Citadis & Combino

At last a Citadis and a Combino together in Bourke Street on service 96.

Melbourne University (tram terminus)

There are three stub terminals at Melbourne University with 7 routes terminating 2 running through.
The older trams still have trolley bases at one end.

There is a signal light telling the drivers which of the three stubs they have been allocated. The points are set automatically although as with most in Melbourne they can be changed manually with a point iron.

Preston and Bundoora

Most of the Melbourne tramways use street track but the northern routes to West Preston and Bundoora have significant sections of reserved track as has the St Kilda groupe of routes to the south.
This bridge is used to connect two parallel northern routes for depot workings.

Ws

The free tourist service number 35 round Melbourne city centre is usually operated by W class cars in a special brown livery. These cars have no fare collection equipment and have recorded commentrys. They also have a small board on the dash indicating which way round the loop they will be taking. However standard green liveried Ws are sometimes used. These have fare collection equipment and recorded messages from time to time threatening dire penalties for travelling without a ticket. A uniformed tour guide is carried who announces it is a free service, which way it is going, and points out the sights.
To confuse matters further green Ws are also used on ordinary service 30 which takes the same route as the tourist trams on La Trobe street. Fares are charged on these.

Finally the restaurant service runs three times a day. These are heavily modified Ws which are incidentally double ended but single sided just like Swansea and Mumbles.

Kooyong crossing (2)

Kooyong crossing (1)

Toorak terminus (2)

The first picture shows an upgraded terminus at East Brunswick and other three show the trams battling with the traffic at Toorak.

Before crossing over the tram drivers have to look for a gap in the outer lane of the oncoming traffic.

Toorak terminus (1)

The Melbourne tramway is a traditional street tramway that is being upgraded to light rail standards. Most terminii now have loading refuges and a safe waiting area for the trams. Toorak is the exception. The trams terminate in a four lane higway with a 60 kph speed limit with just a notice on the span wire to protect them and their customers from speeding traffic.

Citadis and Combino trams

Is Melbourne the only tramway to operate both Citadis and Combino trams?

34 departuress in an hour

Between 08:00 and 08:59 on weekdays there are 34 scheduled departures on the 3 services terminating at Elizabeth Street scissors crossover.

Two B class on one, both on the same route.
Trams lining up down the street.

There we have it 4 trams in the two stubs. I think this is unique in the world.

Misuse of a tram shelter