Melbourne tram route 3

Route 3/3a
Melbourne University - Malvern East
Z1 class tram on St Kilda Road in February 2013
Overview
System	Melbourne
Operator	Yarra Trams
Depot	Glenhuntly
Vehicle	Z3 class A class B2 class
Route
Locale	Melbourne, Australia
Start	Melbourne University
Via	Carlton Melbourne CBD (Swanston St) Southbank St Kilda Balaclava St Kilda East Caulfield North
End	Malvern East
Length	3: 14.9 km (9.3 mi) 3a: 16.3 km (10.1 mi)
Service
Journey time	45-65 minutes
Operates	3: Weekdays 3a: Weekends
Zone(s)	Free Zone: Stops 8-13 Myki Zone 1: Stops 1-7, 14-64
Annual patronage	5.5 million
Timetable	Route 3/3a timetable
Map	Route 3/3a map
Route map ← Route 1  {{{system_nav}}}  Route 5 →

Melbourne tram route 3 is operated by Yarra Trams on the Melbourne tram network. It operates from Melbourne University to Malvern East. The 14.9 kilometre route is operated by Z, A and B2 class trams from Glenhuntly depot.^[1][2] On weekends route 3 operates as route 3a and diverts via St Kilda.

History

The origins of route 3 lie in separate tram lines, an electric line from Melbourne University to Queensberry Street, a cable tram from Queensberry Street to Milton Street and an electric line from Acland Street to Darling Road.

Cable trams first travelled from Queensberry Street, Carlton to Milton Street, Balaclava (just south of Carlisle Street), on 11 October 1888, with the line opened by the Melbourne Tramway & Omnibus Company.^[3]

The Prahran & Malvern Tramways Trust (PMTT) opened a line from Acland Street, St Kilda to Hawthorn Road, Caulfield North along Carlisle Street/Balaclava Road on 12 April 1913.^[4] This line was extended east by the PMTT from Hawthorn Road to Darling Road, Malvern East on 13 November 1913.^[4]

The Melbourne, Brunswick & Coburg Tramways Trust opened its line from Park Street, Carlton North to Queensberry Street, Carlton along Lygon, Elgin and Madeline Streets (as the section of Swanston Street north of Victoria Street was originally known) on 31 October 1916.^[4]

The Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board converted the Swanston Street/St Kilda Road cable line to electric traction between 1924 and 1926, with electric trams able to run the entire length from 29 August 1926.^[5]

Large sections of these lines make up what is today's route 3. On 12 November 1961 trams on Sunday were replaced on route 3 by bus route 377. Sunday trams were reinstated on 8 August 1993.^[6]

During the 2006 Commonwealth Games, the route was renumbered 53 and extended to West Coburg, from Domain Interchange, along route 55 to alleviate congestion along St Kilda Road.^[7]

On 31 January 2009, route 3 was altered on the weekends to form route 3a, diverting from the regular route at St Kilda Junction and travelling via Fitzroy Street, The Esplanade and Carlisle Street to rejoin the regular route at the corner of St Kilda Road and Carlisle Street. This was to alleviate overcrowding on route 16.^[8][9]

Route

Description

Z3 class tram on The Esplanade, St Kilda in May 2012

Route 3 operates from Melbourne University travelling south through the CBD on Swanston Street via Melbourne Central and Flinders Street stations. After crossing the Yarra River it continues south along St Kilda Road turning east into Carlisle Street, Balaclava then travelling through St Kilda East, where Carlisle Street becomes Balaclava Road, continuing east travelling through Caulfield North. After passing Caulfield station, it crosses Dandenong Road, and continues east along Waverley Road, Malvern East, terminating at Darling Road.

Route 3a weekend variation

On weekends, route 3 runs as route 3a, diverting from the regular route at St Kilda Junction and travelling via St Kilda on Fitzroy Street, The Esplanade and Carlisle Street, passing St Kilda Beach and Luna Park before rejoining the regular route at the corner of St Kilda Road and Carlisle Street.^[8][9]

Operation

Routes 3 and 3a are operated out of Glenhuntly depot predominantly by Z class trams with A1 and B2 class trams also used.^[2]

Map

Route 3/3a
Melbourne University Routes 1, 6 Stop 1 City La Trobe Street Melbourne Central station Routes 12, 30, City Circle 8 Lonsdale Street 9 Bourke Street Routes 86, 96 10 Collins Street Routes 11, 12, 48, 109 11 Federation Square Flinders St station Routes 70, 75, City Circle 13 Arts Precinct Route 1 14 St Kilda Road Southbank Boulevarde 16 Coventry Street 18 Domain Interchange Route 58 20 Toorak Road 22 Commercial Road Route 72 25 High Street Route 6 27 St Kilda Junction Routes 5, 16, 64, 67 30 St Kilda 3a Weekend Variation St Kilda station Route 96 132 Park Street Route 12 134 Acland Street Route 96 138 Carlisle Street Routes 16, 67 35 St Kilda Town Hall 36 Chapel Street Route 78 37 Balaclava station Balaclava station 38 Orrong Road 43 Kooyong Road 46 Balaclava Junction Routes 16, 64 51 Caulfield Caulfield Racecourse 56 Caulfield station Caulfield station 56 Burke Road 60 Malvern East 64
Not all stops are shown, refer to timetable for full list of stops Green denotes free tram zone

References

External links

• Media related to Melbourne tram route 3 at Wikimedia Commons
• Media related to Melbourne tram route 3a at Wikimedia Commons
• Route 3/3a map
• Route 3/3a timetable