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Melbourne tram route 55

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  Route 55
West Coburg - Domain Interchange
B class tram on Market Street in May 2013
Overview
SystemMelbourne
OperatorYarra Trams
DepotEssendon
VehicleZ class
B class
StatusDiscontinued
Began service30 April 1995
Ended service30 April 2017
PredecessorsRoute 56 (1946-1995)
Route
LocaleMelbourne, Australia
StartPascoe Vale South
ViaBrunswick West
Parkville
North Melbourne
West Melbourne
Melbourne CBD (William St)
Southbank
EndDomain Interchange
Length12.5 km (7.8 mi)
Service
Journey time40-50 minutes
OperatesDaily
Zone(s)Free Zone: Stops 10-1
Myki Zone 1: Stops 45-11, 112-119, 20
Annual patronage6.8 million
TimetableRoute 55 timetable
MapRoute 55 map

Route 55 was a tram route on the Melbourne tram network. The 12.5-kilometre (7.8-mile) route operated between Pascoe Vale South (signed West Coburg) and Domain Interchange, using Z and B-class trams from Essendon depot.[1][2] The service ceased on 30 April 2017.[3]

History

Proposals for a tram or railway route to West Coburg date to the late 19th century. Construction of the tramway began in 1923, initially only to Brunswick West, then extended to Bell Street in 1927. The tramway was extended south to St Kilda Road during World War II to alleviate congestion during the war.[4] Proposed extensions north of Bell Street have not been constructed.

Until 30 April 1995, route 55 operated from West Coburg to St Kilda Beach via William Street.[5][6] Route 56 offered a truncated service that ran from West Coburg to Domain Road. Following the construction of a terminating platform at Domain Road on 14 November 1986, through-routing to St. Kilda Beach was discontinued and all services terminated at Domain Road. A strange phenomenon occurred in which services heading towards West Coburg showed route 55, and services heading towards Domain Road showed route 56. On 30 April 1995, Route 55 was finally amended to terminate at Domain Interchange when shared route operations between depots ended.[7][8]

Between 1971 and July 2005 route 55 and 56 (before 1995) only operated on Mondays to Saturdays. On Sundays, the section from West Coburg to the city was covered by route 68.[6][9][10]

During the 2006 Commonwealth Games the route was merged with route 5 to Malvern to alleviate congestion along St Kilda Road.[11]

In October 2016, it was announced that as part of works associated with the construction of Domain railway station, route 55 would be extended from Domain Interchange to Toorak to partly replace route 8 and be renumbered route 58.[12][13]

Melbourne tram route 55 evolution
Dates Route Notes
1946 - 14 November 1986 St. Kilda Beach - West Coburg via William Street
15 November 1986 - 6 August 2005 Domain & St. Kilda Road - West Coburg Monday - Saturday (and Public Holidays with a Saturday timetable)
8 August 2005 – 11 March 2006 Domain & St. Kilda Road - West Coburg Full-time service
12 March 2006 - 26 March 2006 Malvern - Burke Road to West Coburg Temporarily extended during Commonwealth Games, replacing that section of Route 5.
27 March 2006 - 30 April 2017 Domain & St. Kilda Road - West Coburg

Route description

The route ran along Melville Road from the Bell Street intersection, then Dawson Street, Grantham Street, through to Royal Park along a scenic track passing the Royal Park Golf Course and the Melbourne Zoo, coming out at Flemington Road where it intersected Abbotsford Street, then it travelled along Peel Street, William Street, Flinders Lane, Market Street, Queens Bridge, Queensbridge Street, Kings Way and finally Park Street before terminating at the Domain Interchange.

This tram route was notable for its windiness and the traverse through Royal Park for some distance. The route also includes passes the State Netball & Hockey Centre and the Melbourne Zoo with an occasional peek at the elephant's shed.

Route 68

Route 68 was a Sunday-only version of the route 55 service from West Coburg, diverting at Haymarket roundabout to operate along Elizabeth Street to Flinders Street station, instead of along William Street from Domain Interchange. First operated on 6 July 1971, the route was withdrawn on 31 July 2005 when route 55 was altered to operate seven days a week.[9][14]

Route map

  Route 55
Trams are not wheelchair accessible. Free Tram Zone covers stops 10 to 1. Fare zone 1 applies from stop 45 to 11, and 112 to 20.
Legend
Connections
West Coburg (Pascoe Vale South)
Stop
Bus interchange 513, 527, 903, 951
Bell Street
45
Brearley Parade
44
Princes Terrace
43
Bus interchange 512
Reynard Street
42
 Lever Street
41
Bus interchange 510
Moreland Road
40
Mattingley Crescent
39
Jacobs Reserve
38
Bus interchange 503
Albion Street
37
Bus interchange 509, 951
Hope Street
36
Bus interchange 508
Victoria Street
35
Bus interchange 506
Smith Street
34
(Melville Road Up arrow)
(Up arrow Melville Road – Dawson Street Down arrow)
Daly Street
33
 Foden Street
32
(Dawson Street Up arrow)
Bus interchange 504
Grantham Street
31
(Grantham Street Down arrow)
Union Square Shopping Centre
30
Bus interchange 504
Brunswick Road
29
(Up arrow Grantham Street – Royal Park Down arrow)
Park Street
28
Towards Jewell Right arrow
Bus interchange 505; Mainline rail interchange Upfield
Royal Park station
Poplar Road
26
Towards Flemington Bridge Left arrow
Melbourne Zoo
25
 State Netball Hockey Centre
24
 Macarthur Road
23
 Royal Park
22
Routes 57 & 59 via Flemington Road Left arrow
(Up arrow Royal Park – Flemington Road Down arrow)
Tram interchange 57, 59
Royal Children's Hospital
Abbotsford Street^
19
Route 57 via Abbotsford Street Left arrow
Bus interchange 951
Gatehouse Street
16
 Park Drive
15
Bus interchange 401, 402, 403
Royal Melbourne Hospital
Grattan Street
14
Right arrow Route 19 via Elizabeth Street
(Up arrow Flemington Road – Peel Street Down arrow)
Tram interchange 19, 59
Haymarket
Flemington Road
12
Right arrow Routes 19 & 59 via Elizabeth Street
 Queensberry Street
11
Bus interchange 951; Tram interchange 57
Victoria Street
10
 Queen Victoria Market
9
(Peel Street Up arrow)
Bus interchange 220, 232
Franklin Street
8
(William Street Down arrow)
Tram interchange 30, 35; Mainline rail interchange City Loop
Flagstaff station
La Trobe Street
7
Towards Southern Cross or North Melbourne Left arrow
Right arrow Towards Melbourne Central
Bus interchange 216, 219, 302, 304, 305, 318, 905, 906, 907, 908
Lonsdale Street
6
Tram interchange 86, 96
Bourke Street
5
Tram interchange 11, 12, 48, 109
Collins Street
4
(Up arrow William Street – Queens Bridge Street Down arrow)
(Up arrow William Street – Flinders Lane Down arrow)
William Street
3
(Flinders Lane Up arrow)
Market Street*
2
(Market Street Down arrow)
(Up arrow Market Street – Queens Bridge Street Down arrow)
Bus interchange 216, 219, 220, 234, 236; Tram interchange 35, 70, 75
Flinders Street
1
Towards Southern Cross Left arrow
Right arrow Towards Flinders Street
Bus interchange 216, 219, 220
Casino/Southbank
112
(Up arrow Queens Bridge Street – Kings Way Down arrow)
Bus interchange 234, 236
City Road
114
West Gate Freeway
York Street
115
Tram interchange 1
Sturt Street
116
(Kings Way Up arrow)
Park Street
118
(Park Street Down arrow)
(Up arrow Park Street – St Kilda Road Down arrow)
Right arrow Routes 3/3a, 5, 6, 8, 16, 64, 67 & 72 via St Kilda Road
Bus interchange 216, 219, 220; Tram interchange 3/3a, 5, 6, 8, 16, 64, 67 & 72
Domain Interchange
20
Route 8 via Domain Road Right arrow
Routes 3/3a, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67 & 72 via St Kilda Road Down arrow
Connections
Domain Interchange
Stop
*Domain Interchange-bound stop closed until 2019[15][16]
^Depot services divert to the depot at Royal Children's Hospital via route 59.
Expand to show intermediate stops. Route map is not to scale.

References

  1. ^ Facts & figures Archived 29 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine Yarra Trams
  2. ^ Route 55 Archived 14 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine Yarra Trams
  3. ^ "Say hello to Route 58". Public Transport Victoria. Archived from the original on 30 April 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  4. ^ Brown, Geoff. "The tram through the park: the origins of the West Coburg tramway". Melbourne Tramway Museum. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  5. ^ The Plot Thickens Transit News & Views Public Transport Users Association December 1986 page 3
  6. ^ a b History of Melbourne tram route numbers (1950-2009) Archived 26 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine Yarra Trams
  7. ^ Here and There Trolley Wire issue 228 February 1987 page 24 (large file)
  8. ^ "Gunzel". www.classicaustraliantv.com. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  9. ^ a b Yarra Trams - changing with the times Yarra Trams 5 August 2005
  10. ^ History of Melbourne Trams Routes from 1950 to 2009 Archived 26 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine Yarra Trams
  11. ^ Changes to your tram service during the Commonwealth Games Yarra Trams 28 February 2006
  12. ^ Metro Tunnel to Transform Melbourne's Tram Network Minister for Public Transport 25 October 2016
  13. ^ Trams to head west, route 58 to be born in network overhaul next year The Age 25 October 2016
  14. ^ Hugh Waldron (16 October 2009). "History of Melbourne tram route numbers (1950-2009)" (PDF). Yarra Trams. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  15. ^ "Route 55 - Temporary Tram Stop Changes - Monday 13 February to late 2019". Yarra Trams. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  16. ^ "Route 55: Temporary tram stop closure from Monday 13 February 2017 to late 2019". Public Transport Victoria. Archived from the original on 4 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
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