flight of the bumblebees

It's incredible to think that the State Govt is planning to do away with our iconic W class trams, when we are in such short supply of rolling stock on both our tramlines and railways.

The W class vehicles are old, but serviceable, and they're a damn sight more comfortable to travel in than those ridiculous Combino vehicles that our useless privatised tram companies bought as a bargain, a decade ago. The Combinos are already creaky; they have minimal useful seating, and most seats are only accessible by people missing a leg or both feet. Worst of all, for a city that endures hot Summers: NO opening windows!

Sure the W's lack air conditioning, but at least you can open a window and get a cooling breeze through the cabin in hot weather. And their seats are wide enough for people to sit side-by-side without indecently assaulting each other in the process!

The only decent trams to come into service in Melbourne since the under-appreciated Z and A class last century are the 'Bumblebees', currently in service only on route 96... but of course, they're only on lease, and have to be returned to Europe in a year or so!

After all these years, one would think that the Govt would have learned to listen to what commuters want, but clearly, it's as out-of-touch as ever.

So here's a simple message: Save the W's, trash the Combinos and buy more Bumblebees!