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Melbourne tram route 12

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Route 12
A class tram A1.257 on MacArthur Street, September 2024
Overview
SystemMelbourne
OperatorYarra Trams
DepotSouthbank
VehicleA class
Began service27 July 2014
Route
StartVictoria Gardens Shopping Centre
ViaVictoria Street
Collins Street
South Melbourne
EndSt Kilda
Length16.2 kilometres
TimetableRoute 12 timetable
MapRoute 12 map
← Route 11  {{{system_nav}}}  Route 16 →

Melbourne tram route 12 is operated by Yarra Trams on the Melbourne tram network from Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre to St Kilda. The 16.2-kilometre (10.1 mi) route is operated out of Southbank depot with A class trams.

History

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The origins of route 12 lie in several separate tram lines, including electrified 19th century cable tram lines and new track through South Melbourne constructed in the 1930.

The oldest section of track along Spencer Street between Collins Street and Flinders Street was part of Richmond cable tram line (Melbourne's first ever cable tram line), which opened on 11 November 1885 (and was electrified on 14 July 1927). The following year, Melbourne Tramway & Omnibus Company opened the North Fitzroy Line along Collins Street between Spencer Street (Stop 1) and St Vincent's Plaza (Stop 12) on 2 October 1886. It was electrified on 8 December 1929.[1] The line east of St Vincent's Plaza along Victoria Street opened later that year as the Victoria Bridge line on 22 November 1886. This section was electrified on 15 September 1929.

Meanwhile, the southern section was created in many stages. It began with the South Melbourne cable tram line to South Melbourne Beach that came from Queensbridge Street and City Road, then ran along the Clarendon Street section of today's route 12 between City Road (Stop 126) and Park Street (South Melbourne, Stop 129), and then followed today's route 1 to South Melbourne beach, which was first opened on 17 June 1890. Next, an electric line between Park Street (South Melbourne) and St Kilda Beach (Fitzroy Street) was constructed by the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board, opening on 31 October 1925, with services running from Swanston Street to St Kilda Beach (Fitzroy Street) as routes 1 and 2.[1] When the South Melbourne cable tram line was electrified on 25 July 1937, the section along Clarendon Street was electrified, and a new section extending along Clarendon Street up to Spencer Street was built, connecting Collins Street services which could now run through to South Melbourne or St Kilda. Route 12 was allocated to the line between South Melbourne Beach and a crossover on Collins Street at Gisborne Street, East Melbourne. Trams heading southwards from the city from Collins Street along Clarendon Street initially turned right at Park Street to terminate at South Melbourne Beach, while trams from Swanston St turned left and terminated at St Kilda Beach. On 13 September 1953, this was amended so that both tram services ran through the intersection of Park and Clarendon Street instead of both turning, resulting in St Kilda Beach becoming the terminus of route 12.

The original terminus of the St Kilda Beach service along Park Street diverted at Mary Street (Stop 142) and turned left at Beaconsfield Parade to meet the tracks at Fitzroy Street one block south of the current terminus. The junction was double-tracked so that some services would run further towards Luna Park. However, this rarely eventuated. The Mary Street tracks were replaced by the current day terminus at Park Street on 13 November 1959.[1]

The first ever use of the route number 12 was for a about a year for the West Preston to St Kilda Beach service from 21 November 1929. At the time the North Fitzroy cable tram was yet to be electrified, and so all Preston services ran west via Holden Street and then via Lygon Street to Swanston Street, rather than Collins Street, and then to the southern suburbs. Then, when the cable line from St Georges Road to Collins Street was electrified on 27 October 1930, and services used Collins Street, route 12 was left unallocated for several years. For a long time, some route 12 services would continue northwards towards West Preston via Brunswick Street under Route 10. Eventually, the elimination of shared depot routes on 30 April 1995 led to route 10 becoming discontinued.[1]

On 3 July 1973, a siding was constructed at Brunswick Street (later St Vincent's Plaza), which enabled route 12 to terminate there instead of the busy crossover at Gisborne Street.[1]

In mid-2000, W-class trams were temporarily removed from service due to brake issues. As a result, on 7 August 2000, route 112 was introduced to replace routes 11 and 12 during weekdays, and route 12 became a weekend only service.[2][3] It later became a peak hour only service. However, the peak-hour service was deemed unnecessary for the low-density and affluent suburbs in which it ran and on 18 November 2002, route 12 was discontinued.[citation needed]

The route number was then allocated as a short working for route 16 trams terminating at Malvern depot from 2004.[4] On 27 July 2014, Yarra Tram's desire to discontinue all peak-hour services led to routes 24 and 112 being discontinued, and route 12 taking their place between Victoria Gardens and St Kilda.[5]

During special events such as the Australian Open or the Australian Grand Prix, route 12 temporarily diverts via La Trobe Street and replaces route 30 which do not run during the events.[6] The temporary diversion was also in place between 13 July and 7 November 2020, as part of a COVID-19 response plan to increase overall capacity in the city which introduced shuttle services of route 11.[7][8][9]

Melbourne tram route 12 evolution
Dates Route Notes
During PMTT operation Camberwell to St Kilda Road via Burke and Malvern Roads
21 November 1929 - 26 October 1930 West Preston to St Kilda Beach via Holden Street and South Melbourne
27 October 1930 - 24 July 1937 Unallocated
25 July 1937 - 11 September 1953 South Melbourne Beach to City (Gisborne Street)
12 September 1953 - 2 July 1973 St Kilda Beach to City (Gisborne Street)
3 July 1973 - 17 November 2002 St Kilda Beach to City (Brunswick Street) Became weekend-only following establishment of route 112 in August 2000
18 November 2002 - 17 October 2004 Unallocated
18 October 2004 - 26 July 2014 Kew (Cotham Road) to Malvern depot Rarely used short working of route 16
27 July 2014 - onwards Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre to St Kilda (Fitzroy Street) Became full-time route following cessation of route 112
Diverts via La Trobe Street during special events

Operation

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Route 12 is operated out of Southbank depot with A class trams.[5][10][11]

Route map

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Route 12
Victoria Gardens - St Kilda (Fitzroy Street)
via Richmond, City & South Melbourne
Free tram zone covers stops 124 to 8, fare zone 1 applies from stop 10 to 24, 143 to 124A
Suburb
Street
Stop
No.
Victoria Gardens
Connections
Richmond
Victoria Street
24
Victoria Gardens
23
Leslie Street
22
McKay Street
21
Church Street
Church Street
Tram 78
 
 Balaclava Right arrow
20
Lennox Street
19
North Richmond station
Mainline rail interchange North Richmond station
18
Hoddle Street
16
Wellington Street
15
Smith Street
13
Lansdowne Street
St Vincent's Plaza Siding
Brunswick Street
Tram 11
12
St Vincent's Plaza
Victoria Parade
Tram 30
 
Gisborne Street
11
Albert Street
 
Macarthur Street
10
Parliament station
Mainline rail interchange Parliament station
Spring Street
Tram 48, City Circle
Wellington Parade Right arrow
 Left arrow Nicholson Street
8
Spring Street
7
101 Collins Street
Bus interchange 605
Swanston Street
Tram 1, 3, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67, 72
6
Town Hall
Tram interchange 1, 3, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67, 72
Elizabeth Street
Tram 19, 57, 59
5
Elizabeth Street
Tram interchange 19, 57, 59
3
William Street
William Street
Tram 58
1
Southern Cross station
Tram interchange 11, 48, 96
Mainline rail interchange Southern Cross station
Spencer Street
Tram 96
Collins Street
Tram 11, 48
Flinders Street
Tram 70, 75, City Circle
Flinders Street Viaduct
124
Batman Park
Southbank
Clarendon Street
124A
Casino/MCEC
St Kilda/Port Melbourne Light Rail
Tram 96, 109
South Melbourne
Clarendon Street
126
City Road
Bus interchange 234, 236
127
York Street
128
Dorcas Street
129
Park Street
Tram interchange 1
Park Street
Tram 1
130A
Raglan Street
130
Albert Road
Albert Park
Albert Road
131
Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre
St Kilda Light Rail
Tram 96 (no connecting stop)
132
Canterbury Road
Middle Park
Mills Street
133
Canterbury Road
134
Carter Street
135
Richardson Street
Bus interchange 606
136
Danks Street
Albert Park Siding
 
Danks Street
137
Harold Street
138
Armstrong Street
Bus interchange 606
 
Patterson Street
139
Langridge Street
140
Fraser Street
St Kilda West
Park Street
141
Cowderoy Street
142
Mary Street
St Kilda
Park Street
143
Fitzroy Street
Tram interchange 16, 96; Bus interchange 606
Fitzroy Street
16, 96
Suburb
Street
Stop
No.
St Kilda
Connections
Note: Green denotes free tram zone

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Gunzel". www.classicaustraliantv.com. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  2. ^ "Routes 11 and 12 will become Route 112 on Weekdays Only from Monday 7 August, 2000 until further notice". Yarra Trams. Archived from the original on 18 November 2000.
  3. ^ Route Guide & Map 112/11 Yarra Trams
  4. ^ History of Melbourne Trams Routes from 1950 to 2009 Yarra Trams
  5. ^ a b Route 12 Yarra Trams
  6. ^ Australian Open 2022 Yarra Trams
  7. ^ More Services To Keep Victorians Safe On Public Transport Premier of Victoria 10 July 2020
  8. ^ Tram Service Changes - Route 12 and 30 Yarra Trams
  9. ^ to Routes 12, 30, 35, 86, 96 and 109 Public Transport Victoria
  10. ^ Southbank Depot Vicsig
  11. ^ Facts & figures Yarra Trams
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Media related to Melbourne tram route 12 at Wikimedia Commons