Brunswick tram depot

Brunswick tram depot is located on Sydney Road, Brunswick, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. It opened on 26 April 1936 in conjunction with the electrification of the Brunswick and North Melbourne Cable tram line. Operated by Yarra Trams, it is one of eight tram depots on the Melbourne tram network.

Brunswick tram depot
Location
LocationSydney Road, Brunswick
Characteristics
Owner(s)VicTrack
Operator(s)Yarra Trams
Roads11 (9 in sheds, 2 outside)
Rolling stock22 B2 Class
21 D2 Class
8 Z3 Class
Routes served1, 6 (shared with Malvern), 19
History
Opened26 April 1936 (1936-04-26)

History

The Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board awarded a £30,000 tender in May 1935 for the construction of an electric tram depot at the corner of Sydney Road and Peveril Street. The depot was required to accommodate the electric conversion of the Brunswick and North Melbourne Cable tram line.[1]

The nine road depot, with associated workshop, storerooms, and staff mess-hall was completed and opened on 26 April 1936.[1][2][3]Although the original plans had trams entering via Sydney Road, this plan was dropped in favour of the current arrangement with trams entering from the rear, via Cameron Street.[3]

Plans were drawn up in 1989 to permit Brunswick depot to operate the Upfield railway line, which was slated to be converted to light rail. The plans proposed connections from the Upfield railway line to the Brunswick depot fan, a new station at Brunswick depot, and the addition of three outside storage roads. With the planned light rail conversion scrapped in 1994, the plans were never implemented.[3]

When the Public Transport Corporation was privatised in August 1999, Brunswick depot passed to M>Tram.[3][4] It passed to Yarra Trams when it took control of the entire tram network in April 2004.[5]

In 2009 Brunswick was named as Yarra Tram's fourth Greendepot, after an upgrade to make more water and energy efficient, with improved lighting systems, rainwater harvesting, and a variety of other water and energy saving measures. These initiatives were expected to lower Brunswick's water consumption by 2.5 million litres of water per year, and reduce the depot's carbon output.[6][7]

Z3 158 as the Royal Tram used to convey Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip during their visit in October 2011

While visiting Melbourne in October 2011, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip travelled aboard Z3 158, decorated as a Royal Tram. It was driven by a Brunswick driver, from Federation Square to Government House, along St Kilda Road.[8][9][10][11]

Layout

Brunswick depot has 11 roads in total. Nine are under cover within the shed, while two are outside.[3]

Rolling stock

As at December 2019, the depot had an allocation of 51 trams: 22 B2 Class, 21 D2 Class and 8 Z3 Class.[3]

Routes

The following routes are operated from Brunswick depot:

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References
  1. "New Tram Depot at Brunswick". The Argus. National Library of Australia. 16 May 1935. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  2. "Melbourne's Electric Trams" Trolley Wire issue 307 November 2006 page 11
  3. "Brunswick Depot". Vicsig. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  4. "Swanston Trams" Trolley Wire issue 279 November 1999 page 25
  5. "Some facts about the new Melbourne tram network (from 18th April 2004)". Yarra Trams. 19 February 2004. Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  6. "Yarra Trams". Moreland Energy Foundation. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  7. "Brunswick greendepot® opens on World Environment Day". Yarra Trams. 5 June 2009. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  8. "Royal Tram now in public service" (Press release). Yarra Trams. 26 October 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  9. Shmith, Michael (27 October 2011). "Not the Rolls or Bentley, but a commoner's conveyance gives Her Majesty a royal ride". The Age. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  10. Thom, Greg (25 October 2011). "Yarra Trams driver Joyleen Smith honoured to drive Queen in royal tram". The Herald Sun. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  11. "A royal tram journey" Trolley Wire issue 327 November 2011 page 16
  12. "Route 1". Yarra Trams. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  13. "Route 19". Yarra Trams. Retrieved 30 October 2013.

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