Melbourne Tram Route 96 runs from East Brunswick to St Kilda Beach and is Melbourne's busiest tram route. It is worked from Southbank Depot by E1, E2 and C2 class trams.
From the northern terminus at Brunswick East Route 96 traverses Nicholson St through the suburbs of Carlton and Fitzroy. Upon reaching Gertrude St Route 86 joins and shares tracks with Route 96 along Nicholson St, across Victoria St, thence by Spring St into Bourke St. City Circle trams (Route 35) also join Routes 86 and 96 at Victoria St as far as Bourke St. After traversing Bourke St and reaching Southern Cross Station Route 86 turns right whilst Route 96 trams turn left into Spencer St. At Collins St Routes 12 and 109 join and share the tracks along Spencer St, crossing the Yarra River into Clarendon St. Routes 96 and 109 turn right into Normanby Rd to reach Clarendon St Junction (formerly known as Port Junction) whilst Route 12 continues straight along Clarendon St. Route 96 now turns left at the junction and enters what was once the VR broad gauge railway line to St Kilda, regauged from broad to standard gauge and reopened as the St Kilda Light Rail in 1987. Upon arrival at Fitzroy St, St Kilda, Route 96 trams turn right and share tracks with Routes 3a and 16, along the esplanade until Luna Park is reached and then on dedicated tracks to the terminus in Acland St, St Kilda.
During special events, such as the Formula 1 Grand Prix and the St Kilda Festival, Route 96 gets even busier and over the course of four videos the complete route will be seen along with footage of the special event trams.
Part 1 of our Route 96 quartet covers the section from the East Brunswick terminus to the eastern end of Bourke St. The journey along Bourke St can be seen in the video "Melbourne Trams (143) Bourke St."
Filmed from 2015 - 2022.