Up to the early 90s in my experience, and I see no sign during later visits that anything has changed or improved since then except for a few extra ‘5 second’ T lights, transponders slot in T lights, green right turn arrows and a few other minor traffic light phases where this facility is provided, but only when there is a change of phase due anyway.

They have never been given the ability to interrupt a cycle to give a tram immediate priority as the GC line does (via GPS).

As for head on tram collisions when a tram driver has not checked the setting of right turn points, I believe that in Brussels (which seems to also have its fair share of indifferent quality drivers) trams in opposite directions are forbidden from passing each other at junctions.

Regards,

> On 11 Nov 2017, at 7:14 am,mcloughlin.dj@... [TramsDownUnder] TramsDownUnder@...> wrote:

>

> Tony P:

>

> > Clearly it was considered impractical in those days to coordinate traffic lights with tram operations. Now it is standard practice (except in Melbourne?).

>

> Well the many traffic lights in Melbourne are co-ordinated very well to impede tram progress :-)

>

> Seriously, Melbourne trams have had transponders to activate traffic lights in their favour since the 1990s at least. Perhaps a learned Melbourne gunzel can tell us why they don't seem to work?

>

>

> david mcl, Wellington no more

>

>