Route 3 - East Malvern

[Obzerva]

Hey,

was just wondering if there was any historical reason (or other reason) why the route 3/3A tram terminus on Waverley Rd at Darling Rd is where it is rather than being extended through to East Malvern station?

always struck me as being a little odd when you could potentially provide a tram link to the station.

[John]

Hey,

was just wondering if there was any historical reason (or other reason) why the route 3/3A tram terminus on Waverley Rd at Darling Rd is where it is rather than being extended through to East Malvern station?

always struck me as being a little odd when you could potentially provide a tram link to the station.

Most likely a legacy from the days the tramways and railways competed against each other for business, particularly during the days of privately run tramway trusts.

[Obzerva]

Ok that would make sense.

I've only ever seen the idea raised once before a while ago, but would think it would be a project that could easily be completed as a way of showing improvemnts to transport, not a big ticket project, just as a little quiet achiever one (as opposed to "public transport improvements" which predominantly benefit road users, ie grade separations) but would certainly improve connections for the Glen Waverley line to the uni at Caulfield, wouldn't hurt for events/big race days at the racecourse either.

wouldn't hurt for Glen Waverley line disruptions either.

[Tranzit Jim]

I would extend the route #3 tram to East Malvern R/S, and, I will also extend the Alamein line to there also.

This would provide an important multi directional interchange of connecting services.

Would provide handy public transport links to the Caulfield racecourse AND University, for those from both Glen Waverly and Camberwell, all with one single change of mode at East Malvern.

[jdekorte]

The terminus of Route 3 has been in place at Darling Rd since around 1913 (FSTD, 2010) and has not moved from this location since, despite numerous overtures to get the route extended to a very logical place East Malvern Station (Strahan, 1989). Indeed, the Prahran & Malvern Tramways Trust (P&MTT) did have the expertise and drive to extend tramways all over this area but were brought up short by the Great Depression. I have read (although can't find the reference at this time), that the route 3 was to be eventually extended to Warrigal Rd then head south to a point somewhere between Centre and South Roads. This was possibly due to the aims of the lobby group called the Surrey Hills to Mentone Tramway League who obviously wanted a tramway all the way down Warrigal Rd (Strahan, 1989). There was evidently a great mistrust between the railways and tramways during this time, despite the fact that the trams (and early buses) brought the people to the railways.

While these schemes had merit in their day (alongside a plan to extend Route 6 to Ashburton Station - Warrigal Rd), the aims were mainly to open up new residential areas as they were sparsely settled - an efficient transport system was seen as a way to open up new suburbs. Upon reflection, this is where Melbourne tends to differ in the early stages of transport building; Melbourne built the train lines and tram lines first, then the people settled.

I believe that the Route 3 will eventually be extended, however being a resident of Malvern I can't see it happening soon. I did have a chat to Michael O'Brien, the Liberal state member for Malvern late last year and I quizzed him on the extension - he hinted that politics was a major stumbling block to getting the line extended. The extension has certainly been on agenda of the PTUA for many years.

Personally I want to see the extension of the Route 3 as part of an integrated transport solution for this part of Malvern, which would include trains, buses and roads. This is my pipe dream:

- Route 3 extended to East Malvern Station with provision to extend to Holmesglen TAFE by following the railway reservation - new interchange constructed at Holmesglen to provide links between the trains, trams, buses and SmartBus.

- Route 6 extended to Ashburton Station with provision to extend to Warrigal Rd.

- Route 72 re-routed to follow Malvern/Waverly Rds then head south to Chadstone SC at Chadstone Rd.

- New tram route to be constructed south from Malvern Rd down Burke Rd to Caulfield Station and north up Burke Rd to join the Route 48.

- Route 5 to be extended to Darling Station then also follow Route 72 down Malvern/Waverly Rds to Chadstone SC.

- Glen Waverly line to be grade separated at Glenferrie Rd, Toorak Rd, Tooronga Rd, Burke Rd & HIgh St.

- Alamein line to be rebuilt to Oakleigh Station but underground from near Alamien with linkages at East Malvern Station and Chadstone SC - an all day shuttle service between Camberwell and Oakleigh to be created.

I realise I went a little off topic here but I am fully advocating for an extension to Route 3 at the very least. If then can extend to Box Hill and Vermont South and into several places in Docklands then they can extend a tram route that hasn't moved for nearly 100 years.

References:
FSTD (2010, January 1st). the Prahran and Malvern Tramways Trust. Friends of Hawthorn Tram Depot. Retrieved February 26th, 2010, from: http://www.hawthorntramdepot.org.au/papers/pmtt.htm

Strahan, L., & Malvern (Vic.). Council. (1989). Private and public memory : a history of the City of Malvern. North Melbourne, Vic.: Hargreen in conjunction with the City of Malvern.

Footnote:
The website of the Friends of Hawthorn Tram Depot (referenced above) is particularly informative and well worth a read.

[mjja]

I happened to walk the route a few months back and (as always) kept my eyes open for options.

Details are on Smart Passengers forums, but in brief, it's fairly straightforward to build apart from the last intersection (Waverley Rd and Malvern Rd) which will probably need right turns banned, and the actual path into the station, which will mean losing a strip of parking.

There might be some backlash from the locals, because that section of Waverley Rd already has a "no trucks" sign (I don't know how legally enforceable that is) which must mean its two lanes (one taken up by on-street parking) aren't coping too well with peak hour traffic. Adding trams might make it a lot worse.

Like all projects, it's more complicated than it looks on the map but with brainy engineering it should be possible.

[Tranzit Jim]

What about the sports oval right in the middle?

How popular is this ground, and could we move it to say over the top of the freeway?

[Bravus]

What about the sports oval right in the middle?

How popular is this ground, and could we move it to say over the top of the freeway?

The sports oval on top of the freeway?