Funnily enough Sim, after reading your post I came across this, which seems
to bear out your viewpoint.

https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/blog/melbournes-trams-ranked-from-best-to-worst-033116

I know that Mal won't be happy with one tram's ranking here ;)

Tony P

On Friday, 27 November 2020 at 18:05:30 UTC+11them...@... wrote:

> I'd rather see all (or however many extras are required) the Z3s

> refurbished over the As. I know they are older and some may require more

> work, but they are far more practical having 3 equally spaced doorways over

> the As non equal doorways. Much quicker and easier at loading/unloading

> passengers. Also the Z3s are standard throughout, particularly with their

> B2 class cousins, whereas there are two types of As and some different

> parts compared to B2s.

> Sim

> On Friday, 27 November 2020, 01:53:10 pm AEDT, Mal Rowe mal....@...>

> wrote:

>

>

> On 27/11/2020 13:29, TP wrote:

> > How long is the "life extension" meant to extend lives for? It seems

> > from the numbers that the present fleet size (about 500) will be

> > overtopped by the combined total of new and refurbished trams. Given

> > the number of new trams, will some life extensions (presumably of Zs)

> > be cancelled? Converting the As to coupled sets would help too!

>

> Hi Tony,

>

> I think you are probably right - some of the Z3s will get bumped from

> the list, and given that a lot of Z3s have already been done, some As

> may also get bumped..

>

> There are 100 new trams to come - so on a one for one basis only 70 As

> and Z3s are needed to maintain current fleet numbers.

>

> Both of these classes require being stripped down to bare frame level -

> to replace insulation. Both also have asbestos contamination in the

> sealants - so the stripping is more expensive.

>

> I can't imagine a major rebuild of the As into articulated or coupled

> sets - they are a bit old for that and they are not low floor.

>

>

> Mal

>

>

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