Operated by Yarra Trams, the route is coloured red and extends from Melbourne University to Malvern over 12.6-kilometre (7.8 mi) of double track via Swanston Street, St Kilda Road, Dandenong Road and Malvern East.

Due to congestion during peak hours at the crossover, some trams continued north to Melbourne University.

The section of track between Queensberry Street (Stop 4) and St Kilda Junction (Stop 30) is the oldest section of this route, dating back to the Brighton Road cable tram which opened on 11 October 1888 by the Melbourne Tramway & Omnibus Company.

This cable tram line was electrified in stages by the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB).

The section between St Kilda Junction and Chapel Street (Stop 32) also dates back to the cable era, as the Windsor to St Kilda Esplanade cable tramway which opened on 17 October 1891.

After crossing the Yarra River it continues south along St Kilda Road to St Kilda Junction, where it descends to Queens Way, Windsor and heads east, at Chapel Street, Queens Way becomes Dandenong Road.