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Express services are a long established feature of the Bay Tram line. Express trams operate during peak hour and run non-stop between Stop 4, Greenhill Road (on the southern fringe of the City) and Stop 14, Marion Road, which is just over half way to Glenelg. Beyond Stop 14, the express tram makes all stops to Glenelg. This provides commuters living on the western half of the line with a faster service home from the City. In 2005, only one Express service remains – the 5.12pm departure from the City. This is always well-loaded. |
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There have been no Express trams into the City since the late 1980’s. Provision of Express trams was more generous in past years, with several services operating into the City in the morning rush hour, and a choice of departures from the City to the Bay in the evening peak. For a time in the 1930’s the Express trams were operated by triple sets of H-class cars. In some cases these operated express between Glenelg East (Helmsdale and Grovene at the time) and the City. | |||
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Three views of the scene at Victoria Square in the evening peak on 21 April 2005.
On the eastern side, cars 368 & 371 wait to form the 17.12 Express to Stop 14 departure.
On the western track, cars 358 & 357 load passengers for the following 17.17 All Stops service. The six crew members needed to operate these services wait on the platform. | ||||
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Although there is only one Express departure in the 2005 timetable, there is one other tram which runs 'express' (non-stop) over the full length of the line each weekday morning. But this is not available to the travelling public. In the morning peak, a roughly 10 minute service is provided into the City between approximately 7.30 and 8.30am. To help achieve this frequency, the double set from the 7.24am from Glenelg runs back from the City to Glenelg non-stop (and without passengers), then does another rush-hour run, departing Glenelg at 8.25am. |
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