This is fruit so low it couldn't hang any lower. It could almost be called windfall - there for the taking. It is so sweet that only the short-sighted could have ignored it. But that's what's about to happen when a temporary (and very good) reform to the tram network will be ditched on Sunday.
Don't know what I'm talking about? It's about the streets that Tram Route 12 runs along in the CBD.
If you said that Melbourne's tram network was pretty much stagnant you wouldn't be far wrong. Most alive today would either be old or dead by the time it becomes fully accessible if the current rate is maintained. That's how slow recent progress towards accessibility has been.
Maximum waits are still 30 minutes on most routes, network extensions are as far off as ever and we haven't even seriously optimised what runs now. And as you'll read later even when something is good is done there's a risk of it being retracted rather than continued.
In short, Melbourne's tram network, though carrying only slightly fewer passengers than our trains, has no visible direction, champion or leadership. This is not helped by politics since most elections are decided in seats beyond the tram tracks. Many knew who Sir Robert Risson was. Pretty much no one outside the industry can name the Department of Transport's secretary.
Trams have not kept up with our changing CBD. Consider the need to serve the apartments going up in the northern parts of Spencer St. Or the fast growth of Southbank, Docklands and Southern Cross Station. These factors have made a tram network revision essential rather than desirable. Especially one that can be done for little additional operational cost.
For example Spencer Street needs its own tram route. It's the only key street in the CBD without one. Sure trams run along most of it but they keep turning off it. So you can't get a simple tram up it like you can with other corridors. This affects connectivity to regional trains and Skybus at Southern Cross Station.
Another structural issue with the network is the inability to easily get from northern parts of the CBD to Southern Cross Station. This is despite Melbourne Central Station being nearby. This is only sometimes useful for such trips due to the varying directions of the City Loop over the day and over the week. The journey can be completed with two trams but apart from the extra transfer it adds congestion to the busiest part of tram routes on Swanston and Bourke St. Pedestrian connectivity across Spencer St to Southern Cross from Bourke St isn't great either.
A change to Tram Route 12, introduced as a COVID-19 emergency measure, brought Melbourne closer to the simpler more connected network we need. The change, as announced below, moved Route 12 from Collins St (which shares other tram routes) to the less served La Trobe St.
This temporary change had the following benefits:
* Better access to the rapidly growing northern end of the CBD by boosting service along the historically poorly served La Trobe Street.
* New travel options for Route 12 passengers, including the RMIT city campus and the western end of the CBD.
* A simple continuous service along the full length of Spencer Street
* Improved access to regional trains, regional coaches, and Skybus at Southern Cross Station from the northern part of the CBD
3 comments:
One problem is poor tram infrastructure along Latrobe Street and that is going to cost a lot to remedy, not that it shouldn't be done regardless.
The other is I can imagine how passengers will fume when caught up in a jam of trams when Swanston Street trams so often divert along Latrobe and William Street. Although again that is infrastructure where diverting trams should have greater priority to turn into William Street and without being blocked by cars not clearing the intersection.
I agree this change should be kept. It makes sense to better utilise the La Trobe Street corridor, and reduce track congestion on Collins Street, which already sees 11, 48 and 109 services run, which are all low floor and moderate/high capacity trams. Surely a couple of small A class trams wont be missed.
The direct connection between activity centres on La Trobe (such as RMIT and Melbourne central) to Southbank/Crown/Exhibition Centre is a major improvement to trips through the CBD.
What do you think is the reason they didnt keep this? Would it be a few noisy individuals from the southern half of route 12 who no longer have a one trip journey to work?
I agree that route 12 would be better utilised to run up Spencer and Latrobe Streets, especially as Collins and Bourke St Trams are currently well serviced. As you rightly point out it would have helped create a permanent frequent route to assist businesses, residents and tourists in the northern part of the CBD, providing faster access to Carlton and North Melbourne too.
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