Fares aside, Hailey pays a ‘physical cost' for each trip on Melbourne's old trams
Disability Resources Centre advocate Andrew Bretherton said it was 'ridiculous' such little progress had been made in making the network accessible, more than 20 years after the Disability Discrimination Act was passed.
Victoria missed a deadline imposed by that law to make all tram stops accessible by 2022, and now faces an uphill battle to make the entire tram fleet accessible by 2032.
Six routes now operate entirely with accessible trams, but 11 routes still exclusively use high-floor rolling stock.
'What they're doing is segregating a whole community from society by not letting them have access to an everyday need, which is transport,' Bretherton said.
'Almost everyone's going to be affected by disability at some point. You're secluding disabled, injured people, elderly people from the community.'
Bretherton said that while public transport could be especially inaccessible for wheelchair users, there should also be more awareness of people whose disability might not be obvious to others but who still needed ramps, level-access stops, and use of priority seating.
People with these 'hidden disabilities' sometimes wear sunflower lanyards or badges when they travel.
Victoria's new G-Class trams will start testing on the network later this year, with 100 due to be delivered through a $1.4 billion order.
Operating out of a new depot in Maidstone and designed with extensive input from accessibility advocates, the G-Class will first be deployed on the routes 57, 82 and 59, which currently have no accessible trams and few accessible stops.
A spokesman for Public Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams said two new level-access stops would be built in the 2025/26 financial year, at the Moonee Ponds Junction, which serves routes 82 and 59.
Fourteen more have funding in the pipeline, including eight along Droop Street, Footscray, announced in last month's budget.
Public Transport Users Association spokesperson Daniel Bowen said the 100 G-Class trams were a 'good start', but 130 high-floor B-Class trams would be left on the network which also needed replacing.
'We've got some areas which are very reliant on tram services, and if you're able-bodied, that's great. [But] if you're a parent with a pram, it can be very difficult to use the high-floor trams. If you're using luggage, it can be difficult. And if you've got a wheelchair or some other sort of mobility aid, it's basically impossible.'
An Allan government spokesperson said the Labor government had upgraded 98 tram stops since coming to power a decade ago, and delivered 50 accessible E-Class trams.
'We know there is more to do, and we're working with accessibility groups to ensure we are prioritising the upgrades that will make the most difference to them,' the spokesperson said.
The Transport Department has shifted to an approach of upgrading a group of stops along an entire 'corridor' of the tram network rather than on a stop-by-stop basis.
Design work and consultation was undertaken to upgrade stops on route 86 along Gertrude and Smith streets in Fitzroy and Collingwood, and on High Street in Thornbury and Northcote last year, but the state government has not committed to implementing those upgrades.
A 2020 Victorian Auditor-General's Office report found the Transport Department had estimated the cost of upgrading all tram stops in the network to level-access would cost at least $2 billion.
A spokesperson for the City of Stonnington said it was working with the department on long-term planning for accessible tram stops on Chapel Street as part of 'broader discussions about the future transformation of the precinct'.
Loading
'This planning work will consider how best to integrate tram accessibility upgrades with streetscape improvements and the needs of other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and local traders,' they said.
Yarra Trams recorded almost 16 million passenger trips last year on Melbourne tram network, which is the world's largest.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Age
a day ago
- The Age
Fares aside, Hailey pays a ‘physical cost' for each trip on Melbourne's old trams
Disability Resources Centre advocate Andrew Bretherton said it was 'ridiculous' such little progress had been made in making the network accessible, more than 20 years after the Disability Discrimination Act was passed. Victoria missed a deadline imposed by that law to make all tram stops accessible by 2022, and now faces an uphill battle to make the entire tram fleet accessible by 2032. Six routes now operate entirely with accessible trams, but 11 routes still exclusively use high-floor rolling stock. 'What they're doing is segregating a whole community from society by not letting them have access to an everyday need, which is transport,' Bretherton said. 'Almost everyone's going to be affected by disability at some point. You're secluding disabled, injured people, elderly people from the community.' Bretherton said that while public transport could be especially inaccessible for wheelchair users, there should also be more awareness of people whose disability might not be obvious to others but who still needed ramps, level-access stops, and use of priority seating. People with these 'hidden disabilities' sometimes wear sunflower lanyards or badges when they travel. Victoria's new G-Class trams will start testing on the network later this year, with 100 due to be delivered through a $1.4 billion order. Operating out of a new depot in Maidstone and designed with extensive input from accessibility advocates, the G-Class will first be deployed on the routes 57, 82 and 59, which currently have no accessible trams and few accessible stops. A spokesman for Public Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams said two new level-access stops would be built in the 2025/26 financial year, at the Moonee Ponds Junction, which serves routes 82 and 59. Fourteen more have funding in the pipeline, including eight along Droop Street, Footscray, announced in last month's budget. Public Transport Users Association spokesperson Daniel Bowen said the 100 G-Class trams were a 'good start', but 130 high-floor B-Class trams would be left on the network which also needed replacing. 'We've got some areas which are very reliant on tram services, and if you're able-bodied, that's great. [But] if you're a parent with a pram, it can be very difficult to use the high-floor trams. If you're using luggage, it can be difficult. And if you've got a wheelchair or some other sort of mobility aid, it's basically impossible.' An Allan government spokesperson said the Labor government had upgraded 98 tram stops since coming to power a decade ago, and delivered 50 accessible E-Class trams. 'We know there is more to do, and we're working with accessibility groups to ensure we are prioritising the upgrades that will make the most difference to them,' the spokesperson said. The Transport Department has shifted to an approach of upgrading a group of stops along an entire 'corridor' of the tram network rather than on a stop-by-stop basis. Design work and consultation was undertaken to upgrade stops on route 86 along Gertrude and Smith streets in Fitzroy and Collingwood, and on High Street in Thornbury and Northcote last year, but the state government has not committed to implementing those upgrades. A 2020 Victorian Auditor-General's Office report found the Transport Department had estimated the cost of upgrading all tram stops in the network to level-access would cost at least $2 billion. A spokesperson for the City of Stonnington said it was working with the department on long-term planning for accessible tram stops on Chapel Street as part of 'broader discussions about the future transformation of the precinct'. Loading 'This planning work will consider how best to integrate tram accessibility upgrades with streetscape improvements and the needs of other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and local traders,' they said. Yarra Trams recorded almost 16 million passenger trips last year on Melbourne tram network, which is the world's largest.
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Fares aside, Hailey pays a ‘physical cost' for each trip on Melbourne's old trams
Disability Resources Centre advocate Andrew Bretherton said it was 'ridiculous' such little progress had been made in making the network accessible, more than 20 years after the Disability Discrimination Act was passed. Victoria missed a deadline imposed by that law to make all tram stops accessible by 2022, and now faces an uphill battle to make the entire tram fleet accessible by 2032. Six routes now operate entirely with accessible trams, but 11 routes still exclusively use high-floor rolling stock. 'What they're doing is segregating a whole community from society by not letting them have access to an everyday need, which is transport,' Bretherton said. 'Almost everyone's going to be affected by disability at some point. You're secluding disabled, injured people, elderly people from the community.' Bretherton said that while public transport could be especially inaccessible for wheelchair users, there should also be more awareness of people whose disability might not be obvious to others but who still needed ramps, level-access stops, and use of priority seating. People with these 'hidden disabilities' sometimes wear sunflower lanyards or badges when they travel. Victoria's new G-Class trams will start testing on the network later this year, with 100 due to be delivered through a $1.4 billion order. Operating out of a new depot in Maidstone and designed with extensive input from accessibility advocates, the G-Class will first be deployed on the routes 57, 82 and 59, which currently have no accessible trams and few accessible stops. A spokesman for Public Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams said two new level-access stops would be built in the 2025/26 financial year, at the Moonee Ponds Junction, which serves routes 82 and 59. Fourteen more have funding in the pipeline, including eight along Droop Street, Footscray, announced in last month's budget. Public Transport Users Association spokesperson Daniel Bowen said the 100 G-Class trams were a 'good start', but 130 high-floor B-Class trams would be left on the network which also needed replacing. 'We've got some areas which are very reliant on tram services, and if you're able-bodied, that's great. [But] if you're a parent with a pram, it can be very difficult to use the high-floor trams. If you're using luggage, it can be difficult. And if you've got a wheelchair or some other sort of mobility aid, it's basically impossible.' An Allan government spokesperson said the Labor government had upgraded 98 tram stops since coming to power a decade ago, and delivered 50 accessible E-Class trams. 'We know there is more to do, and we're working with accessibility groups to ensure we are prioritising the upgrades that will make the most difference to them,' the spokesperson said. The Transport Department has shifted to an approach of upgrading a group of stops along an entire 'corridor' of the tram network rather than on a stop-by-stop basis. Design work and consultation was undertaken to upgrade stops on route 86 along Gertrude and Smith streets in Fitzroy and Collingwood, and on High Street in Thornbury and Northcote last year, but the state government has not committed to implementing those upgrades. A 2020 Victorian Auditor-General's Office report found the Transport Department had estimated the cost of upgrading all tram stops in the network to level-access would cost at least $2 billion. A spokesperson for the City of Stonnington said it was working with the department on long-term planning for accessible tram stops on Chapel Street as part of 'broader discussions about the future transformation of the precinct'. Loading 'This planning work will consider how best to integrate tram accessibility upgrades with streetscape improvements and the needs of other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and local traders,' they said. Yarra Trams recorded almost 16 million passenger trips last year on Melbourne tram network, which is the world's largest.
AU Financial Review
05-06-2025
- AU Financial Review
Tasmania headed to snap election after parliament turns on Rockliff
Tasmanians look set to vote in their second state election in less than two years after parliament passed a vote of no-confidence in Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Labor Opposition Leader Dean Winter's motion passed the Tasmanian Parliament on Wednesday afternoon 18 votes to 17 with the support of the Greens, and after speaker Michelle O'Byrne used her casting vote in favour.
