Melbourne's tram route 70 starts from the World Trade Centre at the Flinders and Spencer Sts corner. The terminus is a crossover on part of the new tram line, which will open in February 2000, going to the Colonial Stadium in Melbourne's new Docklands precinct, and which will be served by Route 48 to North Balwyn. Route 70 will be extended to the stadium on event days.

Upon departure, Wattle Park trams go under the railway viaducts between Spencer and Flinders Sts stations then cross Spencer St over route 12 to Sth Melb and St Kilda Beach, route 96 between East Brunswick and St Kilda Beach and route 109 between Mont Albert and Port Melbourne, and head along Flinders St, sharing track with route 75 to East Burwood and the City Circle tourist tram, the railway viaducts paralelling Flinders St to Flinders St station..

At Market St, route 55 between the Domain Rd Interchange and West Coburg via the Zoo is crossed, the Elizabeth St terminus of northern and western tram services is passed and Swanston St and its St Kilda Rd services is crossed as Federation Square is in evidence to the right of the tram.

At Exhibition St, route 70 trams turn right onto the new bridge, opened for trams on the 7th July, 1999, that goes across the former Jolimont railyards (53 tracks were reduced to 12 as part of the Jolimont Rationalisation Project). Trams then turn left into the Richmond Tram Reserve which runs on mass concrete track between the Flinders St - Richmond rail lines and the best of Melbourne's sporting arenas (the Tennis centre, home of the Ford Australian Open the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the new Multi Purpose Venue). Olympic Park, home of the Melbourne Storm rugby league club is a short walk away. The Exhibition St bridge and the Richmond Tram Reserve replaced the former route 70 tracks along Batman Ave that were closed in May, 1999 as part of the Federation Square project.

Rejoining the original route at Swan St, Wattle Park trams cross under the Burnley and Caulfield groups of railway lines at Richmond station before traversing the Swan St shopping centre to Church St, where route 78 between North Richmond and Prahran is crossed, a double track connection being provided between the two routes. Continuing along Swan St, trams go through a light commercial area and cross over the Alamein, Belgrave and Lilydale railway lines before passing the Burnley Agricultural College and Hawthorn tram depot before arriving at the intersection of Wallen Rd, Power St and Riversdale Rd, Hawthorn. Hawthorn depot is to be redeveloped with apartments, shops and a Heritage tram depot with space for twenty heritage Fleet trams, and will be operational.

Now in riversdale Rd, trams share track with route 75 to East Burwood before arriving at Camberwell Junction, where route 72 to Camberwell is crossed and route 75 turns right, Camberwell Depot having been passed one stop before the Junction. Camberwell Junction has trams going in five directions, route 72 in Burke rd, route 70 in Riversdale Rd and route 75 going into Burwood Rd from the middle of the intersection. Just to complicate matters more, connecting curves are provided from Riversdale Rd into Burke Rd into both directions, althought they are not used very much.

Leaving Camberwell Junction and its large strip shopping centre, Wattle Park trams go back into a residential area, crossing the Alamein line on the level at Riversdale station. The final section of route 70 goes past Wattle Park, which was purchased in 1916 by the Hawthorn Tramways Trust as a recreation reserve designed to boost traffic, especially on weekends. Apart from lots of wattle trees, Wattle Park boasts a nine hole golf course and a chalet. Several fences have been built from old cable tram cables, and two W2 class tram bodies are in use as shelter sheds.

The route 70 tram terminus at Elgar Rd is single track in reservation, waiting sheds and seating being provided in the reservation.

Short Workings

• Route 76 - City - Flinders and Spencer Sts Corner to Camberwell Depot.

                      Wattle                City
                       Park              Spencer St

Monday to Saturday

First tram           5.42 am               5.48 am
Last tram           11.32 pm              12.15 am

Sunday

First tram           6.59 am               8.19 am
Last tram           10.59 pm              11.42 pm

Service Frequencies

Monday to Friday

Before AM Peak    AM Peak    Between Peak    PM Peak   Night
  15 - 20 min.     7 min.      12 min.        7 min.   20 min.
Saturday
             Before 8 am       Daytime       Night
             12 - 15 min.       12 min.      20 min.
Sunday
             Before 11 am      Daytime       Night
               30 min.          12 min.      30 min.
 
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