I just came back from a few days in melbourne for work.
I found that the times i travelled on the trams in the free zone - mostly around 12:00 to go to the mall from our melbourne office on bourke near william and than back again for lunch, the trams were jammed, so much so i could not even make it into one is was that full.
what the free tram zone did do was encourage me to get out and explore the city more than i would have after hours, rather than staying in my hotel room
I noticed this a lot when I was in Melbourne last week too.
I think they need a tram loop that runs only along Lonsdale, Bourke and Collins Streets during peaks and lunch hours,
Has anyone rode the Swan Valley Explorer which was introduced in November 2018 but had ceased operations a few days ago? Have been on the Rottnest one during a school camp 3 months ago but i wished that i had rode on them back when they are still operating.
This is one of the buses which seen two days after operations have ceased, in Cannington for a sports carnival.
Why did it stop operations?
The reason behind it is unknown despite that WA has not really improve its tourism industry.
Iām guessing that it was only funded for 6 months and they opted not to proceed.
It wouldnāt surprise me if it returns solely as a seasonal service.
Saw a report in the Sunday Herald Sun at the weekend that former Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer had suggested that Melbourneās tram route 59 be extended from Airport West to Melbourne Airport, as a short-term measure while the new train line is being planned and constructed. I think itās a good idea as the tram will serve thousands of airport workers. During my brief visit to Edinburgh on the second day of 2018 I travelled by light rail from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre. The trip took around 30 minutes and fare was inexpensive.
Seems good in theory butā¦
The current line terminus - Melbourne CBD is 52 minutes. The journey would be at least 70 minutes to Melbourne Airport, itās just not practical even as a stop-gap.
I agree, thatās too long and trams are not a practical way for people to be travelling with suitcases etc as there are no storage facilities on them.
SkyBus is still a much better option than a tram in these respects.
Thereās a bus, 478 I think that runs hourly from Airport West shops to Melair.
Empty most of the day, mostly caters to the handful of airport staff who donāt work shift work. My office is moving from the airport business park, one reason stated is the reliance on private vehicle trips to and from work for staff. A slow bus or slow tram isnāt going to change peopleās habits.
A semi-express bus service could solve the problem but it will create competition with Skybus.
Which should be a good thing.
SkyBus is decent, but seems overpriced when you consider itās $19 each way and thereās always been at least 20 people on it whenever Iāve been on it, they must be making a killing at $400 or more total per trip (only 30 mins each away).
When I went to Melbourne a few months ago, I, being cheap, refused to use the SkyBus. I took the public bus to Broadmeadows station then trained into the city.
Very happy I didnāt need to spend too long at Broadmeadows BTWā¦ 
Buses leaving from the airport in late afternoon is usually half full, but there is a long queue at Southern Cross Station during morning peak and the buses are always full.
All new gear and they get no government funding - Iād say the prices are fare (pun intended). Long highway kmās in American running gear so theyāll be chewing fuel too.
Wonāt really work as only high floor trams operate on route 59 (at the moment anyway). Would be a pain to get suitcases up the stairs!
The depot at Melbourne Airport and the access fees would not come cheap either. Sounds also run the long term car park and staff car park busses. Also on standby for any incidents where passengers may need to be bussed from an aircraft which canāt taxi to the terminal for whatever reason.
Thats right, the depot and the fees for the Airport stops are not cheap, also theres not the funding as there is for regular PTV routes.
Struggling to work out if there would be enough room to extend the line, both alongside and away from the freeway.
