> Further to discussion on this newsgroup about fixing up Melbourne's
> ailing railway network I am pondering the question of whether trams run
> on the same gauge as trains in Victoria
Trams run on standard gauge.
>
>
> I know that the ST Kilda/Port Melbourne lines were converted to tramways
> several years ago but I don't know what changes were necessary to
> accommodate this.
>
Rails pulled in from broad guage to standard. They moves both rails in so
they didn't have to adjust the overhead to much, I think they might have
lowered it slightly. Voltage adjust from 1500V? to 600V, track alignment
adjusted to meet the tram network at Port junction, and the line extended
from St Kilda train terminus through St kilda and meeting up with the other
lines there. The port Melbourne line was also doen and this meets the St
Kilda line at port junction.
> The reason I ask this is that if they use the same gauge then there
> might be some merit in the idea of running trams along some rail routes
> (eg Alamein) during off peak periods and heavy rail during peak periods.
> Can both use the same electrification and rails?
>
To much money outlay to onvert it to dual opperation for what it is worth,
there would be a huge increase in maintanance. Also they would need to build
600v substations to supply power for the trams, this line would have to be
completly isolated from the rail network to prevent accidental voltage
cross.
> cheers Peter
-- Bye for now, Eben.