Operated by Yarra Trams, the route is coloured light purple and extends from North Coburg to Flinders Street station over 10.2 kilometre of double track via Sydney Road, Royal Parade and Elizabeth Street.

Route 19 was first allocated to the line between Coburg North and the City terminus at Elizabeth Street opposite Flinders Street station on 26 April 1936 following the electrification of the Brunswick cable tram line.

An extension to Fawkner was first planned by the Melbourne, Brunswick & Coburg Tramways Trust (MBCTT) in 1916, but never came to fruition.

[3] The origin of Route 19 dates back to the Brunswick cable tram line while the section north of Moreland Road was constructed by the MBCTT.

The Melbourne Tramway & Omnibus Company opened the Brunswick cable tram line on 1 October 1887, which encompasses the section of route 19 between Moreland Road (Stop 28) and Flinders Street station (Stop 1).