Melbourne tram route 19


Melbourne tram route 19 is a tram route on the Melbourne tramway network serving the city of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. Operated by Yarra Trams, the route is coloured light purple and extends from North Coburg to Flinders Street station over 10.2 kilometre of double track via Sydney Road, Royal Parade and Elizabeth Street. It is serviced out of Brunswick depot utilising B and D2 class trams.

History

Route 19 was first allocated to the line between Coburg North and the City terminus at Elizabeth Street opposite Flinders Street station on 26 April 1936 following the electrification of the Brunswick cable tram line. Prior to that, Sydney Road trams would run via Moreland Road to Swanston Street and the southern suburbs. Route 19 was allocated to the line between Coburg North and the City – Swanston Street near Flinders Street station. Since 1936, Route 19 has remained on the route between Coburg North and the City. An extension to Fawkner was first planned by the Melbourne, Brunswick & Coburg Tramways Trust in 1916, but never came to fruition. This extension has been brought up since, most recently by the Victorian Greens during the 2010 state election.
The origin of Route 19 dates back to the Brunswick cable tram line while the section north of Moreland Road was constructed by the MBCTT. The Melbourne Tramway & Omnibus Company opened the Brunswick cable tram line on 1 October 1887, which encompasses the section of route 19 between Moreland Road and Flinders Street station. This line was electrified by the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board in stages through 1935–36. The section between Flinders Street station and Victoria Street was first electrified on 17 November 1935. The section to Haymarket was electrified on 29 December in the same year. The electric track was extended to Leonard Street on 12 January 1936, and then to Park Street on 23 February 1936. The final section to Moreland Road was electrified on 26 April 1936. Meanwhile, the track between Moreland Road and Bell Street was opened by the MBCTT on 27 April 1916, while the rest of the line to Bakers Road opened on 14 May 1916.
In January 2016, route 19 began operating through the night on Fridays and Saturdays as part of the Night Network.
DatesRouteNotes
21 November 192925 April 1936Coburg North to Swanston Streetvia Moreland Road and Lygon Street
26 April 1936 – presentCoburg North to Flinders Street stationvia Elizabeth Street

Operation

Route 19 is operated out of Brunswick depot with B and D2 class trams. Occasionally, D1 class trams are also used.