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Old meets new at the Southbank depot in December 2017. The first of the second fifty Bombardier Flexity Swift trams for Melbourne, 6051, meets early model, 6005. The obvious differences are at the front end. Newer 6051 is less elegant with steeper raked windscreen and a more domed roof. The redesign aimed to reduce glare for drivers. Inside more hand holds were added to counter some safety concerns.
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Seen on the streets of Melbourne that month was 6058.
Picture ref B8998 |
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Approaching the 96 terminus in East Brunswick in January 2018 Bombardier 6055.
Picture ref B9599 |
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Car 6057 approaches the railway bridge which spans the Spencer and Flinders Streets junction in January 2018 as it heads towards Southern Cross Station. The imposing Grand Hotel can be seen ahead beyond the bridge.
Picture ref B9637 |
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Heading in the opposite direction towards the Melbourne Exhibition Centre in March 2018 is E2 6051 again.
Picture ref B9759 |
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Moments later, at the MEC and the Crown Casino stop 6051 is paused with city bound 6017.
Picture ref B9760 |
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Emerging from the Flinders Street railway bridge in April 2018 is Bombardier 6056.
Picture ref B9636 |
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Moving up Collins Street on an 11 in May 2018 6062 crosses Swanston Street by the Town Hall.
Picture ref C121 |
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Awaiting its return to East Brunswick, 6067 is seen in November 2018 at the St Kilda Acland Street terminus.
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Out in North Fitzroy on the 96 6070 is city and St Kilda bound in November 2018.
Picture ref C2412 |
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Car 6069 awaits an evening departure for East Brunswick in Acland Street in November 2018.
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Seen at the same place in January 2019 is 6067, but on the other platform.
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Heading up Bourke Street on a 96 under the Christmas decorations in January 2019 is 6060.
Picture ref C2420 |
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About to cross the Yarra via Lamont Bridge (the 7th Bridge of Love!) towards the city and along Spencer Street that January is Bombardier 6063.
Picture ref C2585 |
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Departing Acland Street in February 2019 is car 6065.
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This next pair of photos shows an interesting circumstance. Early Bombardier 6019 sustained serious front end damage and it was rebuilt to E2 standard as this April 2019 Acland Street shot with 6055 shows.
Picture ref C3232 |
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From the other end, 6019 has been untouched and the E and E2 front ends can be compared.
Picture ref C3233 |
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Early evening April sun glows on the buildings behind 6073 at Acland Street a few days later.
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Bombardier 6073 is seen on Nicholson Street in Fitzroy North that April approaching Brunswick East.
Picture ref C3397 |
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Passing the ornate Princess Theatre on Spring Street before heading down Bourke Street and through the city to St Kilda in April 2019 is Bombardier 6067.
Picture ref C3488 |
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Car 6081 leaves Acland Street 96 terminus in Decemeber 2019.
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In February 2020 new 6083 is seen alongside older 6049.
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This unidentified E2-class tram in seen from Southern Cross Station on a very wet day in December 2020.
Picture ref C7080 |
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Departing Acland Street in May 2020 under Daniel Andrew's lockdowns is an empty 6085.
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Lovely sunshine that month as 6079 passes the Palais Theatre and Luna Park as it heads for a desolate city.
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A nearside view of 6087 on St Kilda Esplanade, city bound, later in November.
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Also at Acland Street terminus that November was 6089. Note the man sat on the left wearing the compulsory face mask.
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Same place, same month and 6059 is on the other platform.
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Seen through socially distanced outside eaters at the La Roche restaurant in December is 6057.
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March 2021 evening sunlight shines on 6093 as it turns on to The Esplanade from Fitzroy Street in St Kilda.
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Besides several of the longer trams routes like the 11, 58, 86 and 96, the E2-class also run on the shorter 30 from Docklands to St Vincents Plaza via La Trobe Street, only the Plaza stop is outside the Free Tram Zone. About to cross Swanston Street on route to the Plaza on a very wet day in March 2021 is Bombardier 6061.
Picture ref C7604 |
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In May 2021 an event in the city saw several E-class high capacity trams deployed on short workings of the 75. Cars 6076, 6057 and 6065 are seen at the rarely used Wellington Parade sidings abutting Hoddle Street.
Picture ref P6608 |
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New 6093 is seen on The Esplanade, city bound, in July 2021.
Picture ref P7344 |
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Car 6096 arrives is Acland Street that month while another waits to depart the terminus.
Picture ref P7415 |
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The final delivery, 6100, is seen in December 2022 at Acland Street.
Picture ref P2642 |
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Seen in Northcote on the 86 in February 2023 is 6081.
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An unusual sighting that February was 6063 at the St Kilda terminus of route 12, usually worked by the smaller A-class trams!.
Picture ref P3529 |
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Seen on Smith Street in Fitzroy in April 2023 on the 86 was Bombardier 6072.
Picture ref P3964 |
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An amazing Melbourne golden sunset in South Yarra that April bathes the buildings behind 6091 on the 58. The 58 was the last route to receive Bombardiers, but there were not enough to go round so B-class and even Z-class trams are to be seen on the route from Toorak to West Coburg via the Zoo.
Picture ref P3976 |
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Another unusual sight from March 2024 was E2 6061 at Port Melbourne Pier Station, usually the preserve of Citadis trams and the odd A-class on the 109 across to Box Hill. Car 6061 was not on the 109 but on a test run from Southbank depot a relatively short distance away.
Picture ref P6544 |
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Seen passing at St Kilda Station in February 2025 are 6060 and 6070, the latter in a wrap for Commonwealth Bank. Since new the Bombardiers had been excluded from the city's thirst for all over advert trams, but apart from a couple "that got away" things suddenly took off in 2025 with advertisers eager to get an E-class wrapped!
Picture ref P9298 |
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The last and the first. Our first picture contrasted the first E2, 6051 with 605, one of the early E-class deliveries. Here at the Acland Street terminus in January 2025 we see 6051 with the last of the E-class, 6050.
Picture ref P9140 |
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