Melbourne tram route 55

Route 55
West Coburg - Domain Interchange

Overview
System Melbourne
Operator Yarra Trams
Depot Essendon
Vehicle Z class
B class
Route
Locale Melbourne, Australia
Start West Coburg
Via Pascoe Vale South
Brunswick West
Parkville
North Melbourne
West Melbourne
Melbourne CBD (William St)
Southbank
South Melbourne
End Domain Interchange
Length 12.5 km (7.8 mi)
Zone(s) Free Zone: Stops 10-1
Myki Zone 1: Stops 45-11, 112-119, 20
Annual patronage 6.8 million
Timetable Route 55 timetable
Map Route 55 map
← Route 48  {{{system_nav}}}  Route 57 →

Melbourne tram route 55 is operated by Yarra Trams on the Melbourne tram network. It operates from West Coburg to Domain Interchange. The 12.5 kilometre route is operated by Z and B class trams from Essendon depot.[1][2]

History

Proposals for a tram or railway route to West Coburg date to the late 19th century. Construction of the tramway began in 1923, initially only to Brunswick West, extended to Bell Street in 1927. The tramway was extended south to St. Kilda Road during World War II to alleviate congestion during the war.[3] Proposed extensions north of Bell Street were never constructed.

Until 14 November 1986, route 55 operated from West Coburg to St Kilda Beach via William Street.[4][5] It was then amended to terminate at Domain Interchange following the opening of a terminating platform at the latter.[6]

Between 1971 and July 2005 route 55 only operated on Mondays to Saturdays, on Sundays the section from West Coburg to the city was covered by route 68.[5][7]

During the 2006 Commonwealth Games the route was merged with route 5 to Malvern to alleviate congestion along St Kilda Road.[8]

In October 2016, it was announced that as part of works associated with the Melbourne Metro Rail Project, route 55 will be extended from Domain Interchange to Toorak in mid-2017 to partly replace route 8 and be renumbered route 58.[9]

Route

Description

The route runs along Melville Road from the Bell Street intersection, then Dawson Street, Grantham Street, through to Royal Park along a scenic track passing the Royal Park Golf Course and the Melbourne Zoo, coming out at Flemington Road where it intersects Abbotsford Street, then it travels along Peel Street, William Street, Flinders Lane, Market Street, Queens Bridge, Queensbridge Street, Kings Way and finally Park Street before terminating at the Domain Interchange.

This tram route is notable for its windiness and the traverse through Royal Park for some distance. The route also includes passes the State Netball and Hockey Centre and the Melbourne Zoo with an occasional peek at the elephant's shed.

Map

Route 55
West Coburg Stop 45
Moreland Road 40
Victoria Street 35
Union Square Shopping Centre 30
Brunswick Road 29
Royal Park station Royal Park station 26
Melbourne Zoo 25
State Netball and Hockey Centre 24
Royal Children's Hospital Routes 57, 59 19
Royal Melbourne Hospital Routes 19, 59 12
Victoria Street Route 57 10
Queen Victoria Market 9
La Trobe Street Flagstaff station City Circle 7
Bourke Street Routes 86, 95, 96 5
Collins Street Routes 11, 48, 109, 112 4
Flinders Street Routes 70, 75, City Circle 1
Casino East 112
Sturt Street Route 1 116
St Kilda Road Domain Interchange bound trams only 119
Domain Interchange Routes 3/3a, 5, 6, 8, 16, 64, 67, 72 20

Not all stops are shown, refer to timetable for full list of stops
Green denotes free tram zone

Melbourne tram route 68

Route 68 was a Sunday-only version of the route 55 service to West Coburg, which operated along Elizabeth Street from the city terminus, instead of along William Street from the Domain Interchange. First operated on 6 July 1971, the route was withdrawn on 7 August 2005 when route 55 was altered to operate seven days a week.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Facts & figures Yarra Trams
  2. ↑ Route 55 Yarra Trams
  3. ↑ Brown, Geoff. "The tram through the park: the origins of the West Coburg tramway". Melbourne Tramway Museum. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  4. ↑ The Plot Thickens Transit News & Views Public Transport Users Association December 1986 page 3
  5. 1 2 History of Melbourne tram route numbers (1950-2009) Yarra Trams
  6. ↑ Here and There Trolley Wire (Sydney Tramway Museum) February 1987 page 24 (large file)
  7. ↑ Yarra Trams - changing with the times Yarra Trams 5 August 2005
  8. ↑ Changes to your tram service during the Commonwealth Games Yarra Trams 28 February 2006
  9. ↑ Metro Tunnel to Transform Melbourne's Tram Network Minister for Public Transport 25 October 2016
  10. ↑ Hugh Waldron (2009-10-16). "History of Melbourne tram route numbers (1950-2009)" (PDF). Yarra Trams. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
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