Trams in Melbourne

Melbourne tramway network

Z3 215 and B2 2028 on Swanston St walk, 2012
Operation
Locale	Melbourne, Australia
Horse tram era: 1884 (1884)–1923 (1923) Operator(s) Various (1884–1915) MTOC (1887–1923) Propulsion system(s) Horses
Cable tram era: 1885 (1885)–1940 (1940) Operator(s) MTOC (1885–1916) MTB (1916–1919) MMTB (1919–1940) Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Propulsion system(s) Cables
Electric tram era: since 1906 (1906) Routes 25 Owner(s) Various (1906–1959) MMTB (1920–1983) MTA (1983–1989) PTC (1989–1999) VicTrack (since 1999) Operator(s) Various (1906–1959) MMTB (1920–1983) MTA (1983–1989) PTC (1989–1999) M>Tram (1999–2004) TransdevTSL (Yarra Trams) (1999–2009) Keolis Downer (Yarra Trams) (since 2009) Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Propulsion system(s) Electricity Electrification 600 V DC Catenary Track length (total) 250 km (155.3 mi) Passengers (2015-16) 203.8 million  12% Website Yarra Trams

The Melbourne tramway network is a major form of public transport in Melbourne, the capital city of the state of Victoria, Australia. As of May 2014, the network consisted of 250 kilometres of track, 493 trams, 25 routes, and 1,763 tram stops. It is the largest urban tramway network in the world, ahead of the networks in St. Petersburg (205 km) and Upper Silesia (200 km), Berlin (190 km), Moscow (181 km) and Vienna (172 km). Trams are the second most used form of public transport in overall boardings in Melbourne after the commuter railway network, with a total of 203.8 million passenger trips in 2015-16.

Trams have operated continuously in Melbourne since 1884, with the opening of a horse tram line in Fairfield. Since then they have become a distinctive part of Melbourne's character and feature in tourism and travel advertising. Melbourne's cable tram system opened in 1885, and expanded to one of the largest in the world, with 75 km (46.6 mi) of double track. The first electric tram line opened in 1889, but closed only a few years later in 1894. In 1906 electric tram systems were opened in St Kilda and Essendon, marking the start of continuous operation of Melbourne's electric trams.

The Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board was formed in 1919 to take control of Melbourne's cable tram network, six of the seven electric tramway companies, and the last horse tram. By 1940 all cable and horse tram lines had been abandoned or converted to either electric tram or bus operation. Victoria's public transport system was reorganised in 1983 and saw the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board dissolved into the Metropolitan Transit Authority, which was in turn absorbed by the Public Transport Corporation in 1989. The network has been operated under contract since the commencement of franchising, following the privatisation of the Public Transport Corporation in 1999. The current private operator contracted to run Melbourne's tram system is Keolis Downer, trading as Yarra Trams.