September 2026
The Age ran this story yesterday about tram routes proposed in a plan of 1923 – imagine a tram up Punt Road ! Or along Orrong, or Bell Street Brunswick. We would of course take them as normal of they’d happened. But that was back when cars were relatively few, no traffic lights or right turn lanes, and half the tram were still cable routes.
A few lines actually became buses in the 1930s -1940 – we are so lucky that they weren’t all pulled out in the 50s-60s like everywhere else, thanks to things like the boulevards where they had their own reservations, upgrades in the 30s like concrete tracks, plus the chair of the MMTB Sir Robbert Risson was convinced of their value in moving crowds. Plus there’s something just pleasant about being on a tram vs being on a bus.
Everyone wants a tram near their home that they can use. Here are my loose thoughts.
The passenger loading on route 5 does not warrant an extension to East Malvern Station.
The passenger loading on route 3 does not warrant an extension to Darling Station. Even if it was extended to Chadstone Station, I still don’t think it is viable.
A tram continuing down Burke Road to Caulfield Station is perhaps viable.
I am not so familiar with the north of the city but I think a tram along Bell Street would be well used.
Extend the 96 to Ormond Road Elwood, a no brainer in my opinion.
The Footscray Ballarat Road extension looks good but there’s no argument for trams to Williamstown.
The Park Street tram extension is also more than a no brainer. To be able to get from St Kilda Road to Clarendon Street by a direct tram will generate lots of passengers, and take many people out of their cars.
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