Yes, I watched the whole video. I think what threw me out is that the
Melbourne tram didn't complete a full 2.5 km. From what I can work out,
there are seven intermediate stops in 2.5 km to university, though it's
hard to tell if some of the stops in the video are actually stops or for
traffic lights. Flying through Arts Centre didn't worry me as that was the
starting point anyway. So the Melbourne run over the common distance would
have taken longer than the Sydney run, but Melbourne has more stops and no
traffic light priority, so it's not an equal comparison and it's no
reflection on Melbourne which obviously has some (government-inflicted)
disadvantages to contend with.

When the Prague video was made, there was no traffic light priority (I
don't know if that has changed much since) and the speed limit is 50 km/h,
but they make better use of acceleration and deceleration to get up to the
speed limit more quickly and hold it for longer, plus they go around curves
faster with their swivelling bogie trams. Melbourne seems to have a 30 km/h
limit on Swanston Street (?) but the trams make decent use of their
acceleration. However, they don't get much chance to spread their wings
because of all the obstacles along the route, notably traffic lights.

Sydney has a (ridlculous) 20 km/h limit right through the city, plus
they've now discovered the downside of fixed bogie trams and cornering is
restricted to 10 km/h as you see on the speed sign. So there are various
issues involved, but it's not bad that Sydney can come to 1 minute
difference from the Prague example on the outward journey at least, even if
the inward journey is still slower. I think Melbourne really needs a lot
more political support and not just platitudes. Trams should absolutely
have priority wherever they can.

Tony P

On Tuesday 19 March 2024 at 17:16:39 UTC+11 Richard Youl wrote:

Did you actually look at the video? It seems not. Apart from flying through
the Arts Precinct stop which gave Swanson St a slight advantage, both trams
stopped at all tram stops. And when the George Street tram got to Circular
Quay, both trams had stopped at exactly 7 tram stops each including start
and finish. How can I make it any more even?

A major hindrance to Trams in Sydney is speed limits set by bureaucrats who
appear to have never driven a tram. And bit by bit, speed limit signs are
being installed here and there in Melbourne. Without GPS supervision I’m
not sure too many drivers take much notice of these, not yet anyway.

As for matching distances, Haymarket to Circular Quay is within a couple of
hundred metres of the Arts Precinct to Melbourne University. See below, do
your own Google measurements if you don’t believe me.

Comparing Melbourne with any European Tramway is far more lopsided than
comparing Sydney with Melbourne. When did you say you were last down there?

Richard