SHOWBUS AUSTRALIA TRAM IMAGE GALLERY
Melbourne Restaurant Car trams
 |
 |
|||
Page 3 |
| |||
 The newly constructed Acland Street platforms in St Kilda not only allowed easy access for passengers on to the new E Class low floor trams, but also removed the delays to the 96 when the three restaurant cars had to shunt on to the single track, the drivers swap ends and then switch to the city bound track. With two parallel terminal lines all three restaurant cars can sort themselves out on one platform whilst the 96 trams can go about their business. In this Decemeber 2016 view E Class 6010 is doing just that whilst the restaurant cars use the left hand platform, with 935 heading up the trio.
|
 An April 2017 evening view at the same location, with 935 again in pole position, though before arriving at the Acland Street terminus it had, of course, been tail ending the procession.
|
 Later that month the trio were seen at the Acland Street tram stop with E Class 6025 and 935 once again about to lead the procession back towards The Esplanade.
|
 Another place the restaurant cars cause problems is also in St Kilda at the Fitzroy Street/Park Street junction. Here in January 2017 the trio have just travelled along Park Street and now wish to get to Acland Street, already they are keeping a Class A tram off the route 12 stand, where the terminus is only single track. All three trams will now turn left - the only option - into Fitzroy Street, but have to switch tracks to make what could have been a right turn. So routes 3A, 16 and 96 can be held up while the trio shunt across the tracks and the drivers swap ends and then process along The Esplanade. It is not a major problem, but Yarra Trams have been belly aching about the delays the slow moving Class W trams have across the network and wanting to get rid of the restaurant cars as well as the City Circle W trams. In 2018 they almost got at least half of their wishes as the restaurant cars were proclaimed un track worthy and the service was suspended. All three cars being laid up at the Southbank depot. It is believed that the next car out of the Bendigo Tram Museum overhaul facility will be for the restaurant service.
Picture ref B5279 |
Southbank is where the restaurant service starts and these two cars, with 935 leading in February 2018 have just left the newly reconstructed Southbank stop with a new line and shelter for the restaurant car passengers to wait under. They are about to pass between the Casino and Melbourne Exhibition Centre before crossing the Yarra.
Picture ref B9659 |
|
|
|||
Page 3 |
| |||