Re: Re: YATM for Melbourne

IS Edit
Friday, May 10, 2002 4:12 AM

I agree with your points, Michael. And I drove trolley buses for a living.

My main caveat on a tram museum for Melbourne is that it should be directly connected to the tram system and it should be easy for tourists to find.

Preferably it should be in a historical tramways building.

I think the Gertrude Street cable winding house is perfect and it is under utilised but it would be hard to get a track connection into the existing door for cars outbound from the city and that is in the side of the building so would give any inside tracks a poor layout.

Bob Murphy

----- Original Message -----

From: Michael Walker

To: [email protected]

Sent: Friday, May 10, 2002 12:51 PM

Subject: [TramsDownUnder] Re: YATM for Melbourne

>>> pn1.rm<[email protected]> 05/10/02 12:36pm >>> >Why not have a trolleybus route (using "cars" from Australian and overseas systems)connecting the existing tram network with the proposed museum site? >Paul in Melbourne Interesting idea, but I probably would submit the following arguments against it: 1. Trolley buses as far as I'm aware have never been a Melbourne form of transport. ie There is no historical link between Melbourne and trolley buses as a public mode of transport. 2. If you're going to string the wires up for a trolleybus, you might as well do it properly and put in the track as well and run your exhibits. 3. Melbourne needs another incompatible mode in it's public transport system like it needs another urban freeway. At least a full tram line would have the benefit of being an extension to the existing public transport system as well as a place to run historical trams. A 'historic trolleybus route' would run the risk of being a white elephant used primarily as a tourist attraction rather than a legitimate public transport route in it's own right. 4. If access to the site is seen to be the issue (and I thought people here were more concerned with running the exhibits properly rather than a short demonstrator line and mostly static exhibits), Newport and North Williamstown railway stations are not that far away anyway and far more likely to provide access to the site than a short suburban trolleybus route to Footscray. 5. If there were funds to be spent on trams, there are some far more worthwhile projects that would benefit more people (ie take people out of cars) such as extensions of tram routes to traffic generators (e.g. route 3 to Chadstone, route 48 to Doncaster, 75 to Knox, 64 to Southland, and so on). Footscray and Newport aren't really short of public transport. Given the number of trolleybus fans here, you can find me for the next 2 weeks in my bunker...8^)

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