Melbourne tram route 1

Melbourne tram route 1 is operated by Yarra Trams on the Melbourne tram network. It operates from the corner of Nicholson and Bell Streets in East Coburg to the corner of Victoria Avenue and Beaconsfield Parade at South Melbourne Beach. The 13.2 kilometre route is operated by Z3 and B2 class trams from Brunswick depot.[1][2]

Route 1
East Coburg - South Melbourne Beach
B2 class tram on Swanston Street in September 2012.
Overview
SystemMelbourne
OperatorYarra Trams
DepotBrunswick
Vehicle
Began service13 September 1953
Route
Length13.2 km (8.2 mi)
TimetableRoute 1 timetable
MapRoute 1 Map
   {{{system_nav}}}  Route 3 

History

The line between East Coburg and South Melbourne Beach via Sturt Street was allocated Route 1 on 13 September 1953. However, route 1 had been used on a few different routes prior to this date. When route numbers were introduced into Melbourne's electric tramways as a trial on 19 December 1928, route 1 was allocated to the service between East Coburg and Elsternwick. Following this successful trial, route numbers were permanently allocated to all Swanston Street tram services, route 1 still being allocated to this service. Following the conversion of the Brunswick Street cable tram to electric traction on 26 October 1930, route 1 was reallocated to run between East Coburg and St Kilda Beach via South Melbourne. Trams from East Coburg initially turned left at Clarendon Street to terminate at St Kilda Beach, while trams from Collins Street terminated at South Melbourne Beach. On 13 September 1953, this was amended so that both tram services ran through the junction, resulting in South Melbourne Beach becoming the terminus of route 1.[3]

The origins of route 1 lie in separate tram lines. The section of track between Queensberry Street (Stop 4) and the junction to St Kilda Road (near Stop 14) is the oldest section of this route, dating back to the Brighton Road cable tram line which opened on 11 October 1888 by the Melbourne Tramway & Omnibus Company (MTOC). This track was converted to electric traction 3 August 1926. The section between Clarendon Street (Stop 24) and Beaconsfield Parade (Stop 32) also dates from the cable era as the South Melbourne line, which opened on 17 June 1890. This section was converted on 25 July 1937. The section north of Queensberry Street until East Coburg was constructed by the Melbourne, Brunswick & Coburg Tramway Trust (MBCTT). Construction of the electric tramway began in June 1914, and on 31 October 1916, East Coburg was connected to Melbourne at Queensberry Street, where the terminus of the Swanston Street cable trams were at the time. On 31 October 1925, the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB) constructed a tram line from St Kilda Beach via South Melbourne to St Kilda Road at City Road. Route 1 traverses the section of this line between Clarendon Street and St Kilda Road. As part of the City Road and St Kilda Road separation project, the northernmost section of track along Sturt Street was relocated to Nolan Street (now Southbank Boulevard) on 16 March 1970.[3]

For a long time, the section between Moreland Road (Stop 129) and East Coburg was built by the MBCTT with a single track and crossing loops. The section between Moreland Road and Crozier Street (Stop 132) was eventually duplicated on 2 May 1927. A siding was constructed at the Bell Street terminus on 3 July 1928. The section of track north of Crozier Street was finally duplicated on 12 December 1966.[3]

Prior to short-working route rationalization by Yarra Trams in 2014, Route 1 had many short-working routes. From route 1's inception, route 2 and route 2A were used for services from South Melbourne Beach that terminated in the city (usually at Victoria St). Route 21 meanwhile was used for services from East Coburg terminating in the city (Flinders St or Arts Centre). From 1970 until 1997, route 4 was used for services from both directions terminating at South Melbourne depot. Nowadays, these short-workings have been replaced by either 1a or 1d (for short-workings and depot workings respectively).

Melbourne tram route 1 evolution
Dates Route Notes
During PMTT operation Malvern (Burke Road) to St Kilda Road (as PMTT) Wattletree Road/Glenferrie Road/High Street
19 December 1928 -
10 October 1930
East Coburg to Elsternwick
10 October 1930 -
13 September 1953
East Coburg to St Kilda Beach via South Melbourne
13 September 1953 - onwards East Coburg to South Melbourne Beach Rerouted through Southbank Boulevard from 16 March 1970

Route

Description

Route 1 commences at the corner of Nicholson and Bell Streets at Coburg, travelling south via Nicholson Street to Brunswick East where Nicholson Street becomes Holmes Street. It continues south to Albion Street where it doglegs into Lygon Street, continuing south through Carlton North and Carlton, turning west into Elgin Street and south into Swanston Street at Melbourne University.

It passes south through the CBD on Swanston Street, via Melbourne Central station and Flinders Street stations. After crossing the Yarra River it continues south along St Kilda Road, passing The Arts Centre and National Gallery of Victoria before turning west into Southbank Boulevard, quickly turning south onto Sturt Street, passing the Melbourne Recital Hall and Victorian College of the Arts. It briefly travels south on Eastern Road and Heather Street to Park Street, South Melbourne where it travels west to Montague Street Albert Park, and travels south, turning west into Bridport Street and continuing to its terminus in Victoria Avenue at Beaconsfield Parade.

Operation

Route 1 is operated out of Brunswick depot by Z3 and B2 class trams.[2] Brunswick shared operation of the route with South Melbourne depot until 2 April 1995.[4]

Route map

Route 1
East Coburg - South Melbourne Beach
via Brunswick, City & South Melbourne
Free tram zone covers stops 8 to 13, fare zone 1 applies from stop 135 to 112, 14 to 32
Suburb
Street
Stop
No.
East Coburg
Connections
135
Bell Street
513, 527, 903
134
Merribell Avenue
133
Harding Street
132
Crozier Street
131
Rennie Street
512
130
The Avenue
Moreland Road
Tram 6
129
Moreland Road
6; 510
 
Holmes Street
128
Mitchell Street
127
Albion Street
503
126
Stewart Street
125
Blyth Street
508
124
Victoria Street
123
Albert Street
122
Glenlyon Road
506
121
Weston Street
Junction to former Brunswick Road/Holden Street line
120
Brunswick Road
504
119
Park Street
118
Pigdon Street
117
Richardson Street
116
Fenwick Street
115
Melbourne Cemetery
114
Princes Street
546
113
Lytton Street
 
Elgin Street
112
Lygon Street
200, 207
1
Melbourne University
3/3a, 5, 6, 16
64, 67, 72
;
401, 402
403, 546
3
Lincoln Square
4
Queensberry Street
Victoria Street
No Service
7
RMIT University
La Trobe Street
Tram 30, City Circle
Melbourne Central station
8
Melbourne Central station
10
Bourke Street Mall
Bourke Street
Tram 86, 96
Collins Street
Tram 11, 12, 48, 109
11
Collins Street
11, 12, 48, 109
Flinders Street
Tram 70, 75, City Circle
Flinders Street station
13
Flinders Street station
14
Arts Precinct
3/3a, 5, 6, 16
64, 67, 72
;
216, 219
220
St Kilda Road
Tram 3/3a, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67, 72
 
Southbank Boulevard
17
Sturt Street
216, 219, 220
 
Sturt Street
18
Grant Street
19
Miles Street
South Melbourne
Sturt Street
20
Kings Way
Kings Way
Tram 58
 
Eastern Road
22
Dorcas Street
 
Park Street
23
Moray Street
24
Clarendon Street
Clarendon Street
Tram 12
25
Cecil Street
St Kilda Light Rail
Tram 96 (No connecting stop)
26
Ferrars Street
Albert Park
Park Street
27
Montague Street
 
Montague Street
28
Bridport Street
 
Victoria Avenue
29
Cardigan Street
30
Richardson Street
606
31
Graham Street
32
Beaconsfield Parade
Suburb
Street
Stop
No.
South Melbourne Beach
Connections
Green denotes free tram zone

References

  1. Facts & figures Archived 29 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine Yarra Trams
  2. Route 1 Yarra Trams
  3. "Gunzel". www.classicaustraliantv.com. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  4. "Melbourne Trams" Trolley Wire issue 261 May 1995 page 17
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