I think that tram planning for Melbourne ought to start from the query; "Where are there bus routes that run at very short interval services?
I seem to remember that there is bus route from north Melbourne Station that operates to University/hospital areas at very short intervals - around four minutes ISTR, and this should be a prime candidate for conversion to tram. I would expect that this route could be delayed a bit by motor traffic, so running a tram at even 6 minute intervals could justify proper priority.
Perhaps there are other densely used bus routes.
Also consideration should be given to conversion of bus routes that run long distances along tram tracks.
Also consideration should be give to conversion to light rail of the CBD to Doncaster bus routes. The Ministry should dig out the MMTB proposals for this route, and ask Yarra Trams to update it. This is the route that the B class were designed for - the proposal contains an illustration of B class tram.
No doubt Melbourne residents will be able to advise on these.
Regards
Dudley
On 3/05/2021 8:41 pm, Andrew C wrote:
> I think the planned F Class will be quite suitable. With a tram past where I live every 80 seconds in the peaks and generally if the system is working well, there isn't overcrowding in the suburbs. Yes, there is, or was before you know what, past here.The overcrowding is more to do with unevenness of service. It is hard to imagine a four minute gap in the peak service as may happen now, and then five 35 metre long trams arrive together. I think those who make comments about the need for long trams need to sit and watch how Swanston Street/St Kilda Road trams operate. I will wear that the F Class needs to be extendable. That's good future proofing.
>
> The point in the newspaper article that batteries will reduce the drain on substations is interesting. In W tram times, low power would mean the tram was slow to accelerate and with dimmed lighting and frankly a bit of fun. It was no big deal. In the 2000s insufficient power led to drain enough to knock out the power, as often happened in Balaclava Road, also a bit of fun. The message might come through the AVM system from Fleet Control for drivers to use their power limit switch for trams with that option.
>
> Andrew.
>
> On Mon, 3 May 2021 at 16:34, Mal Rowe mal.rowe@... mailto:mal.rowe@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> On 03/05/2021 15:35, Greg Sutherland wrote:
> > Regarding the debate on future tram types for Melbourne are we
> putting
> > the cart before the horse?
> >
> Planning is happening, but tram detail is not a public document.
>
> What is public is big investment in the Melbourne Metro Tunnel and
> the
> new "outer circle" Suburban Rail Loop.
>
> See: https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/metro-tunnel-project
> https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/metro-tunnel-project and
>
> https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/suburban-rail-loop
> https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/suburban-rail-loop
>
> These are likely to deal with a lot of PT growth without the need for
> major extensions to the tram network - except for the Fisherman's
> Bend
> Development and possibly trams to Monash University. There have been
> lots of proposals of and arguments about routes for both of these
> - but
> no decisions.
>
> > Having trams that can be lengthened by addition of modules can be a
> > saving by enabling the capital cost of rolling stock to be incurred
> > over time rather than a one off and higher stock cost due to the
> peak
> > up front expenditure.
>
> There is no real danger of these shorter trams becoming obsolecent
> (like
> Sydney's C and D trams) within their lifetime.
>
> Note that the 100 new ("F class"?) trams are described as being
> replacements for the Z and A classes - of which there are
> probably 200
> remaining. 100 will be enough to replace 200!
>
> After that there are 110 high floor Bs to be replaced and by then the
> 100 C and Ds will be a nightmare to maintain.
>
> So, the smaller Fs are probably appropriate for the time being and
> there
> will be plenty more to come!
>
> Mal Rowe - expecting to see quite a few new trams yet
>
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