Трамвайный маршрут 57 в Мельбурне: История и перспективы развития

Melbourne tram route 57 is operated by Yarra Trams on the Melbourne tram network from West Maribyrnong to Flinders Street station. The 11.6 kilometre route is operated out of Essendon depot with Z class trams.

Route 57 was first allocated to the line between West Maribyrnong and the City via North Melbourne on 22 December 1940 when the Maribyrnong line was extended from the Maribyrnong River to West Maribyrnong. Prior to that, the number was officially listed for the Ballarat Road line on the Footscray system, but was never used in practice since the single truck trams used on that line didn't have route number boxes. Before the West Maribyrnong extension, services on the Maribyrnong line were provided by Route 54, which ran from the Maribyrnong River terminus to the City via North Melbourne. The origins of Route 57 lie in separate lines. The section between Flinders Street (Stop 1) and Victoria Street (Stop 7) is the oldest section of track, dating back to the Brunswick cable tram line, which opened on 1 October 1887. G class trams will roll out on the route in 2025.

There have been proposals, supported by the Public Transport Users Association and local politicians, to extend route 57 north west along Milleara Road to Avondale Heights and Keilor East. Variations of this proposal including building a park & ride facility near the terminus, or establishing a high frequency bus service between the terminus and Keilor East down Milleara Road. The State Government in 2009 also proposed the tram be extended into the new suburb planned for the former Maribyrnong Defence Site. The tram would head north from its current terminus into the heart of the new suburb. +Melbourne tram route 57 evolutionDatesRouteNotesc. 1934 21 December 1940Ballarat Road to Williamstown RoadNever used as single truck trams on the line had no number plates22 December 1940 presentWest Maribyrnong to City (Elizabeth Street)via North Melbourne

The route runs from the corner of Cordite and Central Park Avenues adjacent to the Defence Explosive Factory, West Maribyrnong via Moonee Ponds, Ascot Vale, Flemington, Kensington and North Melbourne before proceeding along Elizabeth Street to terminate outside Flinders Street station. Route 57 shares track with route 82 between the intersection of Raleigh and Wests Roads, Maribyrnong and Maribyrnong and Union Roads, Ascot Vale. A loop siding exists at the south end of Union Road in Ascot Vale and is used during special events at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds and Flemington Racecourse to handle the additional trams used to move the crowds of passengers.

Routes 57 is operated out of Essendon depot with Z class trams. During special events at the Melbourne Showgrounds such as the Melbourne Royal Show, E class trams operate on the route 57a shuttle between the Flinders Street terminus and the Showgrounds.