The earliest trams in Australia operated in the latter decades of the 19th century, hauled by horses or "steam tram motors" (also known as "steam dummies"). At the turn of the 20th century, propulsion almost universally turned to electrification, although cable trams (established in 1885) lingered in Melbourne. In cities and towns that had trams, they were a major part of public transport assets.
In the middle of the 20th century trams fell out of favour, in part because of deferred maintenance during World War II and declining patronage resulting from increased private car ownership. Lines were closed or severely cut back except in Melbourne: its network of 24 routes covering 250 km (155 mi) is now the largest in the world.
Victor Harbor's horse drawn tramway is one of the very few horse-drawn tram routes remaining in public transit service anywhere in the world. It operates every day throughout the year except Christmas Day. Clydesdale horses pull up to three double-decker tramcars from the Victor Harbor foreshore 3.1 km to Granite Island via a bridge and causeway. Contrary to what many people think, the tramline is not a recently devised tourisr gimmick, but a genuine historic transport link between the town of Victor Harbor and its offshore island.
Trams have operated continuously in Melbourne since 1885 (the horse tram line in Fairfield opened in 1884) and have been a major form of public transport since then. In fact, trams are the second most used form of public transport in overall boardings in Melbourne after the commuter railway network, with a total of 206 million passenger trips in 2017–18. As of May 2017, the Melbourne tramway network consists of 250 kilometres of double track, 493 trams, 24 routes, and 1,763 tram stops. The system is the largest operational urban tram network in the world.
Photo: transportnsw.info
The Sydney Light Rail network currently consists of three passenger routes, the L1 Dulwich Hill, L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford lines. A separate light rail network serving Western Sydney called Parramatta Light Rail is also under construction as of 2020, and is scheduled for completion in 2023. The network is controlled by Transport for NSW, with day-to-day operation contracted to Transdev. You can use an Opal Card and you can also buy single trip tickets at Opal Top-up machines at light rail stops. Noting that the Opal Card offers a discounted rate over single-use tickets. With an Opal Card, you tap on when entering and tap off when exiting.
Adelaide's famous Bay Tram runs regularly from the heart of the Adelaide CBD and takes approximately 30 minutes from Victoria Square to downtown Glenelg. Until 1958, Trams in Adelaide formed a network spanning most of suburban Adelaide, with a history dating back to 1878. Adelaide ran horse trams from 1878 to 1914 and electric trams from 1909, but has primarily relied on buses for public transport since 1958.
Bendigo Tramways is an historic attraction offering city history tours on restored trams from the early and mid-20th century. Bendigo electrified its steam-tram service to the neighbouring Borough of Eaglehawk in 1902, and extended this line from Bendigo railway station to Quarry Hill. At the same time, a new line was constructed from Golden Square to Lake Weeroona (later extended to North Bendigo). These two lines passed over each other at Charring Cross, and it is a section of the latter which has been retained for its historic tourist operation. The famous heritage "talking tram" and "cafe tram" are run by the Bendigo Trust. The Depot and Worshop is temporarily closed for public tours.
The first modern light rail system in Queensland opened on the Gold Coast in 2014. Called G:link, it runs on a single 20-kilometre line between Helensvale railway station and Broadbeach via Gold Coast University Hospital, Southport and Surfers Paradise. The route forms a public transport spine on the Coast and connects with bus services along the route. A northern extension, from the original terminus at Gold Coast University Hospital to Helensvale railway station, was completed in 2018 before the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
The Canberra light rail network, also known as Canberra Metro, is a light rail system serving the city of Canberra, Australia. The initial 12-kilometre line links the northern town centre of Gungahlin to the city centre and has 14 stops. Services commenced on 20 April 2019. Walter Burley Griffin's master plan for Canberra proposed the construction of a tram network. The proposal did not eventuate and the city was exclusively served by buses from 1926, when the Canberra City Omnibus Service was introduced, until 2019.
The Portland Cable Tram project was established in 1996 as a tourist attraction. The line is 3.7 kilometres long and journeys depart from and return to the Portland Cable Tram Museum and Depot. The trams usually run five times a day, but only four services operate daily during winter. Although the rolling stock in use are replicas or restored models of cable trams, they now run with diesel motors. The Portland Cable Tram Museum and Depot is home to an 1880 horse-drawn carriage owned by Edward Henty, the first permanent European settler in the Port Phillip District (later Victoria), as well as model railway exhibits, classic cars and the largest private gemstone collection in the southern hemisphere.
Newcastle light rail runs from Newcastle Interchange in Wickham, through the central business district to Pacific Park and Newcastle Beach. Major construction commenced in September 2017 and the line was opened on 17 February 2019. It is operated by Newcastle Transport for Transport for NSW. Newcastle first had trams from 1887 until 1950, when the final line, the Waratah line, was replaced by buses. At its peak, the system ran to Speers Point and West Wallsend. It was mostly served by trams of the LP design, rebuilds of the F class trams from Sydney.
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