Melbourne tram route 55

(Redirected from Melbourne tram route 68)

Route 55 was a tram route on the Melbourne tram network. The 12.5 kilometre route operated between Coburg West and Domain Interchange, was operated out of Essendon depot with Z and B-class trams. It ceased on 30 April 2017 and was replaced by route 58.

Route 55
Overview
SystemMelbourne
OperatorYarra Trams
DepotEssendon
VehicleZ class
B class
Began service30 April 1995
Ended service30 April 2017
PredecessorsRoute 56 (1946-1995)
Route
StartCoburg West
ViaBrunswick West
Parkville
North Melbourne
West Melbourne
William Street
Southbank
EndDomain Interchange
Length12.5 kilometres
TimetableRoute 55 timetable
MapRoute 55 map

History

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Proposals for a tram or railway route to West Coburg date to the late 19th century. Construction of the tramway began in 1923, initially only to Brunswick West, then extended to Bell Street in 1927. The tramway was extended south to St Kilda Road during World War II to alleviate congestion during the war.[1] Proposed extensions north of Bell Street have not been constructed.

Until November 1986, route 55 operated from West Coburg to St Kilda Beach via William Street, St Kilda Road and Fitzroy Street.[2][3] Route 56 offered a truncated service that ran from West Coburg to Domain Road. Following the opening of a terminating platform at Domain Interchange on 14 November 1986, through-routing to St Kilda Beach was discontinued.[4][5][6]

Between 1971 and July 2005 route 55 (and 56 before 1986) only operated on Mondays to Saturdays. On Sundays, the section from West Coburg to the city was covered by Route 68.[3][7] Route 55 began to run seven days a week from 1 August 2005, with its first Sunday services on 7 August 2005.

During the 2006 Commonwealth Games the route was merged with route 5 to Malvern to alleviate congestion along St Kilda Road.[8]

On 30 April 2017, as part of works associated with the closure of Domain Interchange and construction of Anzac railway station, route 55 ceased.[9] It was replaced by route 58 that traversed the same route as route 55, and then continued south from Domain Interchange to Toorak, partly replacing route 8.[10][11][12]

Melbourne tram route 55 evolution
Dates Route Notes
1946 - 14 November 1986 St Kilda Beach to West Coburg via William Street
15 November 1986 - 31 July 2005 Domain Interchange to West Coburg Monday - Saturday (and Public Holidays with a Saturday timetable)
1 August 2005 - 11 March 2006 Domain Interchange to West Coburg Full-time service
12 March 2006 - 26 March 2006 Malvern to West Coburg Temporarily extended from Domain Interchange to Malvern during Commonwealth Games, replacing part of route 5
27 March 2006 - 30 April 2017 Domain Interchange to West Coburg Merged with route 8 as route 58

Route description

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The route ran along Melville Road from the Bell Street intersection, then Dawson Street, Grantham Street, through to Royal Park along a scenic track passing the Royal Park Golf Course and the Melbourne Zoo, coming out at Flemington Road where it intersected Abbotsford Street, then it travelled along Peel Street, William Street, Flinders Lane, Market Street, Queens Bridge, Queensbridge Street, Kings Way and finally Park Street before terminating at the Domain Interchange.

Route 68

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Route 68 was a Sunday-only version of the route 55 service from West Coburg, diverting at Haymarket roundabout to operate along Elizabeth Street to Flinders Street station, instead of along William Street from Domain Interchange. First operated on 6 July 1971, the route was withdrawn on 31 July 2005 when route 55 was altered to operate seven days a week.[3][7]

Operation

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Routes 55 was operated out of Essendon depot with Z and B class trams.[13]

Route map

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  Route 55
Trams are not wheelchair accessible. Free Tram Zone covers stops 10 to 1. Fare zone 1 applies from stop 45 to 11, and 112 to 20.
Connections
Coburg West
Stop
  513, 527, 903, 951
 
Bell Street
45
 
 
Brearley Parade
44
 
Princes Terrace
43
  512
 
Reynard Street
42
 
Lever Street
41
  510
 
Moreland Road
40
 
 
Mattingley Crescent
39
 
Jacobs Reserve
38
  503
 
Albion Street
37
  509, 951
 
Hope Street
36
  508
 
Victoria Street
35
  506
 
Smith Street
34
(Melville Road  )
 
(  Melville Road – Dawson Street  )
 
 
Daly Street
33
 
Foden Street
32
(Dawson Street  )
 
  504
 
Grantham Street
31
(Grantham Street  )
 
 
Union Square Shopping Centre
30
  504
 
Brunswick Road
29
(  Grantham Street – Royal Park  )
 
 
Park Street
28
Towards Jewell  
 
 
 
  505;   Upfield
 
 
 
 
Royal Park station
Poplar Road
26
Towards Flemington Bridge  
 
 
 
 
Melbourne Zoo
25
 
State Netball & Hockey Centre
24
 
Macarthur Road
23
 
Royal Park
22
Routes 57 & 59 via Flemington Road  
 
 
 
(  Royal Park – Flemington Road  )
 
 
 
 
Royal Children's Hospital
Abbotsford Street^
19
Route 57 via Abbotsford Street  
 
 
 
  951
 
Gatehouse Street
16
 
Park Drive
15
  401, 402, 403
 
Royal Melbourne Hospital
14
 
 
 
  Route 19 via Elizabeth Street
(  Flemington Road – Peel Street  )
 
 
  19, 59
 
 
 
 
Haymarket
Flemington Road
12
 
 
 
  Routes 19 & 59 via Elizabeth Street
 
Queensberry Street
11
  951;   57
 
 
 
 
Victoria Street
10
 
Queen Victoria Market
9
(Peel Street  )
 
  220, 232
 
Franklin Street
8
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flagstaff station
7
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Towards Melbourne Central
  216, 219, 302, 304, 305, 318, 905, 906, 907, 908
 
Lonsdale Street
6
 
 
 
Bourke Street
5
 
 
 
Collins Street
4
(  William Street – Queens Bridge Street  )
 
(  William Street – Flinders Lane  )
 
 
William Street
3
(Flinders Lane  )
 
 
Market Street*
2
(Market Street  )
 
(  Market Street – Queens Bridge Street  )
 
  216, 219, 220, 234, 236;   35, 70, 75
 
 
 
Flinders Street
1
Towards Southern Cross  
 
 
 
  Towards Flinders Street
  216, 219, 220
 
Casino/Southbank
112
(  Queens Bridge Street – Kings Way  )
 
  234, 236
 
City Road
114
 
 
York Street
115
 
 
 
Sturt Street
116
(Kings Way  )
 
 
Park Street
118
(Park Street  )
 
(  Park Street – St Kilda Road  )
 
 
  Routes 3/3a, 5, 6, 8, 16, 64, 67 & 72 via St Kilda Road
  216, 219, 220;   3/3a, 5, 6, 8, 16, 64, 67 & 72
 
Domain Interchange
20
Route 8 via Domain Road  
 
 
Routes 3/3a, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67 & 72 via St Kilda Road  
 
Connections
Domain Interchange
Stop
Route map is not to scale.

References

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  1. ^ Brown, Geoff. "The tram through the park: the origins of the West Coburg tramway". Melbourne Tramway Museum. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  2. ^ The Plot Thickens Transit News & Views Public Transport Users Association December 1986 page 3
  3. ^ a b c History of Melbourne tram route numbers (1950-2009) Yarra Trams
  4. ^ Melbourne's William Street Tram Services Changed Transit Australia February 1987 page 23
  5. ^ Here & There Trolley Wire issue 228 February 1987 page 24
  6. ^ "Gunzel". www.classicaustraliantv.com. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  7. ^ a b Yarra Trams - changing with the times Yarra Trams 5 August 2005
  8. ^ Changes to your tram service during the Commonwealth Games Yarra Trams 28 February 2006
  9. ^ Say hello to Route 58 Public Transport Victoria
  10. ^ Metro Tunnel to Transform Melbourne's Tram Network Minister for Public Transport 25 October 2016
  11. ^ Trams to head west, route 58 to be born in network overhaul next year The Age 25 October 2016
  12. ^ "New Tram Timetable". Newsrail. Vol. 45, no. 6. Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. June 2017. p. 182. ISSN 0310-7477. OCLC 19676396.
  13. ^ Route 55 Yarra Trams
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  Media related to Melbourne tram route 55 at Wikimedia Commons