Melbourne City Circle Tram - Access For All

We, the undersigned, call upon Yarra Trams to make The Melbourne City Circle Tram accessible for people in wheelchairs. Many people who are in wheelchairs use public transport on a daily basis.

This is often because they are unable to drive and/or don’t have access to a van or taxi. Being a free service that is used to promote the city of Melbourne, the City Circle Tram should accommodate for people in wheelchairs, some of whom don’t have a lot of money to spend on getting around.

Most trams, buses and trains are set up to allow access to everyone, including people in wheelchairs. This is a common concept these days and it is expected that the entire community will be able to take part in using our public transport system. So why is there a glitch in the system when it comes to the City Circle Tram? We have approached Yarra Trams to find out why people in wheelchairs are being neglected by their services and have found that the W-Class Tram would require some reconstruction in order to accommodate people in wheelchairs.

With some research and planning, we believe that Yarra Trams could provide access for people in wheelchairs on the Melbourne City Circle Tram. Some options to consider might be lowering the floor of the tram, installing platform stops or raising platforms, connecting a ramp or attaching a lift that can elevate people in wheelchairs up onto the tram. If such a solution is not viable, perhaps Yarra Trams could look into accommodating people with special needs in some other way, such as free transport on all other Melbourne trams.

Please take our suggestions into careful consideration and help to promote a non-discriminatory community which saves people in wheelchairs from the feelings of embarrassment and exclusion that they must endure when denied access on The Melbourne City Circle Tram.

Thank you for your time and consideration.