Trams in Bendigo
Encyclopedia
Tram
s have operated in the city of Bendigo
, Victoria
, Australia
since 1890, and continue to operate today as a tourist attraction. Limited trials have also been made in 2009 with operating commuter service, but with minimal usage by the public.
operated, but only lasted three months before being withdrawn due to their unreliability. A steam tram system commenced operation in 1892 operated by the Bendigo Tramways Company Limited, and lasted until 1902. Electric trams commenced in 1903 operated by the Electric Supply Company of Victoria, the network eventually covering two routes, one north-south from North Bendigo through the city centre to Golden Square
, and Eaglehawk
through the city centre to Quarry Hill
.
The Electric Supply Company of Victoria was taken over by the State Government State Electricity Commission of Victoria
(SECV) in 1934 as part of the centralisation of the supply of electricity in Victoria. The SECV was in the power generation business, and did not want to operate the loss making provincial tramways of Bendigo, Ballarat
and Geelong
but was forced to by the State Government.
In 1957-58 tram passengers were paying an average fare of 3 cents while the service cost 8.75 cents to provide, and by 1961-62 the cost was 10 cents. Between 1961 and 1969 patronage fell 46 percent, and the SECV was refused Legislative Council permission in 1968 to abandon the service. Services remained operated by the SECV until April 1972 when the Bendigo tramways were closed.
Between 1996 and 1998, a tourist restaurant and cafe trams was introduced to Bendigo, following the success of a similar model of the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant
in Melbourne
. The idea proved very popular and the Bendigo fleet has since increased in size.
In 2005 a proposal was put forward to the City of Greater Bendigo
to extend the tourist tram route around Lake Weeroona, however the plan met staunch opposition from the community and it was ultimately rejected putting the viability of the network at risk.
In 2008, notable environmental scientist Peter Newman called for modernisation of the Bendigo tram network to operate as a form of public transport.
After calls from the community organisations and representatives, a week long trial of commuter tram services was trialled in December 2008, followed by a second trial between March 16 and April 9, 2009 with trams running every 20 minutes during the morning and afternoon peaks between North Bendigo, Golden Square and the CBD. Fares were set at A$2 a ride. The trials attracted good publicity and support from the Bendigo +25 Transport Action Group, but resulted in light ridership. The Bendigo Tramways concluded that the trial "showed that Bendigonians are still more comfortable using their cars" but should the need arise to reintroduce the trams as a commuter service, "we are certainly up to the task".
In February 2010 the Bendigo Tramways received $3.1 million to fund a redevelopment of the depot, including an extension of the depot and workshop, redevelopment of the administration building, landscaping and heritage conservation and safety works. The works will double the workshop's capacity, which also restores parts for heritage trams around the world.
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...
s have operated in the city of Bendigo
Bendigo, Victoria
Bendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia, located very close to the geographical centre of the state and approximately north west of the state capital Melbourne. It is the second largest inland city and fourth most populous city in the state. The estimated urban...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
since 1890, and continue to operate today as a tourist attraction. Limited trials have also been made in 2009 with operating commuter service, but with minimal usage by the public.
As public transport
The first trams in Bendigo were batteryBattery (electricity)
An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
operated, but only lasted three months before being withdrawn due to their unreliability. A steam tram system commenced operation in 1892 operated by the Bendigo Tramways Company Limited, and lasted until 1902. Electric trams commenced in 1903 operated by the Electric Supply Company of Victoria, the network eventually covering two routes, one north-south from North Bendigo through the city centre to Golden Square
Golden Square, Victoria
Golden Square is a suburb of Bendigo in Victoria, Australia.-Today:Golden Square is home to The Bulldogs Football and Netball Team competing in the Bendigo Football League...
, and Eaglehawk
Eaglehawk, Victoria
Eaglehawk is a former gold-mining town in Victoria, Australia and a suburb within the City of Greater Bendigo.The town is situated to the north-west of Bendigo on the Loddon Valley Highway. The highway is known locally as High Street until the intersection with Sailors Gully Road and as Peg Leg...
through the city centre to Quarry Hill
Quarry Hill, Victoria
Quarry Hill is an inner suburb of Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. The suburb is located south of the Bendigo city centre. At the 2006 census, Quarry Hill had a population of 2,222....
.
The Electric Supply Company of Victoria was taken over by the State Government State Electricity Commission of Victoria
State Electricity Commission of Victoria
The State Electricity Commission of Victoria was a monopoly electricity generation, transmission and supply utility located in Victoria, Australia...
(SECV) in 1934 as part of the centralisation of the supply of electricity in Victoria. The SECV was in the power generation business, and did not want to operate the loss making provincial tramways of Bendigo, Ballarat
Ballarat, Victoria
Ballarat is a city in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately west-north-west of the state capital Melbourne situated on the lower plains of the Great Dividing Range and the Yarrowee River catchment. It is the largest inland centre and third most populous city in the state and the fifth...
and Geelong
Geelong, Victoria
Geelong is a port city located on Corio Bay and the Barwon River, in the state of Victoria, Australia, south-west of the state capital; Melbourne. It is the second most populated city in Victoria and the fifth most populated non-capital city in Australia...
but was forced to by the State Government.
In 1957-58 tram passengers were paying an average fare of 3 cents while the service cost 8.75 cents to provide, and by 1961-62 the cost was 10 cents. Between 1961 and 1969 patronage fell 46 percent, and the SECV was refused Legislative Council permission in 1968 to abandon the service. Services remained operated by the SECV until April 1972 when the Bendigo tramways were closed.
As a tourist tramway
In September 1972 a two year trial of tourist tramways commenced by 'The Bendigo Trust' trading as 'Bendigo Tramways', and they remain in operation today. The service operates from North Bendigo though the city centre to the Central Deborah Gold Mine.Between 1996 and 1998, a tourist restaurant and cafe trams was introduced to Bendigo, following the success of a similar model of the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant
Colonial Tramcar Restaurant
The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant is a restaurant which operates from a converted fleet of three vintage trams in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
in 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...
. The idea proved very popular and the Bendigo fleet has since increased in size.
In 2005 a proposal was put forward to the City of Greater Bendigo
City of Greater Bendigo
The City of Greater Bendigo is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the central-western part of the state. It has an area of 3,048 square kilometres...
to extend the tourist tram route around Lake Weeroona, however the plan met staunch opposition from the community and it was ultimately rejected putting the viability of the network at risk.
In 2008, notable environmental scientist Peter Newman called for modernisation of the Bendigo tram network to operate as a form of public transport.
After calls from the community organisations and representatives, a week long trial of commuter tram services was trialled in December 2008, followed by a second trial between March 16 and April 9, 2009 with trams running every 20 minutes during the morning and afternoon peaks between North Bendigo, Golden Square and the CBD. Fares were set at A$2 a ride. The trials attracted good publicity and support from the Bendigo +25 Transport Action Group, but resulted in light ridership. The Bendigo Tramways concluded that the trial "showed that Bendigonians are still more comfortable using their cars" but should the need arise to reintroduce the trams as a commuter service, "we are certainly up to the task".
In February 2010 the Bendigo Tramways received $3.1 million to fund a redevelopment of the depot, including an extension of the depot and workshop, redevelopment of the administration building, landscaping and heritage conservation and safety works. The works will double the workshop's capacity, which also restores parts for heritage trams around the world.
See also
- Transportation in Australia
- Tram controlsTram controlsThe following article describes the controls on electric, rather than steam trams.-Overview:The operation of trams is relatively simple. As trams run on rails, they do not require steering controls. However they do require controls for the smooth application of power and for braking and to control...
- Trams in AustraliaTrams in AustraliaTrams in Australia are now used extensively as public transport only in Melbourne, and to a lesser extent, Adelaide and Bendigo while Sydney operates a modern light rail system. Several other major cities had tram networks however these networks were largely dismantled during the 1950s and some as...