Melbourne tram route 5


Melbourne tram route 5 is operated by Yarra Trams on the Melbourne tram network. It operates from Melbourne University to Malvern. The 12.6 kilometre route is operated by Z and D1 class trams from Malvern depot.

History

Route 5 was allocated to the line between Malvern and City on 21 November 1929, the same day that numbers were allocated to the rest of the Swanston St trams. Trams traditionally terminated at the Victoria St terminus, but following an accident in 1991, trams instead terminated at the Queensberry St crossover. Due to congestion during peak hours at the crossover, some trams continued north to Melbourne University. Finally on 17 January 1996, a permanent shunt was built at Melbourne University. From then on, Route 5 trams were altered run full-time to Melbourne University.
The origins of route 5 lie in separate tram lines. The section of track between Queensberry Street and St Kilda Road is the oldest section of this route, dating back to the Brighton Road cable tram which opened on 11 October 1888 by the Melbourne Tramway & Omnibus Company. This cable tram line was electrified in stages by the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board. The section between Domain Interchange and St Kilda Junction was electrified on 27 December 1925. The section between Queensberry Street and City Road was electrified on the same day. The line between City Road and Domain Interchange was electrified on 24 January 1926. The section between St Kilda Junction and Chapel Street also dates back to the cable era, as the Windsor to St Kilda Esplanade cable tramway which opened on 17 October 1891. This section was one the first cable tram to be converted to electric traction on 27 December 1925.
The line east of Hawthorn Road until the Malvern terminus was one of the original lines constructed by the Prahran & Malvern Tramways Trust, which opened on 30 May 1910. The PMTT also built the section between the Sandringham railway line and Wattletree Road, opening on 16 December 1911. This line was extended to Chapel Street on 31 March 1912.
On 24 June 1928, the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board constructed a small section of track between Wattletree Road and Glenferrie Road, giving a more direct route from Burke Road to St Kilda Junction.
As part of the St Kilda Junction separation works, the Wellington Street section was abandoned for a new section of track along the newly created Queens Way on 4 November 1968.
During the 2006 Commonwealth Games, the route was merged with route 55 to West Coburg at Domain Interchange, to alleviate congestion along St Kilda Road.
DatesRouteNotes
During PMTT operationVictoria Bridge to Riversdale Road
21 November 1929 - 15 April 1991City to Malvern Rerouted to Queens Way on 11 April 1968
15 April 1991 - 17 January 1996City to Malvern Some services terminated at Melbourne University
17 January 1996 - onwardsMelbourne University to Malvern

Route

Description

Route 5 operates from Melbourne University travelling south through the CBD on Swanston Street via Melbourne Central station and Flinders Street stations. After crossing the Yarra River it continues south along St Kilda Road to St Kilda Junction, where it descends to Queens Way, Windsor and heads east, at Chapel Street, Queens Way becomes Dandenong Road. It continues east passing through Prahran, Armadale, Malvern and Malvern East to its terminus at Burke Road.

Operation

Route 5 is operated out of Malvern depot by Z and D1 class trams. It is occasionally operated by D2 class trams. From 19:00 the service only operates between Orrong Road and Malvern, with services timetabled to connect with route 64 services.

Route map