Subclasses Z-class Melbourne tram

1 subclasses

1.1 z1-class
1.2 z2-class
1.3 z3-class

subclasses

the initial 80 classified z class. after modifications made suspension, next 20 entered service z1 class. first 80 received these modifications, reclassified z1s. next 2 batches delivered z2 , z3s .

z1-class

in 1972 rupert hamer became premier of victoria, promising new trams, had been highlighted needed in 1969 melbourne transportation plan. comeng, in anticipation of tender, dispatched workers europe who, knowing of fondness within mmtb of swedish tram design, acquired plans gothenburg m29 tram hägglund & söner. understood asea supply electrical equipment, had been involved in supply of equipment gothenburg m28 identical gothenburg m29 trams, , had acquired rolling stock division of hägglund & söner.

tenders 100 trams based on prototype pcc 1041 s design called in 1972 comeng awarded contract in 1973. plans purchased comeng proved less useful anticipated, due them being metric, single ended (with doors on 1 side), , extent over-designed . comeng started anew, retained elements of structural design , asea electrical equipment supplier, supply equipment gothenburg m28 design.

there number of design changes made differentiated z-class pcc 1041, including destination display arrangement. internally they, pcc 1041, had conductors consoles passengers have queue for, , 2 doors per side, these 2 features hampered loading , proved unpopular. fitting asea m28 equipment z-class body, heavily based on m29, posed problem due doors, tapered ends, , second cab comeng had added make them able operate in melbourne, necessitated lengthening design accommodate equipment.

construction started @ comeng dandenong in 1974, dandenong s workforce tripling cope order. first z1-class tram delivered in december 1974, , last in may 1978. major construction carried out @ dandenong, bogie frames fabricated @ granville, , final fit out , commissioning occurring @ mmtb s preston workshops.

after being unveiled press on 30 april 1975, first entered service on route 64 on 5 may 1975 , second on route 72 2 days later. more delivered, first 15 concentrated @ north fitzroy depot operate route 96 30 june 1975.

soon after commissioning became apparent z-class had ride problems due stiff suspension, , track differences between gothenburg , melbourne. issues rectified time 80th tram constructed, , fix, rubber secondary suspension, retrofitted trams. braking systems had issues, , seen insufficient mmtb.

in anticipation of z3-class contract, z1 no. 5 fitted chopper control in november 1977 evaluation purposes , reclassified zc-class no. 5. although converted later, test demonstrated chopper control trams operate on melbourne tram system without causing interference, , z3-class trams fitted chopper controls.

in march 2006, z1-class 81 returned service karachi melbourne tram 2006 commonwealth games. renumbered w-11 in recognition of buses operated in karachi, pakistan famous entertainment value, decorated lush designs , played bhangra , pakistani music. duration of games operated on city circle. returned service in summer of 2006/07 operating friday night city circle services.

most of z1-class withdrawn following introduction of c , d class trams in 2001/02. sold @ auction, being donated tram museums. in december 2013, 30 still in service, december 2015, 15 remained last withdrawn on 24 april 2016. 4 have been preserved. internal refurbishment had less refurbished features z3-class, seat pads , grab rails/anchors replaced.

z2-class

between june 1978 , february 1979, 15 more trams built z2-class, extension of z1-class order. these varied little z1-class, main visual differences being deeper bumper (6-channel z3-class; z1-class having 4-channel bumpers), , slide-opening portion of drivers side-window being deeper (although @ least 1 z2 later had z1-type drivers side-window fitted). in december 2013, 3 still in service. december 2015, 1 remained in service. withdrawn in april 2016.

z3-class

a tender 100 new trams called mmtb in 1977, ansair, comeng , siemens tendered. although comeng planning on using asea control equipment, in z1 , z2-class, opted give mmtb variety of options, leading 28 different possible configurations of control equipment, bogies, , suspension types. comeng selected, , between 1979 , 1983, 115 z3-class trams built.

although superficially similar preceding z1 , z2-class trams externally, had significant design differences - , significant improvement on z1 , z2-class trams. fitted aeg control equipment , düwag bogies, have additional door each side (for total of 3 rather 2 z1 , z2), drop down (as opposed top sliding) beclawat windows , improved headlights. unreliable flap type destination displays , route number indicators replaced rolling plastic film destination displays. had smoother acceleration , braking performance, , improved suspension. though rear door half-width (2-leaf, opposed others being 4-leaf), in combination centre doors being directly opposite contributed better passenger-flow. z3-class build process went smoothly, few problems, bar slow delivery of equipment aeg, , few minor faults required remedying after construction.

on 31 july 2000, z3 214 used convey olympic flame along dandenong road intersection hawthorn road chapel street part of 2000 summer olympics torch relay. on 26 october 2011, z3 158, specially liveried royal tram used convey queen elizabeth ii , prince philip along st kilda road federation square government house during visit melbourne. royal tram remained in regular service until february 2013.

in 2013, program commenced refurbish 114 z3-class trams @ preston workshops. received new seats, painted interior walls, glass replacement scratch proof film applied, , public transport victoria livery @ preston workshops.

as @ december 2015, 114 remained in service (z3 149 scrapped after being destroyed in fire in 1999) , operating brunswick, essendon, glenhuntly , malvern depots.