On 04/05/2021 21:29, Anthony Dudley Horscroft wrote:
>

> 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.

>

That bus route will have much less patronage once the new station on the
Melbourne Metro at Parkville opens.  Further, the road congestion that
delays the buses manes that a new tramway would be hard to sell - and
hard to place off-road.
>

> Also consideration should be given to conversion of bus routes that

> run long distances along tram tracks.

>

Not many - in fact bus routes tend to serve different sectors of the
city - basically along the old cable tram routes converted to buses that
served Collingwood and Carlton and those that served South Melbourne.
>

> 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.

>

Agreed - and there is even a lane reservation for light or heavy rail. 
However, unless there was significant tramway construction in the
Doncaster area passengers would have to change modes somewhere.  I'm not
holding my breath.

Mal Rowe