M-Tram

Infobox Defunct Company
company_name = M>Tram
company_
slogan = "Moving Melbourne"
fate = Parent company withdrawal
successor = Yarra Trams
foundation = Swanston Trams Sept 1999
M>Tram Oct 2001
defunct = 18 April 2004
location = flagicon|AUS Melbourne, Australia
industry = Public transport
key_people =
products = Transport services
num_employees =
parent = National Express Group
subsid =

M>Tram is a former tram operating company of half of Melbourne's tramway network. Part of the National Express Group, it was created with the rebranding of Swanston Trams in October 2001,cite web
url=http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/DOI/Internet/transport.nsf/AllDocs/D81B3425ED2CA3F9CA2573B500001628?OpenDocument
title=Public transport - Metropolitan train and tram franchising project
publisher=www.doi.vic.gov.au
accessdate=2008-04-29] and was absorbed into Yarra Trams on April 18, 2004.

History

Victoria's train and tram networks were privatised in 1999 under the Jeff Kennett government. The Melbourne tramway network was divided in two, and National Express Group won the Swanston Trams franchise (along with the Bayside Trains and V/Line regional passenger franchises).cite web | title = ARHS Railway Museum: Victoria 1950 - now | work = ARHS Railway Museum | url = http://www.railwaymuseum.org.au/history3.html | format = HTML | accessdate = 2008-02-05 ]

In October 2001, National Express rebranding Swanston Trams as M>Tram (as well as Bayside Trains to M>Train). The two "M>" business used near-identical, complementing branding, including colour scheme, and the same "Moving Melbourne" banner or motto. [cite web
url=http://www.investis.com/nx/downloads/report2001/australia.htm
title=National Express - Review of Operations - Australia
publisher=www.investis.com
accessdate=2008-04-29]

The National Express Group withdrew from their operations in Victoria on 22 December 2002 and the State Government took on the operation of M>Tram, M>Train and V/Line Passenger. [cite web
url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/13/1078594612786.html
title=The long goodbye - FeaturesNational - www.theage.com.au
publisher=www.theage.com.au
accessdate=2008-04-29
date=March 14, 2004] In May 2003 the State Government announced that they would establish a single company to operate the tram networks, and was negotiating with Yarra Trams (who operated the other half of the network) to operate this entity. In February 2004 an agreement was reached, and on 18 April 2004 the last M>Tram service operated. [cite web
url=http://www.vicsig.net/index.php?page=trams&event=Farewell%20M%3ETram%20Tour
title=VICSIG - Trams - Farewell M>Tram Tour
publisher=www.vicsig.net
accessdate=2008-04-29]

Operations

The M>Tram network was focused on the north-south tram routes in Melbourne, running along Swanston, Elizabeth and William Streets though the CBD and then into the suburbs. It was also responsible for the cross-suburban routes. Brunswick, Essendon, Glenhuntly and Malvern tram depots were also allocated to the company. [cite web
url=http://vicsig.net/index.php?page=trams
title=VICSIG - Trams - Tram Depots
publisher=vicsig.net
accessdate=2008-04-29]

Part of the franchise agreement required replacement of older rolling stock with newer models, and refurbishment of the existing rolling stock. New Siemens 3 and 5 unit Combino trams were purchased as the D1 and D2 class, the first of 38 D1 class trams entering service on 19 December 2002 [cite web
url=http://www.vicsig.net/index.php?page=trams&section=rollingstock&class=D1
title=VICSIG - Trams - D1 class trams
publisher=www.vicsig.net
accessdate=2008-04-29] and the first of 21 D2 class trams on 3 March 2004. [cite web
url=http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/798c8b072d117a01ca256c8c0019bb01/37aebd4a406c28bdca256e4c0076b974?OpenDocument
title=Media Release: SUPER TRAM COMES TO MELBOURNE
publisher=www.dpc.vic.gov.au
accessdate=2008-04-29] Z3 and B2 class trams were also internally refurbished by M>Tram, receiving green seat pads, and yellow stanchions and grab rails. [cite web
url=http://www.vicsig.net/index.php?page=trams&detail=interior
title=VICSIG - Trams - Interior
publisher=www.vicsig.net
accessdate=2008-04-29]

ee also

*M>Train

References