Vehicle Z3 class | Depot Essendon Locale Melbourne, Australia | |
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Melbourne tram route 57 is operated by Yarra Trams on the Melbourne tram network. It operates from West Maribyrnong to Flinders Street station. The 11.6 kilometre route is operated by Z3 class trams from Essendon depot. On 12 November 1961 trams on Sunday were replaced on route 57 by buses. Sunday trams were reinstated on 8 August 1993.
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Route
The route runs from the corner of Cordite and Central Park Avenues, West Maribyrnong via Moonee Ponds, Ascot Vale, Flemington, Kensington and North Melbourne before proceeding along Elizabeth Street to terminate outside Flinders Street station.
Route 57 shares track with route 82 between the intersection of Raleigh and Wests Roads, Maribyrnong and Maribyrnong and Union Roads, Ascot Vale. A loop siding exists at the south end of Union Road in Ascot Vale and is used during special events at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds and Flemington Racecourse to handle the additional trams used to move the crowds of passengers.
Proposed extensions
There have been proposals, supported by the Public Transport Users Association and local politicians, to extend route 57 north-west along Milleara Road to Avondale Heights and East Keilor. Variations of this proposal including building a park and ride facility near the terminus, or establishing a high frequency bus service between the terminus and East Keilor down Milleara Road.
The State Government in 2009 also proposed the tram be extended into the new suburb planned for the former Maribyrnong Defence Site. The tram would head north from its current terminus into the heart of the new suburb.