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Number of Images on this Page = 30
Because trams are light railways, they have to go somewhere in this catalogue. But I'm still not sure if this is the right place!
Melbourne's trams survived a concerted blitz by the motoring lobby in the 1960s to rid Australia of its trams. All the the other major cities in Australia, bar Melbourne, were persuaded that trams were an unnecessary clutter to the motoring public. Unfortunately, the congestion of the 80s and 90s came too late for the powers that be to learn the basic rule of transport: the heavier and more dedicated the mode of transport, the more efficient it is.
So while for some 30 years Melbourne was laughed at by other states for its trams, now the smiles are on the other side, for all cities are regretting their short-sighted actions, and some have gone so far as to start reinstalling light rail (e.g., Sydney). The Melbourne tram network is second-to-none in the world, with over 220 route kilometres of track.
Melbourne's trams survived a concerted blitz by the motoring lobby in the 1960s to rid Australia of its trams. All the the other major cities in Australia, bar Melbourne, were persuaded that trams were an unnecessary clutter to the motoring public. Unfortunately, the congestion of the 80s and 90s came too late for the powers that be to learn the basic rule of transport: the heavier and more dedicated the mode of transport, the more efficient it is.
So while for some 30 years Melbourne was laughed at by other states for its trams, now the smiles are on the other side, for all cities are regretting their short-sighted actions, and some have gone so far as to start reinstalling light rail (e.g., Sydney). The Melbourne tram network is second-to-none in the world, with over 220 route kilometres of track.
See also David Hoadley's comprehensive page on Melbourne's tram system, and the very useful tram data at VicSig's Tram Page
Melbourne Tramways have moved to a separate page
Seattle has a number of W2 class trams bought from Melbourne, that are used to provide a tourist service. You can read more about it in David Hoadley's Australian Trams in the United States of America
I visited Bordeaux in 2002, when the city was a huge building lot as they struggled to install their new tram system. I visited again in 2004, and the transformation was astonishing. Controversially, the city decided to go for a new hidden third rail system, as it was concerned to preserve the aesthetic and architectural feel of the city by avoiding overhead wires. This was not without problems (see the the ALSTOM Press Release), but the resultant effect is wonderful. The trams are very comfortable to ride, and run quietly (even more quietly when the third rail system fails!) and effortlessly through the city streets. I was very taken with the overall design - but I have to admit, I still prefer the look of the Lyons trams ...
Enjoyed this page? Then why not visit David Hoadley's "Trams of Australia" page?
This page is copyright, and maintained by John Hurst. |
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