All along the route they stood and waited, mourners with flowers in hand. When the 86 arrived and the doors opened they handed their bouquets, or single roses to those on board. Some held candles. Some joined the passengers and rode along the line for a few stops or more.

The tram laden with flowers and emotion made the journey from Bourke Street to Bundoora in tribute to slain international student Aiia Maasarwe on Friday night.

People, some holding candles, waited at nearly every stop to pay their respects and hand their flowers over, as the 8.01pm service from Spring Street wound its way through Melbourne’s inner-north and on to Bundoora.

Baskets of colourful flowers sat on the floor and seats, their petals and stems swaying, as the tram travelled along Gertrude Street, Smith Street, High Street and Plenty Road.