Melbourne tram route 48
| Route 48 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Balwyn North - Victoria Harbour Docklands | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 C class tram at Balwyn North terminus | |||
| Overview | |||
| System | Melbourne tramway network | ||
| Operator | Yarra Trams | ||
| Depot | Kew | ||
| Vehicle | A class C class | ||
| Route | |||
| Locale | Melbourne, Australia | ||
| Start | Balwyn North | ||
| Via | Kew East Kew Hawthorn Richmond East Melbourne Melbourne CBD (Collins St) | ||
| End | Victoria Harbour Docklands | ||
| Length | 13.5 km (8.4 mi) | ||
| Service | |||
| Journey time | 40-55 minutes | ||
| Operates | Daily | ||
| Zone(s) | Free Zone: Stops D18-D14, 1-8 Myki Zone 1: Stops 9-51 | ||
| Annual patronage | 7.5 million[1] | ||
| Timetable | Route 48 timetable | ||
| Map | Route 48 map | ||
| |||
Melbourne tram route 48 is operated by Yarra Trams on the Melbourne tram network. It operates from Balwyn North to Victoria Harbour Docklands. The 13.5 kilometre route is operated by A and C class trams from Kew depot.[2][3]
On 3 September 2001, route 48's city terminus moved from the corner of La Trobe and Spencer Streets to the corner of Flinders and Spencer Streets.[4]
On 4 January 2005, route 48 was extended to Waterfront City along Harbour Esplanade and Docklands Drive, with the opening of the Docklands Drive tram extension.[5] On 20 September 2009, route 48 was altered to run via Collins Street in lieu of Flinders Street.[6][7][8][9]
Proposed extension
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) and Cities of Boroondara and Manningham have been lobbying for an extension of route 48 to Westfield Doncaster.[10][11][12] It would require approximately 4.5 km of extra track, serving Greythorn Village and the Doncaster Park and Ride facility before terminating near Westfield Doncaster. The PTUA has also pointed out the future potential for the line to be extended further along Doncaster Road to Doncaster East and Donvale.
Proponents have argued that it could serve as a cheaper, quicker and more efficient alternative to the long-proposed Doncaster railway line. However, supporters of the railway state that the tram already takes 50 minutes from one terminus to the other in the off-peak, and that the tram would take well over an hour to reach the city from Doncaster. It is therefore considered as a separate project to the heavy railway, that would serve a local access purpose.
In the lead up to the 2006 state election, the Ted Baillieu opposition promised the extension by July 2010, pricing it at $35 million.[13][14] It was stated that there would have been about 2 accessible stops every kilometre, similar to the recent Box Hill tram extension. However the government was returned and the Baileu government did not commit to it in the 2010 election.
The City of Manningham commissioned a $60,000 study in 2007[15] to investigate the potential for the new line, arguing it was a needed alternative to overcrowded buses.
Map
References
- ^ "Facts & figures". Yarra Trams. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ Facts & figures Yarra Trams
- ^ Route 48 Yarra Trams
- ^ Route 48 and 75 timetable Yarra Trams 5 November 2001
- ^ Docklands Drive Tram Extension Now In Service Yarra Trams 4 January 2005
- ^ Spring into Collins on Route 48 Yarra Trams 21 September 2009
- ^ Changes to Routes 48 & 70 from Sunday 20 September 2009 Yarra Trams
- ^ "Melbourne - Collins Street trams reach Victoria Harbour" Trolley Wire issue 319 November 2009 page 13
- ^ History of Melbourne Trams Routes from 1950 to 2009 Yarra Trams
- ^ "Submission to Infrastructure Australia on Victoria's transport infrastructure priorities" (PDF), Public Transport Users Association, p. 8, retrieved 2011-11-03
- ^ "Destination: Doncaster" (PDF), Public Transport Users Association, retrieved 2011-11-03
- ^ "Mayor pushes Balwyn tram extension". Boroondara Review Local. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- ^ "A Liberal government plan to improve Public Transport" (PDF). Victorian Liberal Party. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2007. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Warner, Michael (9 November 2006). "$35m line on trams". Herald Sun. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
- ^ Stephen Moynihan (16 July 2007). "Councils plead to fill gaps in transport network". The Age. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)
External links
Media related to Melbourne tram route 48 at Wikimedia Commons- Route 48 map
- Route 48 timetable
