View source for City Circle tram

{{Short description|Tram route in metropolitan Melbourne, Victoria, Australia}}
{{Distinguish|City Loop}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox tram route
|number        = Route 35 (City Circle)
|bgcolor       = #71BE43
|titlecolor    = #ffffff
|logo          = Melbourne tram route 35 icon.svg
|logo_width    = 100px
|image         = W8 class tram -961 operating a route 35 City Circle service on Spring Street crossing Collins Street, Melbourne.jpg
|caption       = [[W-class Melbourne tram#W|W class tram]] W8.961 crosses the [[Spring Street, Melbourne|Spring Street]], [[Collins Street, Melbourne|Collins Street]] and MacArthur Street intersection, September 2024
|system        = [[Trams in Melbourne|Melbourne tramway network]]
|operator      = [[Yarra Trams]]
|depot         = [[Southbank tram depot|Southbank]]
|vehicle       = [[W-class Melbourne tram|W class]]
|open          = 29 April 1994
|close         =
|start         = [[Docklands, Victoria#Waterfront City|Waterfront City]]
|via           = [[Harbour Esplanade]]<br>[[La Trobe Street]]<br>[[Nicholson Street]]<br>[[Spring Street, Melbourne|Spring Street]]<br>[[Flinders Street, Melbourne|Flinders Street]]<br>Harbour Esplanade
|end           = Waterfront City
|length        =
|zone          = Free Tram Zone
|timetable_link= [https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/timetable/1112/35/ City Circle timetable]
|map_link      = [https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/1112 City Circle map]
|map           = [[File:Melbourne trams route city circle map.png|200px]]
|previous_line = [[Melbourne tram route 30|Route 30]]
|next_line     = [[Melbourne tram route 48|Route 48]]
|notes         = }}

The '''City Circle''' ([[Melbourne tram]] route 35) is a [[zero-fare]] tram running around the [[Melbourne central business district]] in Australia. Running along the city centre's outermost thoroughfares the route passes many Melbourne attractions including [[Parliament House, Melbourne|Parliament House]], the [[Old Treasury Building, Melbourne|Old Treasury Building]] and the developing [[Docklands, Victoria|Docklands]] waterfront precinct. Since October 2023, it operates in a clockwise direction only.

==History==
[[File:City-circle-trams-melbourne.jpg|thumb|left|City Circle trams on [[La Trobe Street]] in August 2007]]
The tram route was introduced on 29 April 1994,<ref>City Circle Opens ''[[Trolley Wire]]'' issue 258 August 1994 pages 16–22</ref><ref>[http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/Doi/Internet/transport.nsf/AllDocs/74164766E0CEAF95CA25700500122952OpenDocument Public transport – City Loop history] {{dead link|date=August 2019}}</ref> requiring a small track extension along [[Spring Street, Melbourne|Spring Street]], between [[Collins Street, Melbourne|Collins]] and [[Flinders Street, Melbourne|Flinders Streets]], to enable a complete CBD loop to be formed.<ref>Melbourne Track and Overhead Work ''Trolley Wire'' issue 256 February 1994 page 26</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=http://epress.anu.edu.au/anzsog/auc/mobile_devices/ch08s11.html|title=Getting implementation going|work=The Building Better Cities program 1991–96: a nation-building initiative of the Commonwealth Government |author=Lyndsay Neilson|editor1-first=John|editor1-last=Butcher|year=2008|publisher=epress.anu.edu.au|doi=10.22459/AUC.04.2008|isbn=9781921313776|access-date=1 November 2010
|doi-access=free }}</ref> The [[Government of Australia|Federal Government's]] Building Better Cities program funded the $6.4 million capital cost of the track expansion, while the [[Government of Victoria|State Government]] funded the running costs.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://epress.anu.edu.au/anzsog/auc/mobile_devices/ch08s15.html#d0e3496|work=The ‘Building Better Cities’ program 1991–96: a nation-building initiative of the Commonwealth Government|author=Lyndsay Neilson|editor1-first=John|editor1-last=Butcher|title=Appendix 1: Funding Allocation, Victorian Area Strategies|year=2008|publisher=epress.anu.edu.au|doi=10.22459/AUC.04.2008|isbn=9781921313776|access-date=1 November 2010 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Until January 2003, the western leg of the original route of the tram was down [[Spencer Street]], but the route was then extended west to run through [[Harbour Esplanade]], [[Docklands, Victoria|Docklands]].<ref>City Circle trams route change ''Trolley Wire'' issue 292 February 2003 page 27</ref><ref>{{Victorian Rail-Newsrail|title=New Docklands Tram Line|month=3|year=2003|page=94}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.victrip.com.au/latest_news/service_alteration_detail.php?id=32|title=City Circle Tram now extends to the Docklands Precinct|website=Victrip|date=26 January 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030415063438/http://www.victrip.com.au/latest_news/service_alteration_detail.php?id=32|archive-date=15 April 2003|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170226023218/http://www.yarratrams.com.au/media/43839/tramroutenumbers.pdf History of Melbourne Trams Routes from 1950 to 2009] Yarra Trams</ref> The travel time around the circle before this change was 40 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/b0222c68d27626e2ca256c8c001a3d2d/527ef3e293dc01dcca256cb7007d2c50!OpenDocument|title=City Circle Tram Extended to Melbourne's Waterfront at Docklands|date=23 January 2003|publisher=Minister for Major Projects, Minister for Public Transport|access-date=6 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001000737/http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/b0222c68d27626e2ca256c8c001a3d2d/527ef3e293dc01dcca256cb7007d2c50!OpenDocument|archive-date=1 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Between May and November 2005, the route temporarily ran between Flinders Street / Spencer Street and Victoria Parade / Nicholson Street due to the closure and removal of the [[Flinders Street, Melbourne#King Street Overpass|Flinders Street Overpass]] over [[King Street, Melbourne|King Street]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yarratrams.com.au/default.jsp?xcid=465|title=Flinders Street Overpass Removal|website=Yara Trams|date=20 May 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060823132904/http://www.yarratrams.com.au/default.jsp?xcid=465|archive-date=23 August 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yarratrams.com.au/default.jsp?xcid=1118|title=Routes 13, 24, 30, 48, 70, 75, 86, 109, 112 & City Circle - From Monday 21 November 05|date=14 November 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820030302/http://www.yarratrams.com.au/default.jsp?xcid=1118|archive-date=20 August 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref>

During early 2006, new [[Passenger information system|Passenger Information Displays]] were installed along with Digital Voice Announcements.

In April 2008, the service adopted the [[daylight saving time]]table on a permanent basis, operating from 10:00 to 21:00 every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The end of service at other times is 18:00.<ref name=sundown>{{cite web|url=http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/minister-for-public-transport/city-circle-tram-to-run-when-the-sun-goes-down.html
|title=City Circle Tram to Run When the Sun goes Down|publisher=Premier of Victoria|date=6 April 2008|access-date=6 August 2008}}</ref>

On 30 May 2009, the route was altered for a second time, being extended from [[Harbour Esplanade]] to the NewQuay and [[Docklands, Victoria#Waterfront City|Waterfront City]] precincts via Docklands Drive. This made the route an elongated 'q'.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yarratrams.com.au/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-105/99_read-1954 |author=Yarra Trams |title=Media Release: Popular City Circle tram extended to Docklands Drive |publisher=www.yarratrams.com.au |access-date=28 March 2010 |date=1 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925130412/http://www.yarratrams.com.au/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-105/99_read-1954/ |archive-date=25 September 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>Tram changes ''[[Railway Digest]]'' August 2009 page 14</ref>

Services after 18:00 between Thursday and Sunday were removed in November 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Changes to Routes 12, 30, 35, 86, 96 and 109 |url=https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/footer/about-ptv/improvements-and-projects/tram/changes-to-routes-12-30-35-86-96-and-109 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241218042805/https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/footer/about-ptv/improvements-and-projects/tram/changes-to-routes-12-30-35-86-96-and-109/ |archive-date=18 December 2024 |access-date=10 May 2025 |website=Public Transport Victoria}}</ref>

Due to driver shortages, the route's operator, [[Yarra Trams]], has found it hard to run all City Circle tram services. Due to this, since 30 October 2023, the route only runs in a clockwise direction between 9:30 and 17:30 daily.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/footer/about-ptv/improvements-and-projects/tram/tram-timetable-changes|title=Tram timetable changes|website=PTV|access-date=4 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004081839/https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/footer/about-ptv/improvements-and-projects/tram/tram-timetable-changes|archive-date=4 October 2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hatch |first1=Patrick |title=St Kilda, City Circle heritage trams cut in timetable overhaul |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/st-kilda-city-circle-heritage-trams-cut-in-timetable-overhaul-20230920-p5e665.html |website=The Age |access-date=7 January 2024 |date=21 September 2023}}</ref>

==Route==
{{maplink|frame=yes|frame-width=300|id=Q5123100|type=line|zoom=|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#723B1F|text=Interactive map of Melbourne tram route 35.}}
[[File:W Tram Interior.JPG|thumb|Interior of a [[W-class Melbourne tram|W class tram]] in City Circle service]]
[[File:City-Circle-Tram,-cnr-Flinders&Elizabeth,-Melb,-12.08.2008.jpg|thumb|[[W-class Melbourne tram|W class tram]] on [[Flinders Street, Melbourne|Flinders Street]] in August 2008]]

The route of the City Circle trams roughly follows the outer edges of the [[Hoddle Grid]], with three diversions. It takes in all of [[La Trobe Street]], [[Harbour Esplanade]] and [[Flinders Street, Melbourne|Flinders Street]]. It follows [[Spring Street, Melbourne|Spring Street]] between Flinders and [[Bourke Street]]s, but travels along [[Nicholson Street]] and [[Victoria Street, Melbourne|Victoria Street]] before turning into La Trobe Street. At the junction of Harbour Esplanade and Latrobe Street trams turn off the loop to run to and from a terminus towards the end of Docklands Drive, [[Docklands, Victoria#Waterfront City|Waterfront City]].

==Operation==
The City Circle route is operated with heritage [[W-class Melbourne tram|W class trams]], restored to original condition as part of the W8 upgrade. As of 2020, these are the only W-class trams on the system, and there are no plans to retire them. The City Circle trams originally sported a unique maroon livery promoting the service, however as part of the W8 upgrade the trams were restored back to their original green and cream livery. Until 2014, the City Circle was one of several routes to run W-class trams ([[Melbourne tram route 30|30]], [[Melbourne tram route 78|78]] and [[Melbourne tram route 79|79]]) but the remaining routes controversially had their W-class trams removed, mostly replaced by [[A-class Melbourne tram|A class]]. Trams display the route number 35.<ref>Melbourne – Trams ''Trolley Wire'' issue 257 May 1994 page 8</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=35 City Circle (Free Tourist Tram) |url=https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/15834/35/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250427122333/https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/15834/35/ |archive-date=27 April 2025 |access-date=10 May 2025 |website=Public Transport Victoria}}</ref> The City Circle operates at a headway of 12 minutes in the clockwise direction, with the service taking approximately 60 minutes to complete a loop. An average of three million passengers use the service every year, with each tram circling the city 9 times a day, or 12 times when the tram operates to 21:00.<ref name=sundown/>

==Route map==
{{Route 35 tram}}
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline|City Circle Tram}}

{{Melbourne landmarks}}
{{MelbourneTramNavbox}}

{{coord missing|Victoria (state)}}

[[Category:Tram routes in Melbourne|035]]
[[Category:Free public transport]]
[[Category:1994 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Melbourne central business district]]
[[Category:Public transport routes in the City of Melbourne (LGA)]]