Melbourne's Beachside Tramway Suburb: St Kilda!

This video looks at the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda, which is served by a large number of tram routes using a variety of tram classes. All photos, videos and narration by Martin Bennet (me), with the exception of those two shots of tram No.877 showing Route 69, which were taken by my brother Cian.
Want to help support the channel, get early access to new content and exclusive behind the scenes videos? Join me on Patreon: / taitset
You can watch my other video exploring St Kilda on foot here: • A Walk Through St Kild...
If you'd like to see the preserved Victorian Railways trams for yourself, here are links to the two museums:
www.btm.org.au/
www.hawthorntramdepot.org.au/
Marcus Wong's blog post about the triply inaccessible tram stops: wongm.com/2021/03/melbourne-t...
Further to my comments on Queens Way, Alan Fisher did a great video on why road-center stations aren't a good idea: • The Worst Type of Trai...
My voiceover in this video was recorded with the assistance of my brother Cian, who happens to be a sound recordist and musician. Check out his music here: hyperfollow.com/cianbennetmusic
Chapters:
00:00 - Welcome to St Kilda
00:38 - WSt Kilda's tram routes
02:40 - The VR tram line
03:14 - The funny tram route
03:36 - Queens Way
05:32 - St Kilda Junction
06:23 - Tram classes/Accesibility
07:14 - Quickest way to the city?
08:08 - The end bit
This video uses some imagery from Google Maps, and also the official Yarra Trams network map.
#melbourne #transport #trams #transit

[@Taitset]

Please note there have been some minor changes to the network since I made this video: As of the end of October 2023, Route 3a was abolished, and the normal Route 3 now runs full time.

[@Skasaha_]

Jesus christ, I've never seen the Queens Way part of those routes before and they're horrifying. Also, I find it hilaaaarious that the former route 69 ended at St Kilda of all places. It just feels right.

[@andrew7955]

I wish they called the 16 the 69 instead

[@Pigeon_journey]

Wow, I definitely learnt a lot from that, also, all your videos are so calming! Please keep this up, I'm always excited to watch one of your videos!

[@Taitset]

Thanks, glad you enjoy them!

[@rileythedude]

AHH BIRD

[@hippynothipster]

I'm finding it harder to explain to people why I'm becoming an expert on AUS transportation when I've never been there 😅 love your videos, so glad the algorithm sent me your way a few months ago.

[@DomQuartuccio]

Another fine video as always, please keep this quality content coming. Your channel is easily the best thing we've got in regards to Australian railway video essay content!

[@Taitset]

Thanks, I appreciate that!

[@ChocolateDealer]

As a St Kilda West resident we are so blessed by trams in the area, and #12 in my mind is the hidden gem of tram travel in Melbourne. Sure the 96 is faster, but the 12 is always quieter, always get a seat if until South Melbourne and drops me off at my door - tram perfection (to the point my BF teases me it is my ‘beloved #12’)

[@Taitset]

Totally agree, it's a really nice route!

[@oliver-d9p]

OMG OMG A NET TAITSET VIDEO!!!!! cant wait to watch

[@brownie69420]

Yes

[@Thetiersofmadness]

I love hearing this guy talk about Trams. It seems he really likes Trams.

[@Professorkek]

8:03 Ahh It's cool seeing those blue metcards again. My friend had their entire wall covered in them back in the day.

[@jm56585]

Taitset, you always make great content and bring a smile to my face when I see you in my feed. Thank you. Although I don't take trams anymore, this makes me nostalgic about when I'd ride a b class to the city, looking out the windows at the ever changing scenery. I think I'll take a trip to the city sometime soon so I can ride the 96 and take more photos of the b classes on 64 before they're gone.

[@steamrailr761fan6]

My favourite area, during the summer months. Especially having a ice cream & visiting Luna Park. ☺☺

[@Rheilffordd]

I see what you did there with that red signal at the start…. 😜

[@Taitset]

I didn't seem to have any more suitable photos of the venues in question! ;)

[@msand3680]

Queensway reminds me a lot of the green line here in Los Angeles. Almost the whole rail line is in the middle of the 105 freeway with each station in the median only protected from traffic by a chain link fence. A lot of metro and light rail lines in the United States use freeway alignment ms as right of way and just put stations on that same alignment

[@CalebsCrossingsYT]

Amazing in depth video, amazing area. And best afl team to ever exist is home to here. So gotta love it taitset!

[@sea80vicvan]

That was really informative. I didn't know St. Kilda was that well served by so many tram routes. Seeing those vintage trams from Victorian Railways reminded me that Melbourne sent a few of those up to Seattle in the 80's for use on a line that ran along Alaskan Way on our waterfront. Despite being very popular with tourists, the line was discontinued in the 2000s, and the service depot removed to make way for a sculpture park (no kidding). That line had the same type of accessibility issues as the Queens Way stop in this video, but it was still nice to have as a non-car transport option.

[@oliver-d9p]

such a good video, i live right next to the 96 north of the city and used to love waiting forever to the the c2's (for me, back the the BUMBLBEES!!!) down to st kilda. the light rail was such a thilling ride for me hahah, quoting my self "we are going though the bush part!!!"

[@patrickdunne5029]

Great video as per usual! I'm glad to see you share my 'enthusiasm' about Melbourne's least aesthetic and most dystopian tram stop at Upton Rd!

[@sienacraig9081]

as someone who has grown up in st kilda this video was super good and great quality!! you did an excellent job covering everything while also being succinct and calming. keep up the great work :D

[@HawkerMatt]

As someone who semi-regularly uses the route 5 and 64, due to having family in the area I can say it is in fact quite interesting catching a tram along queens way down the middle of it. Thoguh the routes themselves are slightly inconvinient if you don't want to end up at Flinders Street and want to go to to the MCG (which we often end up doing) at least there is an easy connection to the Sandringham line to resolve that issue

[@TreFR14]

Funny video. I definentaly learned a bit of history from this video and its cool to know a bit more about the suburb you live in. As someone who uses the trams quite a lot this was a facinating video that had funny and relatable moments. *COUGH COUGH qUeEnS wAy. Also I think I'm a Taitset fan now which I see as a good thing. OhVideo idea: A video where I talk about the Lilydale line for __ minutes.

[@Taitset]

Haha glad you enjoyed it! I will be doing other lines eventually, Lilydale is probably a while off but I'll get there eventually!

[@scarletlightning565]

Fantastic video mate XD I found your channel a couple weeks ago and learnt for the first time that tram drivers select their own points. Then the next tine i rode one, just a few days ago, i was on the lookout and got to see them change :D Keep it up, love your work

[@YukeWeiss]

Spent a bunch of time in St Kilda lately so this was a treat. I had never caught the 12 to Park St until fairly recently so this was a great video. I thought you might have touched on Coburg of all places but forgot just how much St Kilda had trams going through it.

[@tonnyyyyyyyyy]

Very interesting video taitset! Thank you!

[@damienberry7679]

An informative and interesting video, that was well explained in a non-condescending way. Keep up the great work!

[@Jakefromboat]

I love these kind of videos! now whenever I have a couple of hours free I hope on a random train or tram just to see where it goes. Did Hurstbridge last week it was spectacular!

[@Taitset]

That's awesome!

[@Mrpigjack]

Thanks for explaining the this. I live in Melbourne and use the trams a lot when travelling in the City Centre

[@meesalikeu]

this was very helpful -- if we dont stay in this area we will definitely be visiting so thanks. cool history too.

[@stephenschmidt9556]

Always enjoy your videos

[@krdcountrytv]

Very entertaining, as always.

[@Jules_Diplopia]

Another very interesting video of Melbourne, this time the beach suburb or St Kilda.

[@Sagealeena]

I work on Fitzroy St so I’ve been getting to know all the trams a lot more! Although I used to live in East Brunswick and study in Albert Park so I know the 96 pretty well

[@thopham13]

I know nothing about trams but i do like learning about them!

[@IESpotter]

Great video! I didnt even know the C2 tram existed!

[@hartstukken]

im begging you do a video on the system of how points are controlled. for some reason im completely mesmerized by it

[@Taitset]

Not a bad idea!

[@scarletlightning565]

Yes I second this! I got to glimpse the controls of one tram type and see the blades move, but can only guess what the signalling protocol actually is

[@hartstukken]

@@scarletlightning565 well here in amsterdam i found out how they work and now i wanna see them from around the world so im greedy

[@hartstukken]

@@Taitset Are the drivers a bit friendly over there?

[@Taitset]

@@hartstukken Yes in my experience tram drivers are usually very friendly!

[@simonrussell734]

The Acland Street traders are still complaining about the pedestrianisation -- there was a story about it maybe a month ago. Apparently parked cars, limited footpath space and through traffic really boost sales...

[@peterausfranken]

I remember the time a Queensway was bulit. The old route in Wellington Road was a bottle neck for trams and cars. At the peak hours a tram needed sometimes 15 minutes for the short ride von Chapel Street to St Kilda Road. The tram stop in Queensway was also so badly bulit because of plans to end all trams in Melbourne. This idea was then stoped in 1970 and a new era began with new Z clsss trams and so.

[@Crypt_AU]

I lived in st kilda with my mum about 20 years ago. She was renting small weatherboard house for 200 dollars a week on a 3 acre block. We had mansions all around us but had a paddock with sheep, chickens and a goat. As soon as the landlord passed away at 98 or 99 we were asked to leave then the landlords kids sold the block for about 9 million dollars. 200 dollars a week rent on a 9 million dollar block lol. There is an apartment building there now. smh

[@CockatooTransit]

1:40 thats the only melbourne route I've ever taken - a chilly morning just off the spirit of Tassie, had an oily breakfast and took the tram as far as the old alignment.

[@ethansrailwayvlogs]

My Dad runs the B & Z’s out of Glen Huntly. We quite like the separation between cars and trams aka light rail

[@williamadams7865]

There’s one more tram route to St Kilda that you missed, it even features reserve track running alongside St Kilda Road ;)

[@phillip1604]

Looking at the Queens way reminds me of Sydney's M2 Busway stops where the platforms are either in the middle or on the side of the M2 Motorway with cars and trucks doing 100km/h. That being said the passengers are well protected with concrete barriers

[@msand3680]

It’s like the metro green and silver lines that run throughly the 105 and 110 freeways here in Los Angeles

[@goddepersonno3782]

I used to travel through St Kilda every weekend to visit my old girlfriend's church I would take the 3a from caufield and switch at around Lunar Park to take the 96 up to South Melbourne The 3a would always run a little late but ideally it would arrive at Lunar Park 2 or 3 minutes before the 96

[@TreFR14]

You should make the queens way tram stop video that you mentioned. But maybe make it a short not a full video.

[@rileycummaudo8612]

Would’ve been if they retained St Kilda railway and extended it to the Sandringham line

[@Taitset]

It actually did connect to the Sandringham line at one point, there was a branch heading back from St Kilda and curving around to Windsor.

[@somethingsomething404]

The title alone sounds lovely, im sure I can never afford it

[@Taitset]

Very expensive to live there, but cheap to visit!

[@nfra2]

FYI - R96 is shared between Southbank & New Preston. :)

[@Taitset]

Thankyou, I thought that might be the case but then I wasn't quite sure so left it out!

[@hypercomms2001]

Actually as a Collingwood supporter to me St Kilda (Scottish Gaelic: Hiort) is an isolated archipelago situated 64 kilometres (40 mi) west-northwest of North Uist in the North Atlantic Ocean.....!

[@SimonS44]

Very nice video! But I was shocked at 6:00 doesn't that make trams really slow? Why should they always have to stop?

[@Taitset]

Unlike on railways, most tram points aren't interlocked so always have to be visually checked by the driver. Melbourne's compulsory stop rule is unusual by world standards, and it does slow things down in certain places. But even without it, trams still have to move slowly through points.

[@bigdude101ohyeah]

Did anyone ever consider extending the 12 to Acland Street? Now that it has been pedestrianised, it seems like a good place to interchange with Barkly Street buses.

[@Myrtone]

Would it also mean more one seat rides?

[@darce64-ns]

Hey Taitset, I've just recently I've seen route 96 trams use the route 12 curve, probably a rare sighting. This was because of a problem at Clarendon St Junction, so 96 trams diverted via the 12 route. Thought you might want to know when the curve was actually used. Taken on Monday 18th Sep, 2023

[@Taitset]

Nice, I have heard of that happening occasionally! The capacity must be a bit limited by the single track curve + having to reverse direction.

[@mrdjgosling]

WE WANT MORE TRAMS

[@MetroStudios]

Did everyone just, forget the new G class Trams?

[@Taitset]

The interest will probably pick up again when they get a bit closer!

[@avgeeksfromhell]

A really nice place I find myself visiting over and over again, just that the seagulls invade everything.

[@JDTrain]

How frequent are trams in places where three or more lines share the same track? I'm guessing that there aren't any places in Melbourne with more than two parallel tracks apart from junction stations. But then also trams can stop a lot quicker than trains so they can probably be closer together.

[@Taitset]

Can be every couple of minutes on each route - the follow each other on line of sight. The busiest section on the system (and in fact the entire world) is Swanston St with 8 routes sharing the double track line.

[@JDTrain]

I wasn't quite expecting a reply so soon! Maybe I should go look at the timetables or something.

[@Taitset]

@@JDTrain You'll get a pretty good idea if you click on some of the city stops on google maps during peak hour!

[@CatFoodCritic]

did you upgrade your microphone? it sounds way more clear

[@Taitset]

Yes, my brother got a new mic and has been playing around getting it sounding better for this kind of thing. Glad you noticed!

[@ElijahWinn-bn4sq]

4:28 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@budgiedeluxe8652]

please do another model train video!

[@Taitset]

I will eventually, but i moved house and haven't built a new layout yet!

[@BaileyChap]

0:11 This clip is getting some milage!

[@Taitset]

Haha it sure is!

[@Xerxes17]

But in 1969 ...

[@dawgtheundying5303]

I'll never forgive Clem for robbing my state of trams

[@redtoadengineering9226]

Hi taitset! Will you be videoing the 9/9/2023 eureka express.

[@Taitset]

Probably not unfortunately, I would like to do one soon though!

[@redtoadengineering9226]

Well I was planing to go on that one.

[@uddinislah2724]

Beautiful city Sydney Australia

[@DoriftoDuckMan]

Whats ur fav melbourne emu @Taitset

[@Taitset]

Of the current ones, definitely Comeng!

[@manuelcastrotruong5840]

Hello i am s big fan pls reply

[@Taitset]

Hello!

[@manuelcastrotruong5840]

Let's go

[@SpidersLair999]

and for no other reason...