M-Tram
Encyclopedia
M>Tram is a former tram
operating company of half of Melbourne
's tramway network
. Part of the National Express Group
, it was created with the rebranding of Swanston Trams in October 2001, and was absorbed into Yarra Trams
on 18 April 2004.
government. The Melbourne tramway network was divided in two, and National Express Group
won the Swanston Trams franchise (along with the Bayside Trains and V/Line
regional passenger franchises).
In October 2001, National Express rebranding Swanston Trams as M>Tram (as well as Bayside Trains to M>Train). The two "M>" business used near-identical, complementing branding, including colour scheme, and the same "Moving Melbourne" banner or motto.
The National Express Group withdrew from their operations in Victoria on 22 December 2002 and the State Government took on the operation of M>Tram, M>Train and V/Line Passenger. In May 2003 the State Government announced that they would establish a single company to operate the tram networks, and was negotiating with Yarra Trams
(who operated the other half of the network) to operate this entity. In February 2004 an agreement was reached, and on 18 April 2004 the last M>Tram service operated.
The M>Tram network was focused on the north-south tram routes in Melbourne, running along Swanston
, Elizabeth
and William Street
s though the CBD and then into the suburbs. It was also responsible for the cross-suburban routes. Brunswick, Essendon, Glenhuntly
and Malvern tram depots were also allocated to the company.
Part of the franchise agreement required replacement of older rolling stock with newer models, and refurbishment of the existing rolling stock. New Siemens
3 and 5 unit Combino
trams were purchased as the D1 and D2 class, the first of 38 D1 class trams entering service on 19 December 2002 and the first of 21 D2 class trams on 3 March 2004. Z3
and B2 class
trams were also internally refurbished by M>Tram, receiving green seat pads, and yellow stanchions and grab rails.
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
operating company of half of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
's tramway network
Trams in Melbourne
The Melbourne tramway network is a major form of public transport in Melbourne, the capital city of the state of Victoria, Australia. , the network consisted of of track, 487 trams, 28 routes, and 1,773 tram stops. It was therefore the largest urban tramway network in the world, ahead of the...
. Part of the National Express Group
National Express Group
National Express Group plc is a British transport group headquartered in Birmingham that operates bus, coach, rail and tram services in the UK, the US and Canada, Spain, Portugal and Morocco and long-distance coach routes across Europe...
, it was created with the rebranding of Swanston Trams in October 2001, and was absorbed into Yarra Trams
Yarra Trams
Yarra Trams is the trading name of the Melbourne tram network, which is fully owned and registered by the Victorian State Government. The current franchise is operated by a consortium named KDR Melbourne which consists of a partnership between French company Keolis and Australian company Downer EDI...
on 18 April 2004.
History
Victoria's train and tram networks were privatised in 1999 under the Jeff KennettJeff Kennett
Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC , a former Australian politician, was the Premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999. He is currently the President of Hawthorn Football Club. He is the founding Chairman of beyondblue, a national depression initiative.- Early life :Kennett was born in Melbourne on 2 March...
government. The Melbourne tramway network was divided in two, and National Express Group
National Express Group
National Express Group plc is a British transport group headquartered in Birmingham that operates bus, coach, rail and tram services in the UK, the US and Canada, Spain, Portugal and Morocco and long-distance coach routes across Europe...
won the Swanston Trams franchise (along with the Bayside Trains and V/Line
V/Line
V/Line is a not for profit regional passenger train and coach service in Victoria, Australia. It was created after the split-up of VicRail in 1983. V/Line is owned by the V/Line Corporation which is a Victorian State Government statutory authority...
regional passenger franchises).
In October 2001, National Express rebranding Swanston Trams as M>Tram (as well as Bayside Trains to M>Train). The two "M>" business used near-identical, complementing branding, including colour scheme, and the same "Moving Melbourne" banner or motto.
The National Express Group withdrew from their operations in Victoria on 22 December 2002 and the State Government took on the operation of M>Tram, M>Train and V/Line Passenger. In May 2003 the State Government announced that they would establish a single company to operate the tram networks, and was negotiating with Yarra Trams
Yarra Trams
Yarra Trams is the trading name of the Melbourne tram network, which is fully owned and registered by the Victorian State Government. The current franchise is operated by a consortium named KDR Melbourne which consists of a partnership between French company Keolis and Australian company Downer EDI...
(who operated the other half of the network) to operate this entity. In February 2004 an agreement was reached, and on 18 April 2004 the last M>Tram service operated.
Operations
Swanston Street, Melbourne
Swanston Street is a major thoroughfare in the centre of Melbourne, Australia. It is historically one of the main streets of central Melbourne, laid out in 1837 as part of the Hoddle Grid, the layout of major streets that makes up the central business district...
, Elizabeth
Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Elizabeth Street is one of the main north-south streets in the central business district of Melbourne, Australia, part of the Hoddle Grid laid out in 1837.- Geography :...
and William Street
William Street, Melbourne
William Street is a major street in the central business district of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It runs roughly north-south from Flinders Street to Victoria Street, and is located in the western half of the Hoddle Grid....
s though the CBD and then into the suburbs. It was also responsible for the cross-suburban routes. Brunswick, Essendon, Glenhuntly
Glenhuntly Tram Depot
Glenhuntly Tram Depot is located in South Caulfield, a suburb of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia.It is one of 8 depots operated in the Yarra Trams network. The depot was opened in 1923.- Yard layout :...
and Malvern tram depots were also allocated to the company.
Part of the franchise agreement required replacement of older rolling stock with newer models, and refurbishment of the existing rolling stock. New Siemens
Siemens AG
Siemens AG is a German multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Munich, Germany. It is the largest Europe-based electronics and electrical engineering company....
3 and 5 unit Combino
Combino
The Combino is a low floor tram produced by Siemens Transportation Systems . The first prototype was produced in 1996 at the Duewag works in Düsseldorf; the trams are currently made in Krefeld-Uerdingen. Because of its modular design using standardised components, and the resulting reduced costs,...
trams were purchased as the D1 and D2 class, the first of 38 D1 class trams entering service on 19 December 2002 and the first of 21 D2 class trams on 3 March 2004. Z3
Z class Melbourne tram
The Z class are a single-unit, bogie tram that operates in Melbourne, Australia. They were built by Comeng, a manufacturing company in Dandenong, Victoria, Australia.-History:...
and B2 class
B class Melbourne tram
The B class are a two-section, three-bogie articulated tram that operates in Melbourne, Victoria. Following the introduction of two B1-class trams in 1984 and 1985, a total of 130 B2-class trams were ordered by the Victorian Government and built by Comeng in Dandenong, Victoria...
trams were also internally refurbished by M>Tram, receiving green seat pads, and yellow stanchions and grab rails.