- Published:
- Friday 3 December 2021
The Andrews Labor Government is marking a major milestone across the tram network with the final route receiving the largest and newest E-Class trams to increase accessibility.
The low-floor, Melbourne-built E-Class trams will operate on Route 58 between West Coburg and Toorak from 19 December, adding extra accessible services and creating 50 per cent more capacity to the busy route.
The milestone follows years of planning and development to increase capacity across the network.
The modern trams can carry up to 210 passengers and will join the high-floor B-Class trams on the 18-kilometre Route 58, increasing capacity from 3,000 to 4,500 people during peak times. That means more space and less overcrowding for passengers as people return to public transport.
Passenger comfort will also improve, with 100 E-Class trams across the network featuring audio and visual information, air conditioning, improved safety features and dedicated spaces for passengers with mobility aids or prams.
The changes to Route 58 come ahead of works in February next year to upgrade the tram stop at Collins and Williams Street in the CBD to a level-access platform stop and follows an upgrade to the Toorak Station tram stop to a level access platform stop in June this year.
Route 58 services some of the city’s key tourist attractions along with the Parkville medical precinct, with key destinations including the Melbourne Zoo, Queen Victoria Market, The Royal Children's Hospital, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The Royal Women's Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, William Street in the CBD, Crown Entertainment Complex, Shrine of Remembrance and Toorak Road shopping.
Other routes will also benefit from the change, with low-floor D-Class trams moving from Route 58 to Route 6 (Moreland to Glen Iris), Route 16 (Melbourne University to Kew) and Route 5 (Melbourne University to Malvern).
New timetables will come into effect for Route 58 and interconnecting routes from 19 December to reflect the introduction of the new trams, and can be viewed online at ptv.vic.gov.au from 3 December.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll
“The introduction of 100 modern, locally-built E-Class trams across the network is the culmination of years of planning and infrastructure upgrades to ensure our trams continue to deliver safe and reliable travel for decades to come.”
“We’re continuing to invest in the future of trams, with procurement underway for the design, build and maintenance of 100 accessible and energy efficient Next Generation Trams due to join the tracks from 2025.”
Quotes attributable to Yarra Trams CEO Julien Dehornoy
“We’ve been working closely with the Department of Transport to introduce E-class trams to route 58 and I’m proud to see E-class trams running on this route as part of our wider timetable change. These route changes improve accessibility across the network, provide more capacity during peak times and a more comfortable experience for everyone.”