Editing Trams in Melbourne (section)

=== Recent ===
[[File:Z3-class tram -173 running a Route 72 service to Melbourne University stuck in traffic heading south along Burke Road at Camberwell Junction.jpg|thumb|Trams in Melbourne are frequently delayed by [[Traffic congestion|vehicle traffic]], making the network one of the slowest in the world.<ref>{{cite news |title=Slow rides for Melbourne's tram travellers |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-19/melbourne-trams-among-slowest-in-the-world/8541228 |access-date=25 March 2024 |work=ABC News |date=19 May 2017 |language=en-AU}}</ref>]]
At the start of 2015, the Free Tram Zone was introduced, which provided for free tram travel within the [[Melbourne central business district|CBD]], [[Docklands, Victoria|Docklands]] and the [[Queen Victoria Market]], and ticketing was simplified to have just two payment zones.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Carey|first=Adam|date=2014-12-31|title=Free tram travel in CBD and Docklands a touchy subject for some|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/free-tram-travel-in-cbd-and-docklands-a-touchy-subject-for-some-20141231-12g1ys.html|access-date=2021-08-29|website=The Age|language=en|archive-date=29 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829072403/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/free-tram-travel-in-cbd-and-docklands-a-touchy-subject-for-some-20141231-12g1ys.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Primarily aimed at helping tourists move around the city centre, the Free Tram Zone was criticised by some as contributing to tram overcrowding.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Carey|first=Adam|date=2015-05-12|title=Car parks cash in on Melbourne's free tram zone|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/car-parks-cash-in-on-melbournes-free-tram-zone-20150511-ggz3tf.html|access-date=2021-08-29|website=The Age|language=en|archive-date=29 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829072405/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/car-parks-cash-in-on-melbournes-free-tram-zone-20150511-ggz3tf.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Philp|first=Nicola|date=2019-06-09|title=The free tram zone is a gimmick that needs to go|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/the-free-tram-zone-is-a-gimmick-that-needs-to-go-20190607-p51vjw.html|access-date=2021-08-29|website=The Age|language=en|archive-date=29 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829072400/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/the-free-tram-zone-is-a-gimmick-that-needs-to-go-20190607-p51vjw.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Between 2015 and 2019, 50 more E-Class trams were ordered by the [[Daniel Andrews|Andrews]] state government, bringing the total order to 100 to be delivered by 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Department of Economic Development|first=Jobs|title=New train and tram orders|url=https://transport.vic.gov.au:443/our-transport-future/our-projects/new-and-upgraded-trains-and-trams/new-train-and-tram-orders|access-date=2021-08-29|website=transport.vic.gov.au|language=en-au|archive-date=1 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201091609/https://transport.vic.gov.au/our-transport-future/our-projects/new-and-upgraded-trains-and-trams/new-train-and-tram-orders|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In April 2018, the state government announced a new extension of the tram network from [[Caulfield, Victoria|Caulfield]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/new-tram-to-connect-citys-south-east|title=New Tram To Connect City's South-East|date=10 April 2018|website=Premier of Victoria|language=en-US|access-date=4 January 2019|archive-date=4 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404130348/https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/new-tram-to-connect-citys-south-east/|url-status=live}}</ref> The {{Convert|18|km|4=1|abbr=on}} extension would serve [[Chadstone, Victoria|Chadstone]], [[Monash University]], [[Waverley Park]] and [[Rowville, Victoria|Rowville]].<ref name="abc.net.au">{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-10/new-tram-route-for-melbourne-chadstone-clayton/9635720|title=Government plans new tram route for Melbourne's south-east|date=10 April 2018|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|access-date=4 January 2019|archive-date=23 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923180138/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-10/new-tram-route-for-melbourne-chadstone-clayton/9635720|url-status=live}}</ref> The state government allocated $3 million to plan the route, which would be constructed in two stages, with the first running from Caulfield to Monash.<ref name="abc.net.au" /> In 2019 the government also allocated $4.5 million to plan for two new tram lines to the [[Fishermans Bend, Victoria|Fisherman's Bend]] [[urban renewal]] precinct, although it stopped short of committing to the project.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Booker|first=Chloe|date=2020-09-07|title=Mayor takes aim at 'unacceptable' inaction on Fishermans Bend plan|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/mayor-takes-aim-at-unacceptable-inaction-on-fishermans-bend-plan-20200903-p55rzu.html|access-date=2021-08-29|website=The Age|language=en|archive-date=29 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829072402/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/mayor-takes-aim-at-unacceptable-inaction-on-fishermans-bend-plan-20200903-p55rzu.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2020, six tram stops were rebuilt to be low-floor and accessible on [[Nicholson Street]] in [[Carlton, Victoria|Carlton]] as part of the Route 96 Project started in 2012 to make the entire line level-access and more separated from car traffic.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Route 96 Upgrade, Victoria – Railway Technology|url=https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/route-96-upgrade-victoria/|access-date=2021-08-29|website=www.railway-technology.com|language=en-GB|archive-date=29 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829072403/https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/route-96-upgrade-victoria/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=PTV Route 96 tram upgrade on Nicholson Street {{!}} Yarra City Council|url=https://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/news/2019/12/12/ptv-route-96-upgrade-nicholson-street|access-date=2021-08-29|website=www.yarracity.vic.gov.au|language=en|archive-date=29 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829072402/https://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/news/2019/12/12/ptv-route-96-upgrade-nicholson-street|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite gradual stop upgrades, by 2021 73% of Melbourne's tram stops were still inaccessible for people in wheelchairs with initiatives like the Route 96 Project being criticised as too slow.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jacks|first=Timna|date=2021-06-27|title=Wheelchair users take legal action over 'frustrating' pace of tram upgrades|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/wheelchair-users-take-legal-action-over-frustrating-pace-of-melbourne-tram-upgrades-20210627-p584n8.html|access-date=2021-08-29|website=The Age|language=en|archive-date=29 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829072401/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/wheelchair-users-take-legal-action-over-frustrating-pace-of-melbourne-tram-upgrades-20210627-p584n8.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As part of the project, [[Acland Street]] in [[St Kilda, Victoria|St Kilda]] was closed to cars and a plaza built.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Acland Street Plaza Revitalised – Yarra Trams|url=https://yarratrams.com.au/media-centre/news/articles/2016/acland-street-plaza-revitalised/|access-date=2021-08-29|website=yarratrams.com.au|archive-date=29 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829072403/https://yarratrams.com.au/media-centre/news/articles/2016/acland-street-plaza-revitalised/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the 2020–21 budget, the state government announced $1.48 billion for 100 next generation trams, [[G-class Melbourne tram|G-class trams]], to replace older low-floor trams, to be delivered from 2025 following the completed order of 100 E-class trams.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Trams – Made And Maintained In Victoria {{!}} Premier of Victoria|url=http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/trams-made-and-maintained-victoria|access-date=2021-08-29|website=www.premier.vic.gov.au|language=en|archive-date=19 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719062649/https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/trams-made-and-maintained-victoria|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Jacks|first=Timna|date=2021-05-01|title=Melbourne's next generation trams could be trackless with rubber wheels|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/melbourne-s-next-generation-trams-could-be-trackless-with-rubber-wheels-20210422-p57ldr.html|access-date=2021-08-29|website=The Age|language=en|archive-date=13 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113101942/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/melbourne-s-next-generation-trams-could-be-trackless-with-rubber-wheels-20210422-p57ldr.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2021, the Government announced that a new maintenance and storage depot would be built at [[Maidstone, Victoria|Maidstone]] to accommodate these new trams. {{As of|2024|03}}, the [[Maidstone tram depot]] is currently under construction and is scheduled to be completed in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Maidstone home for Next Generation Trams|url=http://www.railpage.com.au/news/s/maidstone-home-for-next-generation-trams|access-date=2021-08-27|website=Railpage|archive-date=27 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827001659/http://www.railpage.com.au/news/s/maidstone-home-for-next-generation-trams|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Department of Economic Development|first=Jobs|title=Next Generation Trams|url=https://transport.vic.gov.au/our-transport-future/our-projects/new-and-upgraded-trains-and-trams/next-generation-trams|access-date=2021-08-29|website=transport.vic.gov.au|language=en-au|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130132105/https://transport.vic.gov.au/our-transport-future/our-projects/new-and-upgraded-trains-and-trams/next-generation-trams}}</ref>