Melbourne tram route 3

Melbourne tram route 3 is operated by Yarra Trams on the Melbourne tram network. It operates from Melbourne University on Swanston Street to the corner of Waverley Road and Darling Road at Malvern East. The 14.9 kilometre route is operated by Z, A and B2 class trams from Glenhuntly depot.[1][2] On weekends route 3 operates as route 3a and diverts via St Kilda.

Route 3/3a
Melbourne University - Malvern East
Z1 class tram on St Kilda Road
in February 2013
Overview
SystemMelbourne
OperatorYarra Trams
DepotGlenhuntly
VehicleZ3 class
A class
B2 class
Began service1 November 1970
Route
Length3: 14.9 km (9.3 mi)
3a: 16.3 km (10.1 mi)
Service
Operates3: Weekdays
3a: Weekends
TimetableRoute 3/3a timetable
MapRoute 3/3a map
 Route 1  {{{system_nav}}}  Route 5 

History

Route 3 was allocated to the line between the City (Swanston St) to East Malvern (Darling Rd) on 1 November 1970 following a major route number revision for trams running on Swanston Street. Prior to this, the line was run by Route 4D, an allocation that dates back to 1930. Trams traditionally terminated at the Victoria St terminus, but following an accident in 1991, trams instead terminated at the Queensberry St crossover. Due to congestion during peak hours at the crossover, some trams continued north to Melbourne University. Finally on 17 January 1996, a permanent shunt was built at Melbourne University. From then on, Route 3 trams were altered run full-time to Melbourne University.[3]

The origins of route 3 lie in separate tram lines. The section of track between Queensberry Street (Stop 4) and Brighton Road (Stop 35) is the oldest section of this route, dating back to the Brighton Road cable tram which opened on 11 October 1888 by the Melbourne Tramway & Omnibus Company. This cable tram line was electrified in stages by the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB). The section between Domain Interchange (Stop 20) and St Kilda Junction (Stop 30) was electrified on 27 December 1925. The section between Queensberry Street and City Road (near Stop 14) was electrified on the same day. The line between City Road and Domain Interchange was electrified on 24 January 1926, and the line between St Kilda Junction and Carlisle Street (Stop 35) was finally electrified on 29 August 1926.

The section of Route 3 between Brighton Road (Stop 35) and East Malvern (Darling Road) was constructed by the Prahran & Malvern Tramways Trust (PMTT). Initially, a line was opened from St Kilda Beach to Hawthorn Road along Carlisle Street/Balaclava Road on 12 April 1913. This line was extended east by the PMTT from Hawthorn Road to Darling Road, Malvern East on 13 November 1913.[4] Meanwhile, the Melbourne, Brunswick & Coburg Tramways Trust (MBCTT) constructed the section of Route 3 north of Queensberry Street towards Melbourne University. This section opened on 31 October 1916.

On 12 November 1961, trams operating on Route 3 (Route 4D before 1970) on Sunday were replaced by bus route 377 to save operating costs. Sunday trams were reinstated on 8 August 1993 following the abolition of conductors.[5]

During the 2006 Commonwealth Games, the route was renumbered 53 and extended to West Coburg during peak hour and the Dudley Street sidings during off peak, from Domain Interchange, along route 55 to alleviate congestion along St Kilda Road.[6]

On 31 January 2009, route 3 was altered on the weekends to form route 3a, diverting from the regular route at St Kilda Junction and travelling via Fitzroy Street, The Esplanade and Carlisle Street to rejoin the regular route at the corner of St Kilda Road and Carlisle Street. This was to alleviate overcrowding on route 16.[7][8]

Melbourne tram route 3 evolution
Dates Route Notes
During PMTT operation St Kilda Road to Malvern tram depot
1 November 1970 - 15 April 1991 City (Victoria Street) to East Malvern (Darling Road) Prior to that ran as Route 4D
15 April 1991 - 16 January 1996 City (Queensberry/Swanston Street) to East Malvern (Darling Road) Some services terminated at Melbourne University
17 January 1996 - onwards Melbourne University to East Malvern (Darling Road)

Route

Description

Z3 class tram on The Esplanade, St Kilda in May 2012

Route 3 operates from Melbourne University travelling south through the CBD on Swanston Street via Melbourne Central and Flinders Street stations. After crossing the Yarra River it continues south along St Kilda Road turning east into Carlisle Street, Balaclava then travelling through St Kilda East, where Carlisle Street becomes Balaclava Road, continuing east travelling through Caulfield North. After passing Caulfield station, it crosses Dandenong Road, and continues east along Waverley Road, Malvern East, terminating at Darling Road.

Route 3a weekend variation

On weekends, route 3 runs as route 3a, diverting from the regular route at St Kilda Junction and travelling via St Kilda on Fitzroy Street, The Esplanade and Carlisle Street, passing St Kilda Beach and Luna Park before rejoining the regular route at the corner of St Kilda Road and Carlisle Street.[7][8]

Operation

Routes 3 and 3a are operated out of Glenhuntly depot predominantly by Z class trams with A1 and B2 class trams also used.[2]

Map

Melbourne Tram Route 3
Melbourne University - Malvern East
via City, St Kilda (3a only), Balaclava & Caulfield North
Free tram zone covers stops 8 to 13, fare zone 1 applies from stop 1 to 7, 14 to 64
Suburb
Street
Stop
No.
St Vincent's Plaza
Connections
continues as Tram 1 & 6
towards East Coburg & Moreland
1
Melbourne University
1, 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
1;
216, 219
220
Southbank Boulevard
Tram 1
17
Grant Street - Police Memorial
19
Shrine of Remembrance
Park Street
Tram 58
20
Domain Interchange
Domain Road
No Service (Temporary Closure)
21
Bowen Crescent
22
Toorak Road
Toorak Road
Tram 58
Toorak
 
23
Arthur Street
24
Leopold Street
25
Commercial Road
72; 216, 219, 220
Commercial Road
Tram 72
26
Moubray Street
27
High Street
High Street
Tram 6
29
Union Street
30
St Kilda Junction
3a, 5, 16, 64
Dandenong Road
Tram 5, 64
Fitzroy Street
Tram 3a, 16
Route 3 (Weekdays)
31
Barkly Street
32
Alma Road
33
Argyle Street
34
Inkerman Street
35
Carlisle Street
Route 3a (Weekends)
131
St Kilda Road
3, 67
132
Princes Street
600, 922, 923
St Kilda Light Rail
Tram 96
133
Canterbury Road
134
Park Street
Park Street
Tram 12
135
Jacka Boulevard
606
 
The Esplanade
136
The Esplanade
138
Luna Park
96; 606, 623
Acland Street
Tram 96
 
  St Kilda Beach
 
Carlisle Street
32
Havelock Street
33
Barkly Street
34
Greeves Street
35
Brighton Road
623
Brighton Road
Tram 67
 
  Carnegie
Brighton Road
Balaclava
Carlisle Street
36
St Kilda Town Hall
37
Chapel Street
Chapel Street
Tram 78
38
Balaclava station
Balaclava station
39
Orange Grove
 
Balaclava Road
40
Hotham Street
216, 219
Caulfield North
Balaclava Road
41
Empress Road
42
Sidwell Avenue
43
Orrong Road
220
44
Ontario Street
45
Kent Grove
46
Kooyong Road
605
47
Elmhurst Road
51
Hawthorn Road
16, 64
Hawthorn Road
Tram 16, 64
52
Caulfield Park Bowling Club
53
Caulfield Park
54
Kambrook Road
55
Normanby Road
 
Normanby Road
56
Caulfield Racecourse
624
 
Sir John Monash Drive
57
Caulfield station
Caulfield station
 
Derby Road
58
Dandenong Road
59
Waverley Road
 
Waverley Road
60
Burke Road
624
61
Tennyson Street
62
The Avenue
63
Oak Grove
64
Darling Road
624
Suburb
Street
Stop
No.
Malvern East
Connections

References

  1. Facts & figures Archived 29 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine Yarra Trams
  2. Routes 3/3a Archived 2013-11-13 at the Wayback Machine Yarra Trams
  3. "Gunzel". www.classicaustraliantv.com. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  4. The Early Days Archived 18 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Yarra Trams
  5. "Melbourne - Other Services" Trolley Wire issue 255 November 1993 page 11
  6. Changes to your tram service during the Commonwealth Games - March 2006 Yarra Trams
  7. Yarra Trams boosts weekend trams services to St Kilda Yarra Trams 30 January 2009
  8. Your new weekend tram service to St Kilda - Route 3a Yarra Trams 31 January 2009
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