At 03.01 on April 18 Yarra Trams became the new name for Melbourne’s entire privatised tram network when the company assumed responsibility for the former National Express Swanston Trams franchise operated under the M>Tram brand.
Yarra Trams Chief Executive Hubert Guyot drove the first tram, a Siemens Combino low-floor car, from Malvern depot at 06.16 (right) to form a Route 16 service to St Kilda Beach.
A major de-branding exercise had taken place overnight to remove M>Tram and Swanston Trams signage from 275 trams and 1200 stops. All cars were cleaned for the first commuter runs on April 19.
Speaking hours after Yarra Trams began its five-year partnership with the government of Victoria to operate the whole 262 km network, Guyot promised to increase service frequency from 12min to 10min intervals with an extra 28 daily services. An additional 50 tram attendants have been employed to provide help and information to passengers.
Specialist staff from Bombardier Transportation and Thiess-Infraco, who previously provided outsourced maintenance and infrastructure services to M>Tram under contract, are now employed by Yarra Trams.
At the same time, Connex quietly commenced as the single operator of Melbourne’s commuter rail services. Only V/Line Passenger, which operates longer-distance services in Victoria, remains in government ownership.
