The new light rail line is imminent, which by the standards of the project means it might arrive in the next 18 months. Skeletal shelters have sprouted along the route, reassuring commuters that the government will eventually deliver something besides traffic delays.

Are we there yet? Light rail vehicles at a stabling yard next to Randwick Racecourse have been undergoing testing. Credit:Louise Kennerley

So here’s a question – will the new light rail line be free in the CBD, like Melbourne’s popular Free Tram Zone? Will tourists be able to jump on and off, avoiding the confusion of an unfamiliar ticketing system? And will locals be able to use the service as a shortcut if we’re running late to a meeting or laden with shopping?

Free trams would replace the handy 555 shuttle bus that looped between Central and Circular Quay before George Street closed. When I was a CBD resident, I used it frequently, and it was always full of tourists.

Melbourne’s freebies have opened up the far corners of the CBD grid. They’re brilliant for zipping between venues during the Comedy Festival, and allow visitors to jump off the Skybus and grab a tram without having to get their heads around the confusing Myki system.