Service Delivery - 99.35% (minimum required 98%)

Punctuality - 82.73% (minimum required 77%)

Service Delivery:
Percentage of planned services delivered.

Punctuality:
A service is considered on time if it arrives between 59 seconds before and 4 minutes 59 seconds after the scheduled time.

If our service delivery or punctuality falls below set levels, we will provide compensation to eligible customers. The performance figures are shown above.

Our performance in March 2013 exceeded the targets, so no compensation can be claimed.

KDR Yarra Trams has exceeded Service Delivery and Punctuality benchmarks in every month since taking over operations of the network in November 2009. An archive of past performance results is available.

Date of publication: 3 May 2013

While there have been minor arrival time changes on Route 55, 59 and 82 the frequency of these trams services remains the same.

Updated stop specific timetables are available, and tramTRACKER provides real-time tram arrival information for all routes on our network.

How long would it take to visit every tram stop in Melbourne? That's a question that Adham Fisher of Leicester, England is hoping to answer soon.

Having travelled throughout Europe and North America to ride transport systems, he is now aiming to use Yarra Trams for an attempt at the Mt. Everest of tram records - our network of more than 1700 stops.

Guinness World Records recognise the London Underground and New York Subway as the world's greatest subway challenges, and Adham has made attempts on both records as well as unofficial 'runs' on metro systems in cities including Barcelona, Chicago, Paris and Toronto

In 2011 he set a record on Chicago's 'L' system, and when his time was beaten he returned last April to recapture the title with a new mark of 9 hours, 6 minutes and 48 seconds.

Adham has previous experience riding for records on tram systems in English cities Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield. Now he's looking to travel to Australia and add Melbourne to his list of conquered systems.

He has worked with and publicised sponsors during his trips in the past, and now Adham is searching for sponsors and supporters to help him make the trip down under. For more details on his mission, or to discuss new ideas and collaboration, you can contact him via email through directionoftravel@gmail.com or on Twitter @1000stations

ABOVE: Adham setting the official record on Nottingham's NET tram system. The Keolis group, one of the operators of Yarra Trams, is part of the consortium who run the Nottingham network.

In order to prevent disruption to passenger services, the de-installation program will take place progressively until July 2013 with approximately 6 trams per day transformed.

Passengers will notice the following changes:

• Removal of Metcard ticket machines and replacing with additional seats (either regular seats or 'bum-rests' depending on the type of tram)
• Removal of the blue metal barrier next to some ticket machines, replaced with additional hold rail for passengers
• Removal of Metcard validators
• Installation of additional myki card readers on all trams
• Addition of extra safety barriers where required

Before

After

Passengers are reminded to 'Touch On' every time you board a tram using any of the myki card readers on the tram.

For more information on myki visit myki.com.au or tweet @mykimate

Finding the right tram stop is now easier for passengers on 64 of Melbourne's low-floor trams following a $343,000 investment by the Victorian Government in automated 'next stop' announcements.

As part of their commitment to 'Think like a Passenger', Yarra Trams and PTV are upgrading all 59 D-Class trams to provide this important information to passengers.

While all passengers will benefit from this initiative, Yarra Trams particularly hopes that it will make a positive difference for people with vision impairments and make the tram network more accessible.

There are also many people who will make unfamiliar trips, whether they are visitors from overseas or interstate, or regular commuters travelling to somewhere they haven't been before. Providing audible and visual information reassures passengers that they are on the right track.

The detailed announcements include the tram's destination, interconnectivity with other tram routes and the direction of travel at intersections. The next stop is also shown via the on board LED displays.

Messages have been recorded for each stop on seven routes - Routes 5, 6, 8, 16, 72 and 96, plus Route 112 where D-Class trams occasionally operate. This information is uploaded to each tram and is selected when a driver inputs his route on the tram's passenger information console.

The system then uses GPS technology to provide an accurate real time position of the tram, with audio and visual announcements to passengers when the tram enters a pre-defined area around the stop.

The system is sophisticated enough to work correctly during some unplanned disruptions. Commonly used diversion routes are pre-programmed to be activated by the driver so the correct next stop will continue to be announced.

For example, if a tram that normally runs along Bourke Street is diverted to La Trobe Street, the correct stops will be announced.

The 50 new E-Class trams that the Government has ordered will have this function built into them. Future improvements may include announcing the tram stop number and nearby places of interest. Five C2-Class 'Bumblebee' trams are already fitted with the system.

 Watch: time-lapse footage of the entire works project.

Friday 12 April

Transport Minister Terry Mulder and Yarra Trams Chief Executive Officer Clement Michel officially opened the new Domain Interchange accessible stop this morning.

The new stop includes a dedicated platform for Route 8 trams (pictured left) which separates them from other southbound St Kilda Road services.

Passengers entering Domain Interchange on a Route 8 tram should note that the doors will now open on the right side of the tram when the tram stops.

Other features of the new stop include extra shelters with more seating, better lighting and an increase in the radius of the curve between St Kilda Road and Park Street to lower the noise of Route 55 trams turning the corner into and out of Domain.

Passenger Information Display screens (PIDs) have been installed on the Route 8 platform, and will be added to the other platforms in coming weeks.

The work that has been carried out at Domain over the last 14 days, 24 hours a day, will greatly improve the passenger experience at the stop. Over 1600 cubic metres of concrete was excavated during the works, with 1.1km of track and 1.4km of overhead wiring replaced.

Around 5000 shrubs will be planted around the area as part of landscaping works to further improve the appearance of the surroundings.

This is the largest redevelopment project ever undertaken by Yarra Trams and we hope that you're as happy with the result as we are.

Yarra Trams would like to thank all staff and contractors who helped deliver this major project on time. More importantly we would like to thank everyone who uses St Kilda Road on a daily basis for their patience and understanding while we reshaped the track layout and constructed four platforms as well as associated infrastructure.

Customer Service staff will be located at the stop for the next few weeks to assist passengers with the new layout.

The heritage clock previously located at Domain Interchange has been reconditioned and installed as a feature of the new stop (right).

If you have any feedback about the new Domain Interchange or tram service changes please call 1800 800 007 (6am - midnight daily) or visit our Customer Feedback page.

For public transport information visit ptv.vic.gov.au. Real time tram arrival information is available by tramTRACKER, and scheduled tram arrival times can be found in our timetables section. Route-by-route information is available in our Route Guides.

Works in progress

Domain Interchange as it was before works commenced

Late in the first week of the works the new track layout began to take shape, and bases were laid for the new accessible platform stops.

Once the track layout was complete work began on completing the platforms, including the construction of shelters.

On Friday morning the stop was opened, allowing both trams and cars to run as normal again through the area.

ABOVE: Works in progress late last week

Major track renewal and construction works at Domain Interchange are scheduled to be completed before first tram on Friday 12 April.

Once the works are completed Domain Interchange will become an accessible stop, with dedicated platforms for Route 8 trams towards Toorak and Route 55 trams to West Coburg.

The separation of Route 8 trams will mean that other southbound St Kilda Road services will no longer be delayed by trams towards Toorak waiting for a green traffic light to enter Domain Road.

Approximately 77,000 people use the Domain tram stop each week, and passengers will have an additional 35 square metres of shelter compared to the previous stop as well as improved Passenger Information Displays (PIDs) with tram arrival times and disruption notifications from tramTRACKER.

Passengers travelling through Domain should notice a better ride quality thanks to tracks which are being replaced for the first time since the 1980s. There will be less noise made by Route 55 trams turning from Domain Interchange into Park Street due to an increase in the radius of the track curve.

The upgrade to track and infrastructure provides operational flexibility and additional options for future network development.

Regular St Kilda Road tram services will resume on Friday morning.

ABOVE: New accessible stops under construction

The redevelopment of one of the busiest stops on our network includes renewing the tracks for the first time since the 1980s, and replacing three tracks with four. The upgrade will see Domain Interchange become a fully accessible stop via the construction of two level access platforms.

Due to the substantial scope of the project, works will continue 24 hours a day until the morning of Friday 12 April.

Since the major works commenced on Good Friday 29 March our contractor Coleman Rail has excavated and removed the existing tracks and started construction of new tracks, platforms and associated infrastructure including new, longer passenger shelters and passenger information displays.

Tram service changes will be in place for all St Kilda Road trams, including Route 8 and 55, until the last scheduled service on Thursday 11 April.

Due to the works, passengers travelling outbound along Swanston Street or St Kilda Road will be required to change trams before reaching Domain Interchange. As trams from the city will terminate at Stop 19 Dorcas Street, passengers are advised to catch any tram (except Route 1) to Stop 19 and then walk around the works zone to connect with suburban trams at Domain Road (Route 8) or Stop 21 Bowen Crescent (all other routes). There is a walk of approximately 650m between Stop 19 and Stop 21.

Inbound St Kilda Road passengers can catch any tram to Stop 21 - Bowen Crescent and then walk around the works zone to connect with trams towards the city at Stop 19 - Dorcas Street. Yarra Trams Customer Service Employees will be on site to assist passengers with connections.

A wheelchair accessible bus is available for passengers with reduced mobility, departing from Stop 25 Commercial Road (inbound) and Stop 14 Arts Centre (outbound). Customer Service Employees will be stationed at both these stops for the duration of the works to coordinate safe boarding and alighting of passengers onto the low floor minibus. The minibus will transport passengers to the next available level access stop on St Kilda Road.

There is currently a full road closure in place around the works. St Kilda Road is scheduled to partially open to north and southbound traffic (two lanes in each direction) at 5am on Wednesday 3 April. Partial road closures will continue until 5am Friday 12 April. Traffic controllers will be on duty to direct local traffic around the works zone.

Works in progress

Video of works - Sunday 31 March

Service Delivery - 98.55% (minimum required 98%)

Punctuality - 78.13% (minimum required 77%)

Service Delivery:
Percentage of planned services delivered.

Punctuality:
A service is considered on time if it arrives between 59 seconds before and 4 minutes 59 seconds after the scheduled time.

If our service delivery or punctuality falls below set levels, we will provide compensation to eligible customers. The performance figures are shown above.

Our performance in March 2013 exceeded the targets, so no compensation can be claimed.

KDR Yarra Trams has exceeded Service Delivery and Punctuality benchmarks in every month since taking over operations of the network in November 2009. An archive of past performance results is available.

Date of publication: 2 April 2013

Times below indicate when the tram will leave the terminus and begin travelling towards the city. Routes marked with an asterix will run the extra services on an altered route. See below for details.

Regularly scheduled trams will be on a public holiday timetable, and there will be service changes for Route 48 trams due to works on the Collins Street Extension.

For more information about ANZAC Day services visit shrine.org.au.

* Route 1 from East Coburg runs via Swanston Street and St Kilda Road to Domain Interchange

* Route 19 from North Coburg runs via Elizabeth Street, Victoria Street, Swanston Street and St Kilda Road to Domain Interchange

* Route 57 from West Maribyrnong run via Racecourse Road, Flemington Road, Elizabeth Street, Victoria Street, Swanston Street and St Kilda Road to Domain Interchange

* Route 59 from Airport West run via Elizabeth Street, Victoria Street, Swanston Street and St Kilda Road to Domain Interchange.

Route 1 from South Melbourne Beach connect to St Kilda Road trams at Stop 14 - Arts Precinct

Route 57 from North Melbourne will connect to the Route 55 services at Victoria/Peel Street.

Trams along Bourke Street, Collins Street and Flinders Street will connect to the following shuttle trams along St Kilda Road at Swanston Street.

Travel to services

Veterans and War Widows can travel for free on Victoria's public transport network on 24, 25 and 26 April, to help them attend Anzac Day commemorations.  

To qualify for free travel, veterans and war widows simply need to travel with one of the below forms of identification:

• Wear their uniform
• Wear their service medals
• Wear an ex-service association or returned from active service or war widows badge
• Present their DVA Gold or White card
• Present their Category "V'' Victorian Public Transport Concession Card

Veterans and war widows travelling with one of the above forms of identification on these days do not need to carry a valid ticket.

Free travel is also extended to Australian Defence Force members, Scouts and Guides and school students on Anzac Day provided they are in uniform.

For more details on how you can get involved visit the Good Friday Appeal website.

13 March 2013

Yarra Trams is today launching an electric vehicle trial as part of its commitment to creating a more sustainable tram network.

The aim is to evaluate the viability of using electric vehicles as a replacement option for some of the fleet vehicles in order to reduce greenhouse gases.

Director Safety & Environment Dean Matthews said public transport is a sustainable transit solution and the trial gives Yarra Trams employees the opportunity to contribute to creating a cleaner environment.

"Sustainability is in our DNA and the electric vehicle trial is a significant event for Yarra Trams as we work to deliver a truly modern, world class tram network in Melbourne," Mr Matthews said.

"Our campaign for Zero Harm encompasses the safety and wellbeing of our passengers, staff and the environment.

"We must consider tangible operational changes to ensure that we use natural resources efficiently and effectively, and this trial is an exciting step on our journey towards a more sustainable network."

The Victorian Government invited Yarra Trams to take part in the trial, which aims to make Victoria an electric vehicle friendly place through improved awareness, understanding and acceptance of environmentally kind alternatives to petrol cars.

A charging unit will be installed at Yarra Trams' power centre in Carlton prior to the start of the trial.

The Nissan LEAF is a fully electric vehicle and offers improved value for money as well as environmental benefits of having zero carbon emissions.

Yarra Trams estimates that the driving cost will be around 3 cents per kilometre compared to up to 12 cents per kilometre for a similar sized conventional petrol engine vehicle.

Mr Matthews said the use of electric vehicles represents a natural step for Yarra Trams given that energy recovery technology is a feature of the car.

"The majority of our trams have energy recovery systems that allow power to be generated, conserved and fed back into the power grid during braking," Mr Matthews said.

"Now we have an opportunity to explore the possibility of replicating this green technology in our operations vehicles with the capacity to recharge the battery while driving.

"We would be very happy to see some positive results from the trial that will enable us to further improve the efficiency of our operations."

Potential benefits of electric vehicles include dramatically reduced greenhouse emissions, use of renewable energy resources and reduced running costs compared to petrol cars with zero pollution.

At the end of the trial period, Yarra Trams will evaluate data from the car alongside feedback from participant surveys to determine the feasibility of using the vehicles on a permanent basis.

The electric vehicle trial is in addition to Yarra Trams' other environmental initiatives intended to create a sustainable tram network.

These include solar panels at East Preston depot that generate around 50 kilowatt hours of electricity per day - enough to fully charge two Nissan LEAF cars.

Yarra Trams also has a Green Depot program and the ISO14001 certified environmental management system.

Service Delivery - 98.70% (minimum required 98%)

Punctuality - 80.02% (minimum required 77%)

Service Delivery:
Percentage of planned services delivered.

Punctuality:
A service is considered on time if it arrives between 59 seconds before and 4 minutes 59 seconds after the scheduled time.

If our service delivery or punctuality falls below set levels, we will provide compensation to eligible customers. The performance figures are shown above.

Our performance in February 2013 exceeded the targets, so no compensation can be claimed.

KDR Yarra Trams has exceeded Service Delivery and Punctuality benchmarks in every month since taking over operations of the network in November 2009. An archive of past performance results is available.

Date of publication: 4 March 2013

Domain Interchange will soon have a new look, with major redevelopments over the Easter holidays set to turn it into Melbourne's latest accessible stop.

It is one of the biggest, most important interchanges on the tram network, with more than 14,000 passengers a day using the nine routes it services.

As shown in the artist's impression above, Route 8 trams towards Toorak will have a dedicated platform (far left) which will allow more outbound trams to pick up passengers for further along St Kilda Road at the centre platform.

Other improvements include new pedestrian crossings to replace existing L-shaped crossings. A new dedicated bicycle lane will be created, reducing the number of vehicle lanes alongside the stop.

In addition to these features, a myki machine will also be installed at the stop.

The major works are due to commence on Good Friday 29 March and finish on Friday 12 April.

In preparation for these major works, Yarra Trams will be conducting tram overhead works from 11pm to last service on the following dates.

• Monday 18 to Wednesday 20 February
• Monday 25 to Wednesday 27 February
• Monday 4 to Wednesday 6 March

From 11pm until last service on these dates the following tram service changes will apply:

Route 3, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67 and 72 trams towards Melbourne University will terminate at Stop 21 - St Kilda Road/Bowen Crescent. A bus will replace trams between Bowen Crescent and Stop 14 - Arts Precinct*.

Route 8 trams towards Moreland will terminate at a temporary stop in Domain Road near St Kilda Road. Trams towards Toorak will terminate at Stop 14 Arts Precinct.

Route 55 trams to Domain Interchange will terminate at Stop 114 City Road/Kings Way. There will be no Route 55 trams between Stop 114 and Domain Interchange.

Route 1 trams will operate as normal.

* From Monday 25 to Wednesday 27 February and from Monday 4 to Wednesday 5 March, buses to Stop 21 Bowen Crescent will detour around the work zone. During this time passengers for Route 8a to Toorak or Stop 20 Domain Interchange should alight at Stop 19 Dorcas St/St Kilda Rd.

During these works, trams and replacement buses will operate to the normal service frequency, however they may not arrive at the scheduled time. Yarra Trams suggests that you allow extra time for your journey.

For any questions about the works or service changes at Domain Interchange, please contact Yarra Trams' customer feedback line on 1800 800 007 (6am-midnight daily).

Over the 14 days of the tournament there were 400,658 passengers recorded travelling to or from the Rod Laver Arena Stop - this beat the record set last year by more than 12,000 trips, representing a 3.1% rise compared to last year.

More than 2000 Route 70a shuttle services ran between the city and Melbourne Park, in addition to over 6600 scheduled and extra Route 70 trams operating between 8am and until an hour after play every night.

The record for tram travel was set despite a slight drop in attendance (down 0.2%) for the Australian Open tournament.

Yarra Trams has now carried more than 4.9 million passenger trips on tennis shuttle trams since they began in 1999.

Service Delivery - 99.06% (minimum required 98%)

Punctuality - 84.22% (minimum required 77%)

Service Delivery:
Percentage of planned services delivered.

Punctuality:
A service is considered on time if it arrives between 59 seconds before and 4 minutes 59 seconds after the scheduled time.

If our service delivery or punctuality falls below set levels, we will provide compensation to eligible customers. The performance figures are shown above.

Our performance in January 2013 exceeded the targets, so no compensation can be claimed.

KDR Yarra Trams has exceeded Service Delivery and Punctuality benchmarks in every month since taking over operations of the network in November 2009. An archive of past performance results is available.

Date of publication: 1 February 2013

Australian Open shuttle trams had their busiest seven days ever across the first week of this year's tournament.

From Monday 14 to Sunday 20 January, 267,000 passenger trips were recorded to or from the stop at Rod Laver Arena.

Five of the first seven days recorded an increase in tram usage at Rod Laver Arena compared to last year, and Friday 18 January saw the highest single day patronage for tennis trams in history with more than 42,000 passenger trips taken.

The next day the record was broken again, with 46,000 trips taken on Saturday 19 January.

In the first week of the tournament Yarra Trams Route 70a shuttle trams have completed more than 1060 trips between the city and Melbourne Park, in addition to 3,745 scheduled and extra Route 70 trams which operated through the stop between 8am and one hour after the finish of play every day.

Yarra Trams will continue to operate trams to the tournament until the conclusion of the men's final on Sunday night (or early Monday morning as it was last year!). Trams will depart from Rod Laver Arena to the city until an hour after the conclusion of play every night.

The first day of the 2013 Australian Open saw record crowds flock to Melbourne Park using Yarra Trams.

Almost 36,000 people used the Rod Laver Arena stop during Monday's day and night sessions, beating the record of 35,700 recorded on the first day of last year's tournament.

Total attendance for the day was just under 62,000 as big crowds came to enjoy the first day of the tournament and watch Lleyton Hewitt's match during the night session.

Not only have Hewitt's matches provided many of the record Australian Open crowds over the last decade, but he's also responsible for the latest ever finish to tram shuttle services. With trams running until an hour after the conclusion of play each night/morning the last shuttle tram on Sunday 20 January 2008 left for the city at 5.33am after his five-set match against Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis finished at 4.33am.

Free shuttle trams for Australian Open ticketholders will run throughout the tournament. In addition to the extra trams all regular Route 70 services between Wattle Park and Waterfront City Docklands (via Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena) are free to ticketholders and anybody with an Australian Open accreditation pass - including staff, media and players.

Trams for the night session will operate back to the city for one hour after the conclusion of play - even if we have another 4.30am finish.

An accessible low floor tram is operating regularly between Flinders & Swanston Street and the tennis.

In addition to our drivers on Route 70 and the Route 70a tennis shuttles, more than 40 Yarra Trams Customer Service Employees and Operations staff are working on the ground to keep tram services and people moving. If you have a question look for the orange hi-vis vests at stops along Flinders Street and at the tennis.

We've also introduced some 'special guests' at the Flinders and Swanston Street stop to get crowds into the tennis spirit, and both Hans and Klaus have already made appearences on ESPN, Channel 7 and Australian Open radio.

If you have any feedback about Australian Open tram services you can call PTV on 1800 800 007 (6am to midnight daily) or contact us through our Customer Feedback form.

Service Delivery - 99.92% (minimum required 98%)

Punctuality - 80.73% (minimum required 77%)

Service Delivery:
Percentage of planned services delivered.

Punctuality:
A service is considered on time if it arrives between 59 seconds before and 4 minutes 59 seconds after the scheduled time.

If our service delivery or punctuality falls below set levels, we will provide compensation to eligible customers. The performance figures are shown above.

Our performance in December 2012 exceeded the targets, so no compensation can be claimed.

KDR Yarra Trams has exceeded Service Delivery and Punctuality benchmarks in every month since taking over operations of the network in November 2009. An archive of past performance results is available.

Date of publication: 2 January 2013