Melbourne tram route 55

     Route 55
West Coburg - Domain Interchange

Overview
System Melbourne
Operator Yarra Trams
Depot Essendon
Vehicle Z class
B class
Ended service 30 April 2017
Route
Locale Melbourne, Australia
Start Pascoe Vale South
Via Brunswick West
Parkville
North Melbourne
West Melbourne
Melbourne CBD (William St)
Southbank
End Domain Interchange
Length 12.5 km (7.8 mi)
Service
Journey time 40-50 minutes
Operates Daily
Zone(s) Free Zone: Stops 10-1
Myki Zone 1: Stops 45-11, 112-119, 20
Annual patronage 6.8 million
Timetable Route 55 timetable
Map Route 55 map
 Route 48  {{{system_nav}}}  Route 57 

Route 55 was a tram route on the Melbourne tram network. The 12.5-kilometre (7.8-mile) route operated between Pascoe Vale South (signed West Coburg) and Domain Interchange, using Z and B-class trams from Essendon depot.[1][2] The service ceased on 30 April 2017.[3]

History

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.[4] Proposed extensions north of Bell Street were never constructed.

Until 14 November 1986, route 55 operated from West Coburg to St Kilda Beach via William Street.[5][6] It was then amended to terminate at Domain Interchange following the opening of a terminating platform at the latter.[7]

Between 1971 and July 2005 route 55 only operated on Mondays to Saturdays, on Sundays the section from West Coburg to the city was covered by route 68.[6][8][9]

During the 2006 Commonwealth Games the route was merged with route 5 to Malvern to alleviate congestion along St Kilda Road.[10]

In October 2016, it was announced that as part of works associated with the construction of Domain railway station, route 55 would be extended from Domain Interchange to Toorak to partly replace route 8 and be renumbered route 58.[11][12]

Route description

The route runs 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 intersects Abbotsford Street, then it travels 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.

This tram route is notable for its windiness and the traverse through Royal Park for some distance. The route also includes passes the State Netball & Hockey Centre and the Melbourne Zoo with an occasional peek at the elephant's shed.

Route 68

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.[13][14]

Route map

     Route 55
Trams are not wheelchair accesible. Free Tram Zone covers stops 10 to 1. Fare zone 1 applies from stop 45 to 11, and 112 to 20.
Connections
West Coburg (Pascoe Vale South) Stop
Bus interchange 513, 527, 903, 951
Bell Street 45
Brearley Parade 44
Princes Terrace 43
Bus interchange 512
Reynard Street 42
Lever Street 41
Bus interchange 510
Moreland Road 40
Mattingley Crescent 39
Jacobs Reserve 38
Bus interchange 503
Albion Street 37
Bus interchange 509, 951
Hope Street 36
Bus interchange 508
Victoria Street 35
Bus interchange 506
Smith Street 34
(Melville Road Up arrow)
(Up arrow Melville Road  Dawson Street Down arrow)
Daly Street 33
Foden Street 32
(Dawson Street Up arrow)
Bus interchange 504
Grantham Street 31
(Grantham Street Down arrow)
Union Square Shopping Centre 30
Bus interchange 504
Brunswick Road 29
(Up arrow Grantham Street  Royal Park Down arrow)
Park Street 28
Towards Jewell Right arrow
Bus interchange 505; Mainline rail interchange Upfield
Royal Park station Poplar Road 26
Towards Flemington Bridge Left arrow
Melbourne Zoo 25
State Netball Hockey Centre 24
Macarthur Road 23
Royal Park 22
Routes 57 & 59 via Flemington Road Left arrow
(Up arrow Royal Park  Flemington Road Down arrow)
Tram interchange 57, 59
Royal Children's Hospital Abbotsford Street^ 19
Route 57 via Abbotsford Street Left arrow
Bus interchange 951
Gatehouse Street 16
Park Drive 15
Bus interchange 401, 402, 403
Royal Melbourne Hospital Grattan Street 14
Right arrow Route 19 via Elizabeth Street
(Up arrow Flemington Road  Peel Street Down arrow)
Tram interchange 19, 59
Haymarket Flemington Road 12
Right arrow Routes 19 & 59 via Elizabeth Street
Queensberry Street 11
Bus interchange 951; Tram interchange 57
Victoria Street 10
Queen Victoria Market 9
(Peel Street Up arrow)
Bus interchange 220, 232
Franklin Street 8
(William Street Down arrow)
Tram interchange 30, 35; Mainline rail interchange City Loop
Flagstaff station La Trobe Street 7
Towards Southern Cross or North Melbourne Left arrow
Right arrow Towards Melbourne Central
Bus interchange 216, 219, 302, 304, 305, 318, 905, 906, 907, 908
Lonsdale Street 6
Tram interchange 86, 96
Bourke Street 5
Tram interchange 11, 12, 48, 109
Collins Street 4
(Up arrow William Street  Queens Bridge Street Down arrow)
(Up arrow William Street  Flinders Lane Down arrow)
William Street 3
(Flinders Lane Up arrow)
Market Street* 2
(Market Street Down arrow)
(Up arrow Market Street  Queens Bridge Street Down arrow)
Bus interchange 216, 219, 220, 234, 236; Tram interchange 35, 70, 75
Flinders Street 1
Towards Southern Cross Left arrow
Right arrow Towards Flinders Street
Bus interchange 216, 219, 220
Casino/Southbank 112
(Up arrow Queens Bridge Street  Kings Way Down arrow)
Bus interchange 234, 236
City Road 114
West Gate Freeway
York Street 115
Tram interchange 1
Sturt Street 116
(Kings Way Up arrow)
Park Street 118
(Park Street Down arrow)
(Up arrow Park Street  St Kilda Road Down arrow)
Right arrow Routes 3/3a, 5, 6, 8, 16, 64, 67 & 72 via St Kilda Road
Bus interchange 216, 219, 220; Tram interchange 3/3a, 5, 6, 8, 16, 64, 67 & 72
Domain Interchange 20
Route 8 via Domain Road Right arrow
Routes 3/3a, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67 & 72 via St Kilda Road Down arrow
Connections
Domain Interchange Stop
*Domain Interchange-bound stop closed until 2019[15][16]
^Depot services divert to the depot at Royal Children's Hospital via route 59.
Expand to show intermediate stops. Route map is not to scale.

References

  1. Facts & figures Yarra Trams
  2. Route 55 Yarra Trams
  3. "Say hello to Route 58". Public Transport Victoria. Archived from the original on 30 April 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  4. Brown, Geoff. "The tram through the park: the origins of the West Coburg tramway". Melbourne Tramway Museum. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  5. The Plot Thickens Transit News & Views Public Transport Users Association December 1986 page 3
  6. 1 2 History of Melbourne tram route numbers (1950-2009) Yarra Trams
  7. Here and There Trolley Wire issue 228 February 1987 page 24 (large file)
  8. Yarra Trams - changing with the times Yarra Trams 5 August 2005
  9. History of Melbourne Trams Routes from 1950 to 2009 Yarra Trams
  10. Changes to your tram service during the Commonwealth Games Yarra Trams 28 February 2006
  11. Metro Tunnel to Transform Melbourne's Tram Network Minister for Public Transport 25 October 2016
  12. Trams to head west, route 58 to be born in network overhaul next year The Age 25 October 2016
  13. Yarra Trams - changing with the times Yarra Trams 5 August 2005
  14. Hugh Waldron (2009-10-16). "History of Melbourne tram route numbers (1950-2009)" (PDF). Yarra Trams. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  15. "Route 55 - Temporary Tram Stop Changes - Monday 13 February to late 2019". Yarra Trams. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  16. "Route 55: Temporary tram stop closure from Monday 13 February 2017 to late 2019". Public Transport Victoria. Archived from the original on 4 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
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