Tram restaurant grinds to a halt after failing safety test

The iconic Melbourne restaurant tram service has temporarily ground to a halt after failing safety assessments due to "badly weathered" underlying structures.

The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant trams, often seen circling the city’s CBD, have been suspended from service until they are compliant with Yarra Tram safety requirements and will temporarily operate as a “stationary dining experience”.

In a memo circulated to staff, the tramcar operator said its fleet of mobile burgundy eateries failed safety tests because the structure of the trams was not up to scratch.

The memo said the condition assessment found the “wooden structural elements of these vintage trams are badly weathered, compromising their integrity in an collision”.

Nicolas Gindt, CEO of Yarra Trams, said the operator would continue to support the tramcar restaurants, but that concerns for the safety of patrons and employees was its primary concern.

“While we appreciate that this decision is difficult for the restaurant tram patrons and employees, we cannot allow trams to run on the network that do not meet safety standards,” he said.

Yarra Trams entered discussions with the tramcar restaurant providers in early 2016 about the need to upgrade the trams to meet current standards to remain on the network.

The tramcar restaurants are known for their elegant breakfast and High Tea services, and dinner tours.

Patrons can sip champagne and tour the scenic streets of Melbourne in a privately chartered tram restaurant, or sit in and dine.

Services travel through the city and surrounding suburbs such as Albert Park, St Kilda and South Melbourne.