October 2025
I like trams and I like bridges so I was sad to read recently that the long mooted tram to fisherman’s bend via a new bridge over the Yarra is now definitely off; instead they might make a branch off the Port Melbourne line, a bit of a loop but far cheaper.
It was always a big ask, but on the other hand, isn’t Fisherman’s Bend going to house like 80,000 people ? And better lots of 40 storey towers here than in say Camberwell Junction ? And even if u ist costs 1/2 billion $, that’s the same as a level crossing removal.
But I can see all the problems, like blocking river traffic (yachts), an opening section would be disruptive for the trams, hard to squeeze it past existing buildings (see my photos with sketchy locations), then one line had to get over the freeway too, or under, which required buying some land.
Meanwhile, there are already a bunch of towers approved exactly where the tram would have arrived- I guess they’ll have to walk into town or catch the bus, though only the last one is actually started.
Storey of Melbourne 