Dozens of tram stops in Melbourne’s north-west built or altered to accommodate the city’s new extra-long G-class trams have failed to provide long-overdue disabled access improvements.
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Dozens → build → improvements
Advocates say that the snub has further contributed to the discriminatory nature of the city’s wider tram network.
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snub → say → network
Victoria is years behind a previously legislated deadline to make all tram stops accessible by 2022.
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stops → legislate → 2022
While there is no automatic penalty for missing this target, it opens up the possibility of legal action being brought forward.
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it → be → action
More than 30 stops across the route 57 and route 59 trams are involved in the network’s “next generation” tram upgrades.
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stops → involve → upgrades
Fifteen of these stops have either been merged and relocated or shifted.
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Fifteen → merge → stops
The project started in late 2025 and is necessary to accommodate the city’s new G-class trams.
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project → start → trams
The updated design – which commenced public services on June 30 – is 25 metres, longer than previous models.
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which → update → models
This important design feature involves erecting a raised platform that sits in line with low-floor trams such as the G-class.
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that → involve → class
It allows wheelchair users, elderly travellers, people pushing prams and others with access needs to board.
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users → allow → needs
Even if a tram has a low-floor design, it can’t cater to those with access needs at a roadside stop.
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it → have → stop
Disability advocate Andrew Bretherton said it was extremely difficult for people living with disability to navigate Melbourne’s tram system.
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people → say → system
“It means we can’t get out and access the community.
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we → mean → community
We’re not seen by the broader public …
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We → see → public
We’re kind of just left isolated in our own homes,” he said.
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he → leave → homes
“It’s going to cost [the government] more in the long run anyway because they’ve been mandated to make all these stops accessible.
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stops → go → run
Why are we paying twice for the same thing?
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we → pay → thing
It just seems like a real kick in the teeth.”
Five additional level-access stops are in development along route 82 following community feedback during 2023 and 2024.
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stops → seem → 2023
Future works along this route to accommodate the G-class trams are also expected to be announced.
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works → accommodate → trams
On route 57, two level-access platforms were added last year at Queen Victoria Market and at Union Road in Flemington.
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platforms → add → Flemington
Major upgrades to the North Melbourne tram corridor are also being considered by the Department of Transport.
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upgrades → consider → Transport
But just 24 per cent of stops along the entire route 57 have level-access platforms, while half of the stops on the route 59 provide level access.
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half → have → access
Across the network, only 29 per cent of tram stops provide level access, according to the latest data from the Victoria Auditor-General in March 2025.
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cent → provide → March
A further 12 level-access stops were built across the city during the 2024-25 financial year, slightly more than the original target of eight.
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stops → build → eight
Bretherton called the current state of the network a form of segregation and said the state government had broken its promise.
“[The government] thinks it’s in a microcosm, where we can just shed off disability,” he said.
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he → call → disability
“It reinforces that burden narrative that is often forced or placed onto the disability community.”
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that → reinforce → community
A spokesperson from the Department of Transport did not respond to questions on why level-access platform upgrades had not been scheduled to coincide with the other works on the 57 and 59 routes.
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upgrades → respond → routes
They said level platform upgrades were currently in progress at stops in other suburbs – including Footscray, Northcote and Brunswick.
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upgrades → say → Footscray
“We are delivering upgraded tram stops for the new larger G-class trams to make it easier and safer for more Victorians to take trams to school and work,” the spokesperson said.
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spokesperson → deliver → school
Recent changes to route 59 stops associated with the G-class tram works have also prompted a mixed response from Flemington residents.
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changes → associate → residents
One, Haydn Moyle, said stops in his suburb were moved suddenly, and the short community consultation period coincided with the Christmas holiday.
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period → say → holiday
Moyle is particularly critical of the decision to move the stop at the corner of Wellington Street and Mount Alexander Road.
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Moyle → move → Street
The former stop was positioned at an existing signalised pedestrian crossing, which made it easy to walk to the nearby primary and high schools.
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it → position → schools
The stop has since been merged with its neighbour as part of the upgrades and is now roughly 150 metres down the street.
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stop → merge → street
The Department of Transport recently finished building a signalised crossing at the new location.
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Department → finish → location
Moonee Valley City Council also built a small pocket park at the former tram stop site, which acted as an informal extension of the waiting area for city bound trams.
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which → build → trams
Mayor Rose Iser said this would remain an important community space.
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this → say → ?
Moyle said: “I realised they were changing the [stop] here, and I thought that was really stupid.
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that → say → stop
Because that’s obviously the best place for the tram, for the convenience of local people.
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that → ’ → people
“You’ve got 1500 kids every morning who are traversing the roads.
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who → get → roads
…and 7 more, not listed.
The Aporia
