Combining 54 complex tram and train lines into an intuitive network map.
2026 • 3 months
Wayfinding
Information design
Cartography
Data visualisation
Graphic design
Self-iniated Project
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Melbourne’s public transport relies on the integration of its tram and train networks, but current maps depict these as separate systems.
This project creates a unified diagram that makes it easier for new users to build a mental model of this interconnected network.
24 tram routes + 17 metropolitan train lines + 13 regional train lines = 54 distinct routes, spanning city - centres to countryside.
Existing maps prioritise individual modes over the wider network, making it harder to understand crucial intermodal connections.
An integrated diagram would improve wayfinding and help passengers navigate the extensive network more confidently.
Each of Victoria’s rail lines have unique connections and service patterns. Condensing or combining lines/corridors could undermine clarity.
Adjacent services like airport links (SkyBus) are also vital.
The blue train line crosses under and over the pink tram line to keep East Richmond and Burnley stations in their correct locations. Whilst this adds complexity, it is crucial for users transferring to/from these stations.
Consistent spacing system and clear visual hierarchy eases cognitive load.
Critical stations are highlighted, creating visual landmarks to help users orient themselves.
Accessible colour contrast, minimum text sizes and whitespace increases legibility for everyone, not just those who need it.
Users already understand Transport Victoria’s ubiquitous visual language, making familiarity a key consideration.
To align with users’ existing mental models, I retained official colours, typography, and visual elements.
To prevent Melbourne’s dense tram network from overwhelming its broad train network, I defined a clear visual network hierarchy.
This ensured crucial arterial train lines stood out amongst the many localised tram routes above them.
Melbourne’s transport network is textbook hub-and-spoke; almost all lines converge on the city, and combining these systems only exacerbated this.
Like these maps, I greatly enlarged the city to compensate for its density and used the Free Tram Zone as a boundary of city and suburb.
Melbourne’s tram and train lines frequently intersect and run parallel, necessitating a careful balance of stroke weight and spacing.
I decided against double-stroked lines as they proved hard to distinguish.
To ensure train lines stood out, I reduced the stroke width of tram lines, making the whole system feel less dominating.
Since metropolitan and regional trains serve different roles within the network, I distinguished V/Line with inner dashes to visually distinguish it.
The official tram map reflects Melbourne’s geography by rotating the CBD to a -30° angle while keeping the suburbs at 90°.
Although useful for navigation, I found this rotated grid felt unnatural and awkward (especially with text) and therefore decided to stick to a normal grid.
I thoroughly iterated different layouts of Melbourne’s numerous complex interchanges to find the most easily understood designs.
Most interchanges demanded a trade-off between geographic accuracy and diagrammatic legibility.
Due to Melbourne’s two distinct grid systems, adjoining areas like St Kilda Rd, East Melbourne and North Melbourne could not be represented without distortion.
To keep these regions recognisable, I preserved key spatial relationships whilst adapting them to the diagram’s geometry.
Any corner or curve naturally introduces complexity, making routes harder to follow and the map feel more crowded.
I therefore straightened lines and corridors wherever possible, ultimately creating more symmetry.
To ease cognitive load and make dense regions easier to read, I generally increased spacing and made it more rigidly defined. Especially in the CBD, I fitted every line to specific spacing rules, making the grid feel incredibly consistent.
The final map is clear, legible and beautiful. It successfully fulfils its design goals of completely representing all the networks, being useful to Melburnians and visitors alike, and being accessible.
I think the handling of dense intersections was particularly successful, as was the simplifying of complex geometries (like straightening out the South-East train corridor).
If this were a real project, the next step would be thorough user testing across a wide demographic.
There would almost certainly be changes based off feedback, and the final result could look quite different.
This project highlighted the importance of establishing a strong design system early: spacing, typographic hierarchy, etc. Although I did loosely establish these at the start, I had to alter them halfway through, requiring substantial work and revealing how small decisions can have significant consequences in large information systems.
Moving forward, I’m eager to apply the skills I’ve developed from this project, namely Information Design and Cartographic Data Visualisation.
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