Editing Trams in Melbourne (section)

==Tram–train level crossings==
[[File:Z2 101 crossing Kooyong Station level crossing.jpg|thumb|Z2 101 crossing [[Kooyong railway station|Kooyong station]] level crossing]]
There are currently two level crossings where trams and trains cross each other: [[Glenferrie Road]], [[Kooyong, Victoria|Kooyong]]; and Riversdale Road, [[Camberwell, Victoria|Camberwell]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/25-more-rail-level-crossings-to-go-under-labor-pledge-20181021-p50b07.html|title=Another 25 rail level crossings to go under Labor pledge|last1=Butt|first1=Craig|last2=Towell|first2=Noel|date=21 October 2018|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=27 October 2018|archive-date=22 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022153453/https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/25-more-rail-level-crossings-to-go-under-labor-pledge-20181021-p50b07.html|url-status=live}}</ref>  Two more recently existed, one at [[Burke Road]], [[Glen Iris, Victoria|Glen Iris]], operated until 2015, when it was removed along with [[Gardiner railway station|Gardiner station]] as part of the [[Level Crossing Removal Authority|Level Crossing Removal Project]],{{citation needed|date=July 2024}} and one at Glen Huntly Road, [[Glen Huntly]], operated until 2023, when it was closed along with the [[Glen Huntly railway station|Glen Huntly station]] under the same project.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/library/level-crossing-removal-project/frankston/glen-huntly/works/glen-huntly-road-and-neerim-road-closures-april|title=Glen Huntly Road and Neerim Road closures – April|website=Victoria's Big Build|date=17 May 2023|language=en|access-date=7 June 2023|archive-date=10 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610033142/https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/library/level-crossing-removal-project/frankston/glen-huntly/works/glen-huntly-road-and-neerim-road-closures-april|url-status=dead}}</ref>

To accommodate the differing voltages of the 600-volt tram and 1500-volt train systems each of these level crossings is fitted with an overhead square, which can isolate the section of overhead wiring above the crossing and apply the appropriate voltage. When the signal box adjacent to the crossing interlocks the gates for trains to pass through, 1500 volts is applied, while when the gates are up 600 volts is applied.<ref name="Tramway level crossings in Victoria">{{cite web |url=http://www.hawthorntramdepot.org.au/papers/lvlcross.htm |title=Tramway level crossings in Victoria cauthor=Russell Jones |year=2003 |work=Friends of Hawthorn Tram Depot |access-date=8 July 2012 |archive-date=29 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129203335/http://www.hawthorntramdepot.org.au/papers/lvlcross.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Historically many tram–train level crossings have operated in Melbourne, all but the aforementioned two have been [[Grade separation|grade-separated]], or the tramway or railway has been abandoned. The first were built during the cable tram systems operation, with much reluctance on behalf of the Victorian Railways. Many more were built after the emergence of electric trams in 1906, often causing disputes between tramway operators and the Victorian Railways.<ref name="Tramway level crossings in Victoria"/>