A Walk Through Melbourne // Southern Cross to Melbourne Central!

Join me on a stroll through Melbourne's Central Business District, watching lots of trams and trains and a few other things along the way. We start at about 3:45pm on the afternoon of Wednesday 25th of January 2023. It's a warm summer afternoon but not too hot - about 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). We get off a train at Southern Cross station, then walk south along Spencer Street, east up Flinders Street (catching a W class tram part of the way), north up Elizabeth Street, east along Collins Street, and north up Swanston Street - the busiest tram corridor in the world. Finally we drop down into Melbourne Central station.
This is obviously a very long-form video and probably won't be to everyone's taste, but the aim of this kind of thing is to capture a snapshot of the city at this particular moment in time, and will hopefully be even more interesting in the future. I enjoy making this kind of video, and will hopefully do some more in the future!
Want to help support the channel, get early access to new content and exclusive behind the scenes videos? Join me on Patreon: / taitset
Official Yarra Trams network map: yarratrams.com.au/network-map
Blog post by Marcus Wong about the historic clock at Southern Cross: wongm.com/2014/05/southern-cr...
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro (on a Comeng)
01:33 - Southern Cross station
04:20 - Spencer Street
08:10 - Flinders Street (feat. ride on W class tram)
27:34 - Elizabeth Street
32:18 - Collins Street
35:22 - Swanston Street
51:32 - Melbourne Central station
55:37 - Outro (on an X'trap)
#melbourne #transport #city #urban #trams #walking

[@FullerHob]

It really is night and day how much nicer a city becomes when car usage is limited in favour of pedestrianisation and public transport. I'm thinking of moving to Melbourne relatively soon but it saddens me how completely car-dominant so much of the city still is. Even when there's plenty of trams available, the ridiculously wide roads and mass of cars still dominate the general vibe in certain areas. Really hope they start pedestrianising more areas of the city and faster.

[@spookaj6261]

The effort of subtitling this entire video is incredible and really shows the quality of your content. Keep up the good work!

[@Taitset]

Glad people are finding it useful, for my other videos I just generate them from the script which doesn't take too long, but this one didn't have a script so it took ages!

[@archiesegrave4708]

​@@Taitset just shows the quality of your content

[@martinxxcz2919]

@@Taitsetits good for watching in school, cuz i dont have earbuds 😄

[@neilmansfield8329]

@@archiesegrave4708 ttt try these trams sse good

[@NimbleJack3]

"...and here we see one of the only surviving records of the city from the Time Before, filmed by Khan Taitset before his ascension to Rail Lord during the Event."

[@SYDTrainsFilms]

Grand Emperor Taitset, Earl of Metro and Lord of Victorian Railways.

[@matthewshields1734]

Loved it! My favourite small channel on KZbin. Melbourne seems like such a nice place, and your knowledge of the city’s complicated transport system is really admirable! More slow paced explorations please.

[@Taitset]

Thanks! Glad you're enjoying it. I definitely plan on making more like this one. :)

[@Takodate]

51:46 for context for people not from Melbourne, Melbourne museum used to be near by alongside the State Library before they moved it to the next suburb over. Also Southern Cross station used to be called Spencer Street Station as it was located on Spencer Street but there is a quota of confusingly geographically inaccurately named stations we have to meet.

[@joshanderson9391]

Great video. Love the random Penny Farthing at 37:28

[@Taitset]

Thanks! Yeah that was pretty cool!

[@thomasfrazier7861]

I saw the XPT cross with a Vlocity a few days ago. As a regional train enthusiast, needless to say it made my day

[@andydelarue9344]

I miss Melbourne, just moved out after 63 years

[@RenNeyra]

Nice clip man, I travel to the city often during the summer months and I never get sick of it I suggest you make a clip for the history of our trams like you did on the trains last year. :)

[@Taitset]

Glad you enjoyed it! I will hopefully do a tram video at some point.

[@RenNeyra]

@@Taitset You did mention the stock watch. I got a little nervous about it as a child first as I was worried the lower half would fall off but I've been loving it since the mid 90's. Australia's unofficial anthem is played and as well seeing Dimeru many times. I find the streets easier to walk than me walking Sydney' streets as I find them a little uneven in some places, especially The Rocks.

[@Hal10034]

I really enjoyed this. It might be fun to see a ride from end to end on some of the more interesting tram routes.

[@sp00tnik26]

Very nice video taitset! exploring our wonderful city with concise and intricate commentary on the environment around! Must say the rubbish truck losing its tire seems to be very random, what are the odds!

[@Taitset]

Thanks! Haha yeah it was so strange, especially as I had the camera pointing towards it right at that moment!

[@ocelotsly5521]

A most enjoyable promenade, with a touch of psychogeography. 35:15 Glad you mentioned the Metro, but I'm a smidgeon disappointed you didn't eulogise the unloved City Square. A big, open rectangle that nobody knew what to do with since 1968. Home, for a while, of the notorious sculpture 'Vault' (which I've grown to like). As a teen, I bought over-priced import 12" singles from a shop at the back of the square. Place felt like a cave at the base of a cliff. Thanks for the Proustian rush.

[@Taitset]

Glad you enjoyed it! I'll be honest, I completely forgot about City Square - which shows how unloved it was haha.

[@ocelotsly5521]

​@@Taitset I stand corrected. Congrats on the heartfelt concision of your eulogy.

[@Rosa-lv8yw]

Oh nice an hour long taitset video! Edit: And thanks for the closed captions! Amazing.

[@Taitset]

No worries! It did take a while to make them on this one.

[@warrengibson7898]

If I were to visit Australia I would be in trouble. I might step off a curb, check for traffic from my left, and get clobbered by a vehicle from my right.

[@JackStavris]

Love this video, as someone who was born in and grew up mostly in eastern suburbs until I was 7 years old, and then moved out to the country, I've come to love Melbourne over the last few years since I've started working there in 2021, I had always worked local to where I lived out in Gippsland so working in the city was a new expirence for me, it gets me away from the country where it's hard to travel places and away from the drama of my backwards family. I definetely have plans to move closer to the city since I love being there, especially as someone who can't drive due to a disability, Melbourne is hard to beat for public transport. Also there's a lot of cool history and stuff to do. I remember the first week at my new job in Melbourne in June 2021, I was working as on-site IT support for an organisation on Faraday Street in Carlton so I always used the trams on Swanston Street, I was shocked to see there was literally no people and the streets were empty for months due to the pandemic, the trams were fairly empty and so were the trains, it was like something from a horror movie since prior to the pandemic it was always packed. It wasn't until around Nov/Dec 2021 Melbourne started to feel normal again. Glad we've returned to a more normal way of life since then though.

[@Taitset]

Really glad you enjoyed it! Living in the city is definitely great, especially for anyone who doesn't drive. I've always lived in the outer suburbs, but enjoy going in several times a week. Another one of these videos coming out very shortly. :)

[@michaelsinclair8018]

Great Stuff. A technicality - Australia 108 at 319m is shorter than Q1 on the Gold Coast - Q1 (at 323m) has a very long, very thin spire. They count according to the CTUBH.

[@Taitset]

Oh yeah I think I actually read about that then forgot haha. Thanks!

[@gp_n_memes]

That moment(s) at 41:10 is just complete organised chaos

[@lindawatts4510]

Very informative video. Looking to visit Melbourne next year (from the U.K.) last time was 15+ years ago. Thank you for taking us on your tour 😁

[@mattjj_]

I love the fact that you hung around Bourke for a good five minutes hoping for a C2 class tram I picked up on the fact that it's what you were waiting for, but I did not realise they only ran on route 96

[@Jaiysful]

This is exceptional. Thanks for putting this vid together.

[@HaydenZhu]

I love ur vids keep it up!❤

[@ChrisGuiver]

Thank you for making this video. I really enjoyed it. I haven't worked in the city in decades, so it both felt at "home", and like watching a "foreign" city.

[@NiklasMS]

enjoyed doing my methods homework while listening to this video - its quite relaxing :)

[@adammurphy6845]

Great change of pace with this video! Def enjoyed the running commentary too!

[@KobyKu]

Great content Taitset! I have a horrible sense of direction and videos like this make life a little bit easier :)

[@Michael_Chater]

You have such a beautiful station on Spencer St.

[@TreFR14]

I enjoyed this video also you should make an explainer on the tram system of melbourne it will be a good idea x'trap more like x'tramp lol

[@WickedFizz999]

I go to the CBD loads of times socially but I haven't reatined any knowledge of how to get around and where many things are sadly, great info in this video!

[@transportinformationmelb]

Very good video. I can see you have put a lot of effort into this video. I enjoyed seeing all of the tram types and you walking through the Melbourne CBD. Annoying you missed out on seeing a C2 in that video. Though the Garbage truck was also a very interesting sight, if that car didn't travel through through the Bourke Street Mall the situation could of been avoidable. I hope you can make more of these types of videos as I did enjoy it.

[@oxthcar]

Very Good video- maybe you could make some short explainers about the best places to interchange with public transport?

[@davidlang1125]

Lovely walking tour. Thanks for the steady camera work. Hope to visit Melbourne in the future. From California.

[@Taitset]

No worries, glad you enjoyed it!

[@themelbournerailfan]

Im the 100th person to like this video, Funny garbage Truck. Nice Video mate.

[@peternicholson6364]

A suggestion is to do a "tips for overseas travellers" video. For instance when you get off the Skybus at Southern Cross there is a 7-11 store where you can buy a myki. Tell the viewers exactly what to ask for.

[@Skasaha_]

I actually had no idea about the W8 trams, I thought they've always just been minor retrofits of old stock and didn't know they changed them recently. Although I suppose if there was any time to take them into the shop 2020 was certainly the time.

[@carisi2k11]

All those 7 elevens on every corner in Melbourne.

[@Jules_Diplopia]

Thanks for this wander through Melbourne. It seems like a real nice city. I am amazed at the number of different tram types that you have there. No consideration for standardisations? Or are there actually good reasons for keeping such a varied fleet

[@Taitset]

It's basically just a slow evolution over time, with a few historical quirks! The early privatisation era was when we got cheap trams built overseas (C and D classes). And patronage had kept climing, keeping older trams like the Zs in service. There is some advantage to fleet diversity, for instance if a major fault develops across one entire class (that happened in Sydney recently).

[@Jules_Diplopia]

@@Taitset For my city, Den Haag, we only have 3 types. The old GTL8, the Siemens Avenio and the Citadas. The GTL8s are being phased out slowly to provide disability access to all routes. As I am in a wheelchair that is important to me. Keep up the great videos.

[@Taitset]

@@Jules_Diplopia That's very good! As you can see we are still a very long way from a fully wheelchair accessible network here. I have been to Den Haag very briefly in 2012, I didn't get a chance to ride the trams though!

[@user-tn1iz3cj9f]

You went into the side entrance of Melbourne central station, didn't you? I used to go through this station every day to come RMIT university 23 years ago. Thanks a lot!

[@Taitset]

Yeah there's another entrance slightly further north which is a bit wider, but not by much! The one at the other end from Elizabeth St is a bit better.

[@user-tn1iz3cj9f]

@@Taitset I just want to check my memory. I remember to go through the main entrance in oposite to the crossroad of Latrobe-Swanston St to the large hall directly without any corridor. Have a nice new week, thank you!

[@Taitset]

You can see the entrance on streetview here: www.google.com/maps/@-37.8098793,144.9638301,3a,75y,175.55h,82.36t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1svzCWdl6nbP2QpKPiwVk03A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu There are also some escalators right on the corner that go straight up to the food court.

[@user-tn1iz3cj9f]

@@Taitset Thanks a lot! Have a nice day!

[@adia3661]

I'm here for the car park hate

[@WanderingBabs]

Anyone else notice that second number 19 tram coming from the terminus ran the red light?

[@Taitset]

What's the time stamp?

[@WanderingBabs]

@@Taitset 30:57 ish B class running green turn to flinders lane

[@Taitset]

@@WanderingBabs True, it does look like it. I mean we can't see the lights facing the tram, but it's hard to imagine any situation where it would get a clear light against that turn arrow!

[@carisi2k11]

Have the brakes been fixed on the E classes?

[@chappo91rulz]

At about 5:05 you said the 12 and 109 turn right down the hill isnt it turn left from Collins St down the hill??

[@Taitset]

Right from the point of view of where we're standing.

[@theborderline804]

Hi Taitset, do you have (or another KZbin channel you might know) high quaitly recordings of every (or most) Arriving At: ______, the welcome to Metro, and the termination annoucement?

[@Taitset]

I certainly don't have most, really just a few incidental ones I've recorded while onboard trains.

[@Rheilffordd]

Hey Martin! I’m watching this video now, as much as I have done these walks many times, I am enjoying your take and info on things! Am I able to ask how you filmed this? Thanks!

[@Taitset]

Thanks Maikha! It's filmed with a gopro just clipped to my backpack strap, with the lights and front screen turned off so it's not too obvious. I try not to go full 'hidden camera,' but just hidden enough that I don't get yelled at by station staff or make anyone feel uncomfortable. I just got a Hero 10 which is why the stabiliser on this video is miles better than my previous ones. And also 4K!

[@Rheilffordd]

@@Taitset, thanks for that! I’ll try a similar method if I ever want to film something discreetly like this!

[@sonnythetramfan]

are any of the trams in the melbourne tram museum operational?

[@Taitset]

I believe most of them are, but no longer allowed out on the network for a whole range of red tape reasons.

[@CoatsyJnr]

5:16 do you mean routes 12 and 109 turn left into Spencer St? Love the video otherwise. What did you record with? Can't justify moving to Melbourne due do family, but as someone who doesn't own a car, Melbourne is so much nicer to get around than Sydney. Wish I could

[@Taitset]

Good point, the trams turn left but Spencer St was to the right from my point of view! I probably should have clarified that.

[@justinwright4833]

How can you tell the difference between the subclasses? For example differences b/w a1 and a2, d1 and d2 etc?

[@Taitset]

Some are easier than others - there's hardly any visual difference between the A1/A2, they just have different braking systems or something. The D1/D2 are easy because the D2 is way longer with two extra sections. C/C2 are almost a completely different external design. You can find details on all the classes here: vicsig.net/index.php?page=trams&section=rollingstock

[@justinwright4833]

@Taitset cool, thanks I'll check it out

[@speedmastermarkiii]

These days $10 on your Myki card will get you to Swan Hill and back.

[@ygomango9263]

bus fans lmfao