Domain Interchange

Domain Interchange
Southbound view in November 2013
Location	St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Operated by	Yarra Trams
Platforms	2 island platforms
Tracks	4 (including 2 turning tracks)
Construction
Disabled access	Yes
History
Opened	1889
Closed	28 March 2013
Rebuilt	12 April 2013

Domain Interchange is a major interchange on the Melbourne tram system. Featuring two island platforms with four tracks, it has dedicated turning tracks and through tracks. It is located on St Kilda Road between Domain Road and Park Street, adjacent to Kings Domain, and is one of the busiest interchanges on the system, being used by nine tram routes. The current structure was opened in April 2013, replacing an earlier structure built in the 1980s.

History

Northbound view before the redevelopment in February 2013

The junction now known as Domain Interchange was open during the cable era in 1889. It was the connection between the "Brighton Road – Queensberry Street" line and the newly opened "Toorak" line which left St Kilda Road to travel along Domain Road; both lines traversed Swanston Street and St Kilda Road.^[1] From 1925 to 1927 these two cable lines were converted to electric traction.^[2]

In preparation for the electrification of St Kilda Road, a new depot and tracks were constructed, this brought a new line to Domain Junction, along Park Street and Hanna Street, which opened in 1925. It served as a means of diverting trams around the works on St Kilda Road without necessitating the construction of temporary track, and connected with the existing Sturt Street line. It would also serve as the first, and primary connection between Hanna Street tram depot (later South Melbourne depot) and St Kilda Road; the other being Sturt Street, which followed early in 1926. The "Toorak" cable tram line was converted to electric traction following the completion of St Kilda Road's conversion.^[2][3][4][5]

Prior to the April 2013 redevelopment of Domain Interchange, it had last been redeveloped in the 1980s, and had three tracks and shelters.^[6][7]

During the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games changes were made to the tram system. Among these changes, routes 3 and 5 were through-routed to West Coburg through Domain Interchange, becoming routes 53 and 55 respectively for the duration of the games.^[8]

Redevelopment

Domain Interchange during redevelopment, 4 April 2013

The desire to redevelop Domain Interchange was raised by Yarra Trams CEO Dennis Cliche in a 2007 interview, with Cliche stating the redevelopment, along with other stops on St Kilda Road, was a priority; reiterating earlier comments in which he described it as "in need of an upgrade and a facelift."^[9][10] Yarra Trams announced plans for the redevelopment of Domain Interchange in early 2013, with work commencing over the Easter 2013 long weekend.^[11]

The new interchange has two island platforms that provide accessible entry to low-floor trams, four tracks, and created new bicycle lanes in the part of St Kilda Road surrounding the interchange. The redevelopment cost $10.2 million and was delivered by Coleman Rail, with design by GHD.^[6][7][12] The track arrangement gives dedicated tracks to route 55 trams from Park Street to terminate, and southbound 8 trams to turn left in Toorak Road, without impacting other routes, who continue through the middle tracks.^[13]

Preparatory works began in February, with major construction spanning from the Easter break of 2013.^[11][14] The commencement of major works necessitated the full closure of St Kilda Road, with trams terminating either side of the interchange, and passengers walking around the works site to continue their journey.^[15] Major works commenced on 29 March with a full closure of the intersection, St Kilda Road opening two lanes on 3 April, and partial road closures continuing for the duration of the works.^[6] The completed interchange opened on the morning of 12 April 2013, with Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder lauding the projects improvements to the tram and bike system, and Yarra Trams stating the project to be the largest redevelopment they had undertaken.^[16][17][18]

Future

Aerial photograph of the previous Domain Interchange, 2004

The Domain railway station on the proposed Melbourne Metro is planned to be 80 metres away from Domain Interchange.^[12] Yarra Trams have raised their desire to spread tram services more evenly across the system, suggesting to send Toorak trams across the interchange into Park Street, where they would continue into the city.^[19]

Routes

Domain Interchange is one of the busiest tram interchanges on the system, with 14,000 passengers using it every day, and 150,000 passing through it. It is utilised by nine tram routes, one terminating there, and eight running through it.^{[6][11][12][20][21]}

The following routes operate to or through Domain Interchange:

• Route 3/3a – Melbourne University to East Malvern (diverting via St Kilda on weekends)^[22]
• Route 5 – Melbourne University to Malvern^[23]
• Route 6 – Melbourne University to Glen Iris^[24]
• Route 8 – Moreland to Toorak^[25] (Turns into Domain Road from the northern turning track.)
• Route 16 – Melbourne University to Kew^[26]
• Route 55 – West Coburg to Domain Interchange^[27] (Terminates at the southern track.)
• Route 64 – Melbourne University to East Brighton^[28]
• Route 67 – Melbourne University to Carnegie^[29]
• Route 72 – Melbourne University to Camberwell^[30]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Domain Interchange.

• Time lapse footage of the Domain Interchange redevelopment – Yarra Trams YouTube channel
• Public Transport Victoria
• Yarra Trams
• Official network maps

Coordinates: 37°49′58″S 144°58′20″E / 37.832677°S 144.972085°E / -37.832677; 144.972085