Victorian government urged to expand Melbourne trams

Melbourne's famed tram network should be expanded greatly to cater for the city's rapid growth, a rail advocacy group says.

The Rail Futures Incorporated's blueprint for Melbourne tram and light rail services calls for at least 75 new high-capacity E-class trams, an extension of the city's hook turn system to all roads with tram lines and more frequent services.

The Herald Sun says the report also calls four new light rail lines.

Two would offer rail links for the first time to outer suburban Rowville and Doncaster, the latter via the median strip along the Eastern Freeway, with new routes for Sunshine and linking the CBD with North Melbourne and Footscray railway stations.

Existing tram routes would also be extended in Melbourne's north and southeast under the Rail Futures wish list, the Herald Sun said.

Yarra Trams says Melbourne's 250-kilometre tram system is the world's largest, and features 1763 stops along 24 individual routes.