W Class Trams
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MELBOURNE JOYRIDE - LET'S KEEP 'THE W' THE FACE OF MELBOURNE
July 2012
After 20 years of lobbying, the National Trust is grateful that the retention of W Class trams is finally being taken seriously. The Baillieu government has kept its election promise to restore some of these much-loved trams, and the results so far sound encouraging. Clearly a sturdy old W Class tram can be overhauled to be meet modern safety and operational concerns, while retaining its heritage character. We have yet to see a refurbished example in detail, but the engineers at Preston have clearly gone to some considerable trouble referring to original blueprints. For a fraction of the cost of a new tram, Melbourne can look forward to the familiar green and cream trams once again being a feature of Melbourne’s streets and to the trams regaining their status as a true icon of Melbourne.
3 May Media release by Hon. Terry Mulder...
"This Budget funding will provide for maintenance and restoration of Melbourne’s W-Class tram fleet and trial a limited return of trams that are currently out of service to the fleet."
2 May 2011
Budget announcement synopsis in The Age
10 February 2011
First City Circle goes to Bendigo Tramways as start of hoped-for full overhaul program. Reported in Bendigo Advertiser.
December 2010
Having won the State Election, we hope that the new Baillieu Liberal Government honours their commitment to the W's. Their election pledge was tokeep them on the streets and spend $8mill.
17 October 2010
Opinion piece by Conservation Manager Paul Roser in the Sunday Age
10 October 2010.
In February, the Victorian Premier, John Brumby acknowledged the iconic status of Melbourne’s “W” Class tram fleet & advised that his Government would welcome proposals for their ongoing operation once they are retired from commuter service in 2012.
The National Trust, Rail Tram & Bus Union, & conservationist businessman Bill McHarg are hereby seeking to create support for a Hop on/ Hop off tourist attraction, by calling for expressions of interest from interested advertisers, sponsors & business operators for the Ride. see www.melbournejoyride.com.au
"Like everyone else in Melbourne, the National Trust of Australia supports Government investment in modernising our transport networks. At the same time, the W-Class tram is a visitor and tourist icon used freely to promote our city, and they have a guaranteed future on the city circle. However, we would urge the Government not to lose sight of the potential to expand this type of service in the future. If we are ever to link the central city with other key sites, it is imperative that Government preserves the remaining fleet of 30 or so operational W-Class trams for the benefit of future generations. Don’t just throw away our legacy.”
National Trust CEO Mr Martin Purslow
LATEST MEDIA The Age 27 October 2010; ABC 27 October 2010; The Sunday Age 24 October 2010; The Sunday Age 17 October 2010; The Sunday Age 17 October 2010 - (Opinion); The Age, 10 October 2010; The Age, 11 August 2010; The Sunday Age, 7 March 2010; The Sunday Age, 28 February 2010; The Age 22 January 2010
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The Trust has proposed a new tourist circuit that would use restored W Class trams and connect major attractions around Melbourne. The full proposal can be downloaded below. |
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Grand Circle proposal (PDF) 637.31 kB
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NT Grand Circle Map (PDF) 2.59 MB
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HOW YOU CAN HELP
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Sign our on-line petition by clicking here |
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Join the facebook group "Melbourne's W Class Trams" |
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For further background and images, see below or visit our W Class Tram blog
UPGRADES FOR THE W'S
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Upgraded W Class tram (photo Dean-Melbourne, Flickr) |
Typical W Class tram interior (partly restored) |
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For far less than the cost of a new tram, the W's can be upgraded to be less noisy, faster, easier to board and they already have heaters and doors while still keeping their heritage features - the days of the rattly drafty old open- style W Class tram are well and truly over. |
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Upgrades for the W's (PDF) 144.29 kB
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SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
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Background_information (PDF) 245.09 kB
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LETTERS TO THE AGE 2009 27.00 kB
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DISABLED ACCESSIBILITY
This video shows a W Class tram in Savannah, Georgia that has had an off-the-shelf disabled access lift installed at a very modest cost. This proves it is possible to make W's accessible to all.