Re: Running Ws & Other Old Cars In Service

While I am not a full time Melbourian, I have and do spend enough time there to be able to understand what is going on there. One thing that is definitely missing in Melbourne is fan and enthusiast support for the trams. Oh yeah, they all do a lot of talking, but when it comes to "Put Up or Shut Up", they shut up. It is almost like Philadelphia - there are zillions of fans, but none of them can get their act together. Melbourne drastically needs an organization like Market Street Railway in S.F. to pull together most of the fansto put pressure on the Government and the operating tram companies. There is a tremendous amount of infighting among tram fans inAustralia, and getting one faction to agree with another is like mediating a war cease-fire. Some like the Ws while others hate them and call the ones who do like them idiots, some like the new cars, while certain others (mainly a few in Sydney - and I'm sure many will know who I mean) think that only their views are valid. And to Greg, while I certainly respect you and your views, I do think that the majority of your passengers would much rather be on a tram than a gutterliner. It's just that the apathy in Melbourne is legendary. And don't even get me started on fare evasion. The Government and the operators have brought that entire fiasco on themselves, and short of changing the entire system to a PAYE operation with front entrance and center exit cars (and even embracing that "awful American and Canadian system" of fareboxes - which does work even on super heavy loading routes - and has for eons), the fare evasion will not stop. Melbourne had a chance to go to a PAYE farebox system with the Z1 and Z2 trams, let it slip a little with the Z3s, and then absolutely blew it with the As and Bs. One man operation cannot, and in my opinion, will not ever work with all those wide open doors. It has become a sport to see how often you can ride without ever paying a fare. I know people who have not paid a fare in three years! It is remarkably easy to beat the system, with just a little bit of effort and inconvenience. The "official line" fare evasion rate of approx. 12% is absurd - all one has to do is ride a lot and it is obvious that well over 50% of tram passengers have no intention of buying a ticket, and if they do have one it is only to be used when inspectors get on the tram. When one does get on, there is always a mad dash to the validators and ticket machines. Anyway, back to the subject -- All the Melbourne fans have to get together and put theirmoney and their efforts where their mouths are. There are 200 Ws at Newport and Preston just waiting for a chance to get out and stretch their legs again. 200 extra trams would draw a whole heck of a lotof passengers back to public transport. ++++++++++++ John Engleman


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