Physical description

Newspaper clipping titled:

The Age, 24/3/73

“It’s the new-look tram”

Photo and text of Melbourne’s newest tram

Minister for Transport, Mr Wilcox, look at model of new tram at Preston workshops. Mr S Bramich, electrical engineer, worked on project.

Photo shows model of tram with full-size prototype behind the two men.

Melbourne's new orange-coloured super trams have been designed for an era of one-man operators and women drivers.

Cheaper to run. Passengers should find them more comfortable and faster.

Will go into service early next month (April?).

MMTB Chairman, RF Kirby said board would like to recruit women drivers for trams, especially new super trams. "...very keen to have women tram drivers. But union has objected."

Kirby said board had no immediate plans for introduction of one-man operators but trams could be easily adapted. One-man operations could be used in off-peak periods.

State Government recently approved calling of tenders for 100 new trams to replace Melbourne's oldest trams. 300 trams are 50 years old.

New tram is 53 feet long and 8 feet 9 inches wide.

Passengers will enter through front door and purchase ticket from seated conductor. Rear exit door.

Improvements to new trams are:, forward boarding means all passengers have to pass conductor, reducing missed-fare problem costing about $1M per year, no running board and tram cannot move until all doors are closed. Reduce compensation payments to passengers for injuries, last year around $30K, faster acceleration and top speed of 45 mph, ventilating fans and heating during the winter, stop lights and flashing turn indicators