Passenger Rail

New Route 58 alignment makes debut

E-Class Melbourne tram. Photo: Liam Davies

The first tram has run along the newly-aligned Route 58 service, as part of adjustments to allow for the construction of the Metro Tunnel through Melbourne’s CBD.

The new route along Toorak Road West means trams can continue to run between South Yarra and the CBD while the new metro station at Domain is being built.

Acting public transport minister John Eren this week inspected the two new tram stops and four kilometres of rail built during a school holiday ‘construction blitz’.

“We’re building the trains, trams and roads Victorians need to get home safer and sooner,” Eren said. “These works were less disruptive than expected, and I thank passengers, motorists and everyone for their patience while we build a better transport system.”

The new 66-metre St Kilda Road stop, near the corner of Toorak Road, has three accessible platforms long enough for two trams.

The new 33-metre stop on Toorak Road West, near Millswyn Street, is designed to improve access for all passengers by removing the step up onto low floor trams, while maintaining a dedicated traffic lane in each direction for general traffic and cyclists.

As part of Metro Tunnel construction, Domain Road will close for around five years between St Kilda Road and the western end of Edmund Herring Oval.

St Kilda Road has been reduced to one lane in each direction over the last fortnight, with buses replacing trams between the Shrine of Remembrance and High Street.