Melbourne tram route 109

Route 109
Box Hill – Port Melbourne
C class tram at St Vincent's Plaza in January 2008
Overview
System	Melbourne
Operator	Yarra Trams
Depot	Kew
Vehicle	A class C class
Predecessors	Route 42
Night-time	Friday & Saturday
Route
Locale	Melbourne, Australia
Start	Box Hill
Via	Collins Street
End	Port Melbourne
Zone(s)	Free Zone: 1-8, 123, 124 Myki Zone 1: Stops 9-47, 124A-129 Myki Zone 2: Stops 47-58
Timetable	Route 109 timetable
Map	Route 109 map
Route map ← Route 96  {{{system_nav}}}   →

Melbourne tram route 109 is operated by Yarra Trams on the Melbourne tram network. It operates from Box Hill to Port Melbourne. The 13.9 kilometre route is operated by A and C class trams from Kew depot.

The route runs along a light rail track between Southbank and Port Melbourne, using the right-of-way of the former Port Melbourne railway line, the first railway in Australia, which was converted to light rail in 1987. It is the most patronised route in Melbourne, with over 15.6 million trips per year.

The origins of route 109 lie in separate tram lines, a cable tram from Spencer Street to the Yarra River, a horse tram from the Yarra River to Kew Cemetery, an electric line from Kew Junction to Box Hill (extended over the years), and the Port Melbourne railway line.

A cable line was opened by the Melbourne Tramway and Omnibus Company from Spencer Street to Brunswick Street along Collins Street, MacArthur Street, Gisborne Street and Victoria Parade on 2 October 1886, and extended to the west side of the Yarra River along Victoria Parade and Victoria Street on 22 November 1886. A connecting horse tram was built from the east side of the Yarra River to Kew Cemetery, along Barkers Road, High Street South and High Street, opening on 28 December 1887.