Re: Swanston Trams (and Yarra)

["Michael Walker" <walker@hotkey.net.au>]

>On the subject of City Circle trams, will these cars remain in govt
>hands and continue to provide a free service?
>
In theory according to government press releases, the W class run City
Circle free tram will be run by one of the privatised agencies, presumably
Yarra Trams as they own Southbank Depot where the trams run out of. No doubt
it will be handled as some sort of Community Service Obligation by the
government and City of Melbourne who also contribute towards the cost of the
service I believe, the government claims it will continue to be a free
service. Despite many cynics, I would say it will stay free as it is a good
tourism drawcard and gets people into the city and moving around it (and
spending money) and on this basis alone, the City of Melbourne and Tourism
Victoria would put up a fight if it became a regular service, not to mention
the fact you would then need to install Met Crud machines in the Ws which at
present is a no-no. I somehow think that a Z or A painted burgundy running
the service wouldn't attract anywhere near the same patronage as even a
'heritage' W charging fares!