The Melbourne University tram stop is a major terminating point and stop of the Melbourne tram system. It features a single

island platform An island platform (also center platform, centre platform) is a station layout arrangement where a single platform is positioned between two tracks within a railway station, tram stop or transitway interchange. Island platforms are popular on ...

and three shunts. It is located on

Swanston Street Swanston Street is a major thoroughfare in the centre of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is one of the main streets of the Melbourne central business district and was laid out in 1837 as part of the original Hoddle Grid. The street vertical ...

, Carlton, and is the major tram stop for the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb no ...

, its namesake. It opened in 2005, and is one of the busiest stops on the network; six tram lines terminate at it, while two run through.

History

In 1996, a

headshunt A headshunt (or escape track in the United States) is a short length of track provided to release locomotives at terminal platforms, or to allow shunting to take place clear of main lines. Terminal headshunt A 'terminal headshunt' is a short le ...

was built north of the Melbourne University tram stop on

, Carlton, adjacent to the

to allow services from the south to terminate. The current stop was opened on 15 February 2005. The project, begun by M>Tram, was inherited by

Yarra Trams Yarra Trams is the trading name of the operator of the tram network in Melbourne, Australia, which is owned by VicTrack and leased to Yarra Trams by the Victorian Department of Transport. The current franchise is operated by Keolis Downer. ...

when it commenced operation of the entire tram system in April 2004, and was endorsed by the University of Melbourne and

Melbourne City Council The City of Melbourne is a local government area in Victoria, Australia, located in the central city area of Melbourne. In 2018, the city has an area of and had a population of 169,961. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. The c ...

. It did however attract some controversy, with the

Public Transport Users Association The Public Transport Users Association is a community-based public transport lobby group in Victoria, Australia, based in Melbourne. It is run entirely by volunteers and has no full-time staff. History and aims The organisation was founded ...

and Paul Mees claiming that the location was unsuitable, as if would force those wishing to cross Swanston Street to walk a further . Construction of the stop commenced on 11 January 2005, with the stop opening to passengers on 15 February 2005, for the first 12 days of construction tram services terminated either side of the works, with a shuttle bus diverting around the works site connecting the tram routes.

Design

Melbourne University tram stop consists of one

that provides

accessible Accessibility is the design of products, devices, services, vehicles, or environments so as to be usable by people with disabilities. The concept of accessible design and practice of accessible development ensures both "direct access" (i. ...

entry to

low-floor tram A low-floor tram is a tram that has no stairsteps between one or more entrances and part or all of the passenger cabin. The low-floor design improves the accessibility of the tram for the public, and also may provide larger windows and more airspac ...

s, it is long enough to serve two D2-class trams at the same time, and has three shunts. It was designed by FMSA Architects for Yarra Trams and Department of Infrastructure. The design consists of six steel 'trees', clad with polycarbonate roofing protecting the seating areas; staff amenities; and ramps permitting full disabled access to the stop. The island platform is about long and wide, shunt number 1 is long, and shunts 2 and 3 are long.

Services

The Melbourne University tram stop is one of the busiest on the system, and is utilised by eight routes, six terminating there, and two running through it.

References

External links

{{MelbourneTramNavbox, state=collapsed Trams in Melbourne Buildings and structures in the City of Melbourne (LGA) Transport infrastructure completed in 1996 1996 establishments in Australia Tram stops in Melbourne Transport in the City of Melbourne (LGA)