Domain Interchange

Domain Interchange
Southbound view in November 2013
Location	St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Coordinates	Coordinates: 37°49′58″S 144°58′20″E / 37.832677°S 144.972085°E / -37.832677; 144.972085
Operated by	Yarra Trams
Platforms	2 island platforms
Tracks	4 (including 2 turning tracks)
History
Opened	1889
Closed	28 March 2013
Rebuilt	12 April 2013
Services
3/3a, 5, 6, 8, 16, 55, 64, 67, 72

Domain Interchange is a major interchange on the Melbourne tram system. Featuring two island platforms with four tracks, it has dedicated turning tracks and through tracks. It is located on St Kilda Road between Domain Road and Park Street, adjacent to Kings Domain, and is one of the busiest interchanges on the system, being used by nine tram routes. The current structure was opened in April 2013, replacing an earlier structure built in 1986.

The junction now known as Domain Interchange was open during the cable era in 1889. It was the connection between the Brighton Road – Queensberry Street line and the newly opened Toorak line which left St Kilda Road to travel along Domain Road; both lines traversed Swanston Street and St Kilda Road. From 1925 to 1927 these two cable lines were converted to electric traction.

In preparation for the electrification of St Kilda Road, a new depot and tracks were constructed, this brought a new line to Domain Junction, along Park Street and Hanna Street, which opened in 1925. It served as a means of diverting trams around the works on St Kilda Road without necessitating the construction of temporary track, and connected with the existing Sturt Street line. It would also serve as the first, and primary connection between Hanna Street tram depot (later South Melbourne depot) and St Kilda Road; the other being Sturt Street, which followed early in 1926. The Toorak cable tram line was converted to electric traction following the completion of St Kilda Road's conversion.

Prior to the April 2013 redevelopment of Domain Interchange, it had last been redeveloped in the 1986, with shelters and a third track added to allow route 55 trams to terminate without inhibiting through services.

During the 2006 Commonwealth Games temporary changes were made to the tram network. Among these changes, routes 3 and 5 were through-routed to West Coburg through Domain Interchange, becoming routes 53 and 55 respectively for the duration of the games.