View source for Melbourne tram route 3

{{Short description|Tram route in metropolitan Melbourne, Victoria, Australia}}
{{refimprove|date=June 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox tram route
|number        = Route 3
|bgcolor       = #71BE43
|titlecolor    = #ffffff
|logo          = [[File:Melbourne tram route 3 icon.svg|100px]]
|logo_width    = 100px
|image         = B2.2030 swanston, 2023 (01).jpg
|caption       = [[B class Melbourne tram|B class tram]] on [[Swanston Street]], February 2023
|system        = [[Trams in Melbourne|Melbourne]]
|operator      = [[Yarra Trams]]
|depot         = [[Glenhuntly tram depot|Glenhuntly]]
|vehicle       = [[Z-class Melbourne tram|Z class]]<br>[[B-class Melbourne tram|B class]]
|open          = 1 November 1970
|close         = 
|start         = [[Melbourne University tram stop|Melbourne University]] 
|via           = [[Swanston Street]]<br>[[St Kilda Road]]<br>[[Nepean Highway|Brighton Road]]<br>[[Balaclava, Victoria|Balaclava]]<br>[[Caulfield, Victoria|Caulfield]]
|end           = [[Malvern East|East Malvern]]
|length        = 14.9 kilometres
|day           = Weekdays
|timetable_link= [https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/timetable/761/3-3a/ timetable]
|map_link      = [https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/761 Route 3/3a map]
|previous_line = [[Melbourne tram route 1|Route 1]]
|next_line     = [[Melbourne tram route 5|Route 5]]}}

{{Infobox tram route
|number        = Route 3a
|bgcolor       = #71BE43
|titlecolor    = #ffffff
|logo          = [[File:Melbourne tram route 3a icon.svg|100px]]
|logo_width    = 100px
|image         = B2-class tram -2086 preparing to shunt at the intersection of Market Street and Flinders Lane, Melbourne (cropped).jpg
|caption       = [[B-class Melbourne tram|B class tram]] on route 3a at the intersection of [[Flinders Lane]] and [[Market Street, Melbourne|Market Street]], November 2023
|system        = [[Trams in Melbourne|Melbourne]]
|operator      = [[Yarra Trams]]
|depot         = [[Glenhuntly tram depot|Glenhuntly]]
|vehicle       = [[Z-class Melbourne tram|Z class]]<br>[[B-class Melbourne tram|B class]]
|open          = 31 January 2009
|close         = 29 October 2023
|start         = [[Melbourne University tram stop|Melbourne University]] 
|via           = [[Swanston Street]]<br>[[St Kilda Road]]<br>[[St Kilda, Victoria|St Kilda]]<br>[[Balaclava, Victoria|Balaclava]]<br>[[Caulfield, Victoria|Caulfield]]
|end           = [[Malvern East|East Malvern]]
|length        = 16.3 kilometres
|day           = Weekends
|timetable_link= [https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/timetable/761/3-3a/ timetable]
|map_link      = [https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/761 Route 3/3a map]
|previous_line = [[Melbourne tram route 1|Route 1]]
|next_line     = [[Melbourne tram route 5|Route 5]]}}

'''Melbourne tram route 3''' is a [[List of Melbourne tram routes|tram route]] on the [[Trams in Melbourne|Melbourne tramway network]] serving the city of [[Melbourne]] in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], Australia. Operated by [[Yarra Trams]], the route is coloured [[light blue]] and extends from [[Melbourne University tram stop|Melbourne University]] to [[Malvern East|East Malvern]] over {{Convert|14.9|km|adj=on}} of double track via [[Swanston Street]], [[St Kilda Road]] and [[Caulfield, Victoria|Caulfield]]. It is serviced out of [[Glenhuntly tram depot|Glenhuntly depot]] utilising [[Z-class Melbourne tram|Z]] and [[B-class Melbourne tram|B]] class trams. Until October 2023, route 3 operated as 3a on weekends, diverting via [[St Kilda Beach, Victoria|St Kilda Beach]].

==History==
The origins of route 3 lie in separate tram lines. The section of track between Queensberry Street (Stop 4) and [[Nepean Highway|Brighton Road]] (Stop 35) is the oldest section of this route, dating back to the Brighton Road cable tram which opened on 11 October 1888 by the [[Melbourne Tramway & Omnibus Company]]. This cable tram line was electrified in stages by the [[Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board]]. The section between [[Domain Interchange]] (Stop 20) and [[St Kilda Junction]] (Stop 30) was electrified on 27 December 1925. The section between Queensberry Street and City Road (near Stop 14) was electrified on the same day. The line between City Road and Domain Interchange was electrified on 24 January 1926, and the line between St Kilda Junction and Carlisle Street (Stop 35) was finally electrified on 29 August 1926.

The section of route 3 between Brighton Road (Stop 35) and [[Malvern East|East Malvern]] (Darling Road) was constructed by the [[Prahran & Malvern Tramways Trust]] (PMTT). Initially, a line was opened from [[Acland Street|St Kilda Beach]] to Hawthorn Road along Carlisle Street/Balaclava Road on 12 April 1913. This line was extended east by the PMTT from Hawthorn Road to Darling Road, [[Malvern East|East Malvern]] on 13 November 1913.<ref name="YarraTrams18891918">[https://web.archive.org/web/20120318134537/http://www.yarratrams.com.au/about-us/our-history/tramway-milestones/the-early-days/ The early days] [[Yarra Trams]]</ref> Meanwhile, the [[Melbourne, Brunswick & Coburg Tramways Trust]] (MBCTT) constructed the section of Route 3 north of Queensberry Street towards Melbourne University. This section opened on 31 October 1916.

On 12 November 1961, trams operating on Route 3 (Route 4D before 1970) on Sunday were replaced by bus route 377 to save operating costs. Sunday trams were reinstated on 8 August 1993 following the abolition of conductors.<ref>Melbourne - Other Services ''[[Trolley Wire]]'' issue 255 November 1993 page 11</ref>

Route 3 was allocated to the line between the City ([[Swanston Street]]) to [[Malvern East|East Malvern]] (Darling Road) on 1 November 1970 following a major route number revision for trams running on Swanston Street.<ref>Melbourne ''[[Transit Australia|Electric Traction]]'' November 1970 page 4</ref> Prior to this, the line was run by Route 4D, an allocation that dates back to 1930. Trams traditionally terminated at the [[Victoria Street, Melbourne|Victoria Street]] terminus, but following an accident in 1991, trams instead terminated at the Queensberry Street crossover. Due to congestion during peak hours at the crossover, some trams continued north to the Melbourne University. Finally on 17 January 1996, a permanent shunt was built at [[Melbourne University tram stop|Melbourne University]]. From then on, route 3 trams were altered run full-time to Melbourne University.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.classicaustraliantv.com/Gunzel.htm|title=Gunzel|website=www.classicaustraliantv.com|access-date=2018-08-14}}</ref>

During the [[2006 Commonwealth Games]], the route was renumbered 53 and extended to [[Coburg, Victoria|West Coburg]] during peak hour and the [[Dudley Street]] sidings during off peak, from [[Domain Interchange]], along [[Melbourne tram route 55|route 55]] to alleviate congestion along [[St Kilda Road]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060821200433/http://www.yarratrams.com.au/default.jsp?xcid=1272 Changes to your tram service during the Commonwealth Games - March 2006] Yarra Trams</ref>

On 31 January 2009, route 3 was altered on the weekends to form route 3a, diverting from the regular route at [[St Kilda Junction]] and travelling via [[Fitzroy Street, Melbourne|Fitzroy Street]], The Esplanade and Carlisle Street to rejoin the regular route at the corner of [[St Kilda Road]] and Carlisle Street. This was to alleviate overcrowding on [[Melbourne tram route 16|route 16]].<ref name=YarraTrams30Jan09>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140327132642/http://www.yarratrams.com.au/media-centre/news/articles/2009/yarra-trams-boosts-weekend-tram-services-to-st-kilda/ Yarra Trams boosts weekend trams services to St Kilda] Yarra Trams 30 January 2009</ref><ref name=YarraTrams31Jan09>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101222081219/http://yarratrams.com.au/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-105/99_read-1718/ Your new weekend tram service to St Kilda - Route 3a] Yarra Trams 31 January 2009</ref> Route 3a ceased operations after 29 October 2023, and all services operate as route 3 throughout the week.<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>

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+Melbourne tram route 3 evolution
!Dates
!Route
!Notes
|-
|During [[Prahran & Malvern Tramways Trust|PMTT]] operation
|[[St Kilda Road]] to [[Malvern tram depot]]
| 
|-
|1 November 1970 - 15 April 1991
|City ([[Victoria Street, Melbourne|Victoria Street]]) to [[Malvern East|East Malvern]] (Darling Road)
|Prior to that ran as Route 4D
|-
|15 April 1991 - 16 January 1996
|City (Queensberry Street / [[Swanston Street]]) to [[Malvern East|East Malvern]] (Darling Road)
|Some services terminated at Melbourne University
|-
|17 January 1996 - present
|[[University of Melbourne|Melbourne University]] to [[Malvern East|East Malvern]] (Darling Road)
|
|}

==Route==
[[File:Z3.128 lunapark.JPG|thumb|[[Z-class Melbourne tram|Z class tram]] on The Esplanade, [[St Kilda, Victoria|St Kilda]] in May 2012]]
[[File:Z1 78 on St Kilda Road.jpg|thumb|[[Z class Melbourne tram|Z class tram]] on [[St Kilda Road]] in February 2013]]
Route 3 operates from [[Melbourne University tram stop|Melbourne University]] travelling south through the [[Melbourne central business district|CBD]] on [[Swanston Street]] via [[Melbourne Central railway station|Melbourne Central]] and [[Flinders Street railway station|Flinders Street]] stations. After crossing the [[Yarra River]] it continues south along [[St Kilda Road]] turning east into Carlisle Street, [[Balaclava, Victoria|Balaclava]] then travelling through [[St Kilda East]], where Carlisle Street becomes Balaclava Road, continuing east travelling through [[Caulfield North]]. After passing [[Caulfield railway station|Caulfield station]], it crosses [[Princes Highway|Dandenong Road]], and continues east along Waverley Road, [[Malvern East|East Malvern]], terminating at Darling Road.

===Route 3a weekend variation===
Between 31 January 2009 and 29 October 2023, on weekends, route 3 ran as route 3a, diverting from the regular route at [[St Kilda Junction]] and travelling via [[St Kilda, Victoria|St Kilda]] on [[Fitzroy Street, Melbourne|Fitzroy Street]], The Esplanade and Carlisle Street, passing [[St Kilda Beach, Victoria|St Kilda Beach]] and [[Luna Park, Melbourne|Luna Park]] before rejoining the regular route at the corner of [[St Kilda Road]] and Carlisle Street.<ref name=YarraTrams30Jan09/><ref name=YarraTrams31Jan09/>

Short-working or diverted trips of route 3 continue to run as route 3a (as with other tram route numbers). However, it is not a dedicated route in its own right.

==Operation==
Route 3 (and formerly 3a) is operated out of [[Glenhuntly tram depot|Glenhuntly depot]] with [[Z-class Melbourne tram|Z ]] and [[B-class Melbourne tram|B class trams]].<ref>[https://vicsig.net/trams/depot/glenhuntly Glenhuntly Depot] Vicsig</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140529000558/http://www.yarratrams.com.au/about-us/who-we-are/facts-figures/ Facts & figures] Yarra Trams</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131113213842/http://www.yarratrams.com.au/using-trams/route-guides/route-33a/ Routes 3/3a] Yarra Trams</ref>

==Route map==
{{Route 3 tram}}
{{-}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline}}

{{MelbourneTramNavbox|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Tram routes in Melbourne|003]]
[[Category:Public transport routes in the City of Melbourne (LGA)|003]]
[[Category:Transport in the City of Port Phillip]]
[[Category:Transport in the City of Stonnington]]
[[Category:1970 establishments in Australia]]