Melbourne tram route 55

Route 55
West Coburg - Domain Interchange
B class tram on Market Street in May 2013
Overview
System	Melbourne
Operator	Yarra Trams
Depot	Essendon
Vehicle	Z class B class
Route
Locale	Melbourne, Australia
Start	West Coburg
Via	Pascoe Vale South Brunswick West Parkville North Melbourne West Melbourne Melbourne CBD (William St) Southbank South Melbourne
End	Domain Interchange
Length	12.5 km (7.8 mi)
Zone(s)	Free Zone: Stops 10-1 Myki Zone 1: Stops 45-11, 112-119, 20
Annual patronage	6.8 million
Timetable	Route 55 timetable
Map	Route 55 map
Route map ← Route 48  {{{system_nav}}}  Route 57 →

Melbourne tram route 55 is operated by Yarra Trams on the Melbourne tram network. It operates from West Coburg to Domain Interchange. The 12.5 kilometre route is operated by Z and B class trams from Essendon depot.

Proposals for a tram or railway route to West Coburg date to the late 19th century. Construction of the tramway began in 1923, initially only to Brunswick West, extended to Bell Street in 1927. The tramway was extended south to St. Kilda Road during World War II to alleviate congestion during the war. Proposed extensions north of Bell Street were never constructed.

Until 14 November 1986, route 55 operated from West Coburg to St Kilda Beach via William Street. It was then amended to terminate at Domain Interchange following the opening of a terminating platform at the latter.

Between 1971 and July 2005 route 55 only operated on Mondays to Saturdays, on Sundays the section from West Coburg to the city was covered by route 68.

During the 2006 Commonwealth Games the route was merged with route 5 to Malvern to alleviate congestion along St Kilda Road.

In October 2016, it was announced that as part of works associated with the Melbourne Metro Rail Project, route 55 will be extended from Domain Interchange to Toorak in mid-2017 to partly replace route 8 and be renumbered route 58.

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Wikipedia