The state government is urging motorists to drive safely around trams, due to a rise in the number of serious vehicle-to-tram collisions across Melbourne.
Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll visited the Yarra Trams’ Collision Repair Centre this week at the new Preston Depot – where a number of trams have been taken off their tracks to undergo major repair works following a collision with a vehicle.
There were 960 vehicle-to-tram collisions recorded in 2022, with 166 of them classified as serious. It’s a jump of 60 per cent on the previous year, equating to an average of almost three collisions a day.
In January this year, there were 10 vehicle-to-tram collisions in one day, prompting a call for motorists to share the road safely with trams and to never drive in the path of a moving tram.
Most collisions involving trams occur when a vehicle turns in front of a tram or drives on to tracks attempting to overtake others. Around 95 per cent of tram-to-vehicle collisions are caused by vehicles on the tracks.
Vehicle-to-tram collisions can cause major damage to trams and vehicles, as well as injuries and fatal consequences to those involved.
Clearing a collision can also take hours, leading to disruptions for all road users and often extending journeys across multiple routes and roads.
There are 10 trams out of service for collision repairs at any one time on average – about half of one route’s trams that are unavailable for service.
Melbourne’s trams weigh up to 62 tonnes – or about as much as 30 rhinos – and while some vehicle-to-tram collisions are minor, other collisions require major work by a skilled team at the Preston Depot to bring the trams back into service.
The team complete varied tasks to safely return the trams on their tracks, including panel beating and electrical works.
Trams with more significant damage, such as Z-class tram number 123 which was side-swiped by a garbage truck in late 2022, can take many months to repair.
“Melbourne’s tram network is essential to keeping locals and tourists moving – so when serious vehicle-to-tram collisions occur, it can cause lengthy disruptions and result in the trams requiring major repair works for a long period of time,” Mr Carroll said.
“We know the network is shared with other road users and we want to keep it safe – so we’re urging motorists to take extra care when driving around trams and drive down the number of vehicle-to-tram collisions.”
