Melbourne tram route 82

Melbourne tram route 82 is operated by Yarra Trams on the Melbourne tram network from Moonee Ponds Junction to Footscray railway station. It is one of only two tram routes which does not travel through the Melbourne CBD, the other being route 78. Part of its route is the last surviving segment of the Footscray tram network. It commenced operating on 2 May 1954.<ref>Footscray Remembered Trolley Wire issue 328 February 2012 page 13</ref><ref>History of Melbourne Trams Routes from 1950 to 2009 Yarra Trams</ref>

The 9.2 kilometre route is operated out of Essendon depot with Z class trams.<ref>Facts & figures Yarra Trams</ref><ref>Route 82 Yarra Trams</ref>

The route passes The Highpoint Shopping Centre in Maribyrnong. A short section (less than 700 metres) of the route is a light rail reserve track parallel to Wests Road, Maribyrnong. The route overlaps route 57 between the intersection of Maribyrnong and Union Roads, Ascot Vale, and Raleigh and Wests Roads, Maribyrnong.

On 12 November 1961 trams on Sunday were replaced on route 82 by buses. In January 1993, the Kennett government announced it proposed to withdraw route 82.<ref>The Transport Revolution Australian Bus Panorama issue 8/6 February 1993 page 23</ref><ref>Here & There Australian Railway History Society Bulletin issue 665 March 1993 page 76</ref> However it was not implemented and Sunday trams were reinstated on 8 August 1993.<ref>Trams replace buses Fleetline issue 219 October 1993 page 215</ref><ref>Melbourne - Other Services Trolley Wire issue 255 November 1993 page 11</ref>

Until January 2016, route 82 trams terminated south of Moonee Ponds Junction in the middle of the Ascot Vale Road. After the stop was rebuilt, route 82 trams were extended to terminate at the main platforms with a headshunt built to the north.<ref>Moonee Ponds tram upgrade project Yarra Trams 2 June 2015</ref><ref>Moonee Ponds Junction tram stop upgrade Yarra Trams 4 January 2016</ref>

Unlike most other tram routes, route 82 does not operate within close proximity of its depot to allow crew transfers en route. Hence at the beginning and end of shifts, trams operate from and to Essendon depot. Although not advertised in the public timetables, passengers can use these, with trams operating along Mount Alexander Road via route 59.Template:Cn This will be the case until 2025 when the Maidstone tram depot near the route is built, and G-class trams stabled at the depot will roll out onto the route.<ref>Designs for Maidstone’s new tram facility released Department of Transport & Planning 11 April 2023</ref> In August 2024, a consultation was launched by the Department of Transport & Planning to reduce the number of stops on the route.<ref>Footscray and Maribyrnong Tram Corridor Planning Department of Transport & Planning August 2024</ref>