Melbourne tram route 3

Summary

Melbourne tram route 3 is operated by Yarra Trams on the Melbourne tram network from Melbourne University to Malvern East. The 14.9-kilometre (9.3 mi) route is operated out of Glenhuntly depot with Z and B class trams. Until 29 October 2023, route 3 operated as route 3a on weekends and diverted via St Kilda Beach.

Route 3
B class tram on Swanston Street in February 2023
Overview
SystemMelbourne
OperatorYarra Trams
DepotGlenhuntly
VehicleZ3 class
B2 class
Began service1 November 1970
Route
StartMelbourne University
ViaSwanston Street
St Kilda Road
Brighton Road
Balaclava
Caulfield
EndMalvern East
Length14.9 kilometres
Service
OperatesWeekdays
Timetabletimetable
MapRoute 3/3a map
← Route 1  {{{system_nav}}}  Route 5 →
Route 3a
B class tram on route 3a at the intersection of Flinders Lane and Market Street in November 2023
Overview
SystemMelbourne
OperatorYarra Trams
DepotGlenhuntly
VehicleZ3 class
B2 class
Began service31 January 2009
Ended service29 October 2023
Route
StartMelbourne University
ViaSwanston Street
St Kilda Road
St Kilda
Balaclava
Caulfield
EndMalvern East
Length16.3 kilometres
Service
OperatesWeekends
Timetabletimetable
MapRoute 3/3a map
← Route 1  {{{system_nav}}}  Route 5 →

History edit

The origins of route 3 lie in separate tram lines. The section of track between Queensberry Street (Stop 4) and Brighton Road (Stop 35) 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 (Stop 20) and St Kilda Junction (Stop 30) was electrified on 27 December 1925. The section between Queensberry Street and City Road (near Stop 14) was electrified on the same day. The line between City Road and Domain Interchange was electrified on 24 January 1926, and the line between St Kilda Junction and Carlisle Street (Stop 35) was finally electrified on 29 August 1926.

The section of route 3 between Brighton Road (Stop 35) and Malvern East (Darling Road) was constructed by the Prahran & Malvern Tramways Trust (PMTT). Initially, a line was opened from St Kilda Beach to Hawthorn Road along Carlisle Street/Balaclava Road on 12 April 1913. This line was extended east by the PMTT from Hawthorn Road to Darling Road, Malvern East on 13 November 1913.[1] Meanwhile, the Melbourne, Brunswick & Coburg Tramways Trust (MBCTT) constructed the section of Route 3 north of Queensberry Street towards Melbourne University. This section opened on 31 October 1916.

On 12 November 1961, trams operating on Route 3 (Route 4D before 1970) on Sunday were replaced by bus route 377 to save operating costs. Sunday trams were reinstated on 8 August 1993 following the abolition of conductors.[2]

Route 3 was allocated to the line between the City (Swanston Street) to Malvern East (Darling Road) on 1 November 1970 following a major route number revision for trams running on Swanston Street.[3] Prior to this, the line was run by Route 4D, an allocation that dates back to 1930. Trams traditionally terminated at the Victoria Street terminus, but following an accident in 1991, trams instead terminated at the Queensberry Street crossover. Due to congestion during peak hours at the crossover, some trams continued north to the Melbourne University. Finally on 17 January 1996, a permanent shunt was built at Melbourne University. From then on, route 3 trams were altered run full-time to Melbourne University.[4]

During the 2006 Commonwealth Games, the route was renumbered 53 and extended to West Coburg during peak hour and the Dudley Street sidings during off peak, from Domain Interchange, along route 55 to alleviate congestion along St Kilda Road.[5]

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.[6][7] Route 3a ceased operations after 29 October 2023, and all services operate as route 3 throughout the week.[8]

Melbourne tram route 3 evolution
Dates Route Notes
During PMTT operation St Kilda Road to Malvern tram depot
1 November 1970 - 15 April 1991 City (Victoria Street) to Malvern East (Darling Road) Prior to that ran as Route 4D
15 April 1991 - 16 January 1996 City (Queensberry Street / Swanston Street) to Malvern East (Darling Road) Some services terminated at Melbourne University
17 January 1996 - present Melbourne University to Malvern East (Darling Road)

Route edit

 
Z class tram on The Esplanade, St Kilda in May 2012
 
Z class tram on St Kilda Road in February 2013

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 edit

Between 31 January 2009 and 29 October 2023, on weekends, route 3 ran 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.[6][7]

Operation edit

Route 3 (and formerly 3a) is operated out of Glenhuntly depot and is predominantly run by Z class trams with B class trams also used.[9][10][11]

Route map edit

Melbourne Tram Route 3
Melbourne University - Malvern East
via City, Balaclava & Caulfield North
Free tram zone covers stops 8 to 13, fare zone 1 applies from stop 1 to 7, 14 to 64
Suburb
Street
Stop
No.
Melbourne University
Connections
 
continues as Tram 1 & 6
towards East Coburg & Moreland
1
 
Melbourne University
 
1, 5, 6, 16
64, 67, 72
;  
401, 402
403, 546
3
 
Lincoln Square
4
 
Queensberry Street
 
 
Victoria Street
No Service
7
 
 
 
RMIT University
 
 
 
 
La Trobe Street
Tram 30, City Circle
 
 
 
 
  Melbourne Central station
8
 
Melbourne Central station
10
 
Bourke Street Mall
 
 
 
Bourke Street
Tram 86, 96
 
 
 
Collins Street
Tram 11, 12, 48, 109
11
 
Collins Street
 
 
 
Flinders Street
Tram 70, 75, City Circle
 
 
 
 
  Flinders Street station
13
 
Flinders Street station
14
 
 
 
Arts Precinct
  1;  
216, 219
220
 
 
Southbank Boulevard
Tram 1
17
 
Grant Street - Police Memorial
19
 
Shrine of Remembrance
 
 
Park Street
Tram 58
 
   West Coburg
20
 
 
 
Anzac Station
 
 
Domain Road
No Service (Temporary Closure)
21
 
Bowen Crescent
22
 
Toorak Road
 
 
Toorak Road
Tram 58
Toorak  
 
23
 
Arthur Street
24
 
Leopold Street
25
 
Commercial Road
  72;   216, 219, 220
 
 
Commercial Road
Tram 72
Camberwell  
 
26
 
Moubray Street
27
 
High Street
 
 
High Street
Tram 6
Glen Iris  
 
29
 
Union Street
30
 
 
 
St Kilda Junction
  5, 16, 64
 
 
Dandenong Road
Tram 5, 64
 
 
 
Fitzroy Street
Tram 16
 
   St Kilda
31
 
Barkly Street
32
 
Alma Road
33
 
Argyle Street
34
 
Inkerman Street
35
 
Carlisle Street
 
 
 
Brighton Road
Tram 67
 
   Carnegie
 
Brighton Road
Balaclava
Carlisle Street
36
 
 
 
St Kilda Town Hall
37
 
Chapel Street
 
 
 
Chapel Street
Tram 78
38
 
Balaclava station
 
 
 
 
  Balaclava station
39
 
Orange Grove
 
Balaclava Road
40
 
Hotham Street
  216, 219
Caulfield North
Balaclava Road
41
 
 
 
Empress Road
42
 
Sidwell Avenue
43
 
Orrong Road
  220
44
 
Ontario Street
45
 
Kent Grove
46
 
Kooyong Road
  605
47
 
Elmhurst Road
51
 
Hawthorn Road
 
 
 
Hawthorn Road
Tram 16, 64
52
 
Caulfield Park Bowling Club
53
 
Caulfield Park
54
 
Kambrook Road
55
 
Normanby Road
 
Normanby Road
56
 
Caulfield Racecourse
  624
 
Sir John Monash Drive
57
 
Caulfield station
 
 
 
 
  Caulfield station
 
Derby Road
58
 
Dandenong Road
59
 
 
 
Waverley Road
 
Waverley Road
60
 
Burke Road
  624
61
 
Tennyson Street
62
 
The Avenue
63
 
Oak Grove
64
 
Darling Road
  624
Suburb
Street
Stop
No.
Malvern East
Connections

References edit

  1. ^ The early days Yarra Trams
  2. ^ Melbourne - Other Services Trolley Wire issue 255 November 1993 page 11
  3. ^ Melbourne Electric Traction November 1970 page 4
  4. ^ "Gunzel". www.classicaustraliantv.com. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  5. ^ Changes to your tram service during the Commonwealth Games - March 2006 Yarra Trams
  6. ^ a b Yarra Trams boosts weekend trams services to St Kilda Yarra Trams 30 January 2009
  7. ^ a b Your new weekend tram service to St Kilda - Route 3a Yarra Trams 31 January 2009
  8. ^ "Tram timetable changes". PTV. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  9. ^ Glenhuntly Depot Vicsig
  10. ^ Facts & figures Yarra Trams
  11. ^ Routes 3/3a Yarra Trams

External links edit

  Media related to Melbourne tram route 3 at Wikimedia Commons