A newcomer to Melbourne once asked a tram driver in which direction the tram was heading.
The driver pointed to the long, straight track ahead.
"Ain't nowhere else to go," he said.
On Monday afternoon, however, the 96 tram took its passengers on an unexpected detour.
At 1pm, a route 96 tram crossed Parliament Station and upon reaching Victoria Parade made an unscheduled left turn.
It was supposed to continue along the straight, uninterrupted track along Nicholson Street for 5 kilometres.
Instead, the 96 followed the City Circle tram route and began powering along La Trobe Street towards Docklands.
Among the passengers on board, was The Sunday Age's columnist Maureen Matthews, who was returning home from a shopping trip in the city.
"Everybody just went 'wow. . . what's going on?'" Matthews said.
The driver was equally baffled by the turn of the events.
"He kept saying it had never happened before in the 20 years that he had been driving trams," she said.
"Meanwhile, the speaker system continued to tell us that the next stop is up Nicholson Street."
Most passengers on board were understanding, bar some impatient children on school holidays.
The tram crept up to State Library stop on Swanston Street, before the driver finally found a vacant track on which to shunt on to.
The driver stepped out of his cabin and walked through the tram - past the amused passengers - to take the driver's seat at the other end.
Those on board broke into a small applause.
When the driver powered up the engine, however, the speaker system announced the tram was headed for Luna Park.
But this time, the tram was on the right track.
It resumed its journey along Nicholson Street, bound for Brunswick, shortly after.
Yarra Trams has apologised to the passengers for the inconvenience and said the driver immediately contacted operations centre and followed protocol.
Tram routes are mostly automated in Melbourne. It's not yet clear why the 96 tram made a wrong turn, but Yarra Trams is investigating.
Matthews said the driver handled the situation efficiently and it was fortunate they didn't meet other trams on the way.
She said in all, it added about 10 to 15 minutes to the trip ... and a lot of laughter.
13 comments
Comment are now closed