Flinders Street Station.

SW6.888 infront of Flinders Street Station.

Driver Bus Lines #42(Denning Manufacturing LF - Cat/Custom Coaches "CB60 Evo II) Turns into Flinders Street.

[tranzitjim]

Since when where the tourist buses Orange. I thourght they where that bright Blue.

[Connex]

they changed the livery of the buses when Ventura/National lost the MCTS contract to Driver Bus.
i reckon they looked better in the blue than the orange.

[melbtransport]

Since when where the tourist buses Orange. I thourght they where that bright Blue.

I've seen them in Orange Livery and Blue Livery before, but maybe they've changed liveries

[yueses]

From what I have heard from various sources.. Ventura did a much better job on the tourist shuttle. They also had a much nicer, more pleasant-to-the-eye livery.

The only pictures I have of the three ex-shuttle buses were once the livery (stickers, just like all over advertising) was removed at North Fitzroy.

[Flexity110]

Its nice to see some pictures of older trams, we dont get much variation during the week on our system. I think its a shame that the trams are mostly white now, but it makes me appreciate the AdMet livery on ours a lot more.

You'll have to excuse this if it seems like a dumb question, I haven't been to Melbourne for a little while and I cant remember the setup: in the pic of Z1.95 departing Domain Interchange, where are the platforms located? It looks like there is a shelter just on the road surface If this is correct, is it common to not have platforms?

[Connex]

You'll have to excuse this if it seems like a dumb question, I haven't been to Melbourne for a little while and I cant remember the setup: in the pic of Z1.95 departing Domain Interchange, where are the platforms located? It looks like there is a shelter just on the road surface If this is correct, is it common to not have platforms?

Not all the stops along St. Kilda Road have been re-built to platform stops. In the recent tram priority works along St. Kilda Road, a platform stop (or Superstop) was constructed infront of the Arts Centre. The Domain Interchange will be re-built into a Superstop, eventually.

As for the shelter on the road surface, its actually located on a tram reserve, as the Domain Interchange has three tracks, one for termination (route 55), and the other two tracks are through tracks. The tram shelter is located between the Melbourne Uni-bound through track and the 55 terminal track.

[yueses]

In melbourne we have never had platform stops for trams until the 80's.. boarding was always at 'street level' around the system. the first platform stops that were introduced was when the St Kilda/ Port Melbourne Railway lines were closed and converted into the light rail from memory. (routes 96 and 109 respectively)

.. can someone confirm or set me straight on that info...?

[Connex]

.. can someone confirm or set me straight on that info...?

Yes, Northcoast you are correct. When the MTA closed the Port Melbourne and St. Kilda lines to convert to light rail, the existing railway platforms were retained.

When light rail began operations on Route 96 and 111 (now 109), the first to protoype B1 light rail trams were fitted with stairwell covers so that passengers could board light rail trams at standard railway platform height.
Evenutally the MTA lowered the height of the former railway platforms, some were even rebuilt, so that they were at stairwell-height, removing the need for stairwell covers.

South Melbourne Market and Port Melbourne stations are still at railway height, but stops have been built away from those old platforms.

I think only B1.2001 and B1.2002 were the only trams to be fitted with the stairwell covers. No B2's were fitted with them.

[Trolley Bus Racer]

Since when where the tourist buses Orange. I thourght they where that bright Blue.

I've seen them in Orange Livery and Blue Livery before, but maybe they've changed liveries

The buses are Red! not orange!

100_5055 [800x600].JPG

[mitchezdp]

It would be great to see a photo of these stairwell covers. Do you have some or are they on another site please?

.. can someone confirm or set me straight on that info...?

Yes, Northcoast you are correct. When the MTA closed the Port Melbourne and St. Kilda lines to convert to light rail, the existing railway platforms were retained.

When light rail began operations on Route 96 and 111 (now 109), the first to protoype B1 light rail trams were fitted with stairwell covers so that passengers could board light rail trams at standard railway platform height.
Evenutally the MTA lowered the height of the former railway platforms, some were even rebuilt, so that they were at stairwell-height, removing the need for stairwell covers.

South Melbourne Market and Port Melbourne stations are still at railway height, but stops have been built away from those old platforms.

I think only B1.2001 and B1.2002 were the only trams to be fitted with the stairwell covers. No B2's were fitted with them.