Melbourne Visit August 2010

[ozbob]

Myki worked fine so far ...  

Skybus Melbourne Airport to Southern Cross Station








Tram at Essendon




At Southern Cross Station









Photographs R Dow 3rd August 2010

[ozbob]

Presently on the 8.31am ltd express to Belgrave.  Travelled Murrumbeena - Oakleigh - Richmond - Flinders Street already today on myki.  Only issue is lack of anti-peak flow at gates at Flinders Street!  Well at least QR Central has that sorted to some extent now.  No other issues, myki working fine (an experienced go card user won't have any problems ... lol)  nice to see the capping cut in later today.

Spent a short time watching a beautiful site (and sight), the trams moving the masses outside the station.  Many trams have decorative advertising wraps.  Many trains still not 'Metro-fied'.  Got some good photographs.  Just pulled into Glenferrie, first stop since Richmond.  Impressive at South Yarra on the way in, a train at every platform (6), also some parallel running in from Caulfield.  Good to see the quad being used to the max.  Plenty of room yet Corinda to Roma St quad.

The system seems to be better.  Overall staff support, tidiness, communication just has a better feel now.  I think they are turning the corner.

[ozbob]

6A 'Puffing Billy' leaving Belgrave 10.30am 4th August




6A 'Puffing Billy' crossing the Monbulk Creek Trestle bridge 4th August 2010




6A 'Puffing Billy"  shunting at Lakeside 4th August 2010

[ozbob]

Around  Flinders Street



















Photographs R Dow 4th August 2010

[ozbob]

Puffing Billy  


























DH5 test train about to depart from Gembrook









Photographs R Dow 4th August 2010

[ozbob]

Bayles Victoria

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayles_railway_station,_Victoria

Bayles was a railway station on the Strzelecki line in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. The station was opened on 29 June 1922. Bayles was the final station to remain open the entire life of the Strzelecki line, It was the terminus of the line from 15 April 1950 when the line was truncated from Yannathan. The short section of track was kept open mostly to serve the local butter factory.

Visited the site of the Bayles railway station









Photographs R Dow 4th August 2010

Information on the --> Strzelecki railway line, Victoria

[ozbob]

Presently at the 100 year Flinders Street Station Exhibition, an interesting collection of historical artefacts and memorabilia.  Travelled earlier today Vline Drouin to Caulfield and then  tram Carnegie to St Kilda Junction, then walked down Fitzroy St to the St Kilda light rail.  Interesting run in on then former r.o.w for the St Kilda VR suburban line. Had myki checked by 'authorised officer' on the 67 tram.  Hand held reader, smaller than the mobile go card readers in Brisbane.  I was only person I observed using a myki on the trams.

Travelling around on the trams reminded me just how good for transport a decent tramway system is.  What a sad loss for Brisbane, was the year 1969.  At least the Gold Coast Light Rail will give them a sniff, and who knows what then the future might be.

Lots of articulated trams in the City.  Good day for photography, overcast and cold!  LOL

[ozbob]

Hit the daily cap before lunch on the myki, no issues for me on train and tram past few days.

VLocity train arriving at Drouin



Suburban service at Caulfield



VLine Velocity DMU passing through Murrumbeena on a Gippsland service



Photographs R Dow 5th August 2010

[ozbob]

Out and about in Melbourne

Carnegie



St Kilda





The old departure clock at St Kilda rail station





Middle Park station - now a cafe



















Photographs R Dow 5th August 2010

[ozbob]

Articulated tram stops at Middle Park station on the St Kilda light rail line (former St Kilda VR suburban line)

[ozbob]

Articulated tram turning into Spencer St in front of Southern Cross Station

[ozbob]

Articulated tram turning onto the St Kilda light rail line from Fitzroy Street

[ozbob]

Spencer St Melbourne tram and traffic

[rob2144]

make sure you say hello to simon on platform 4 at the Elizabeth St end of Flinders St Station in the afternoon peaks 

[ozbob]

Won't be able to this trip, maybe next time .. 

Myki history to the 4th



Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 results

    * Results per page

Date   Time   Transaction Type   Service   Zone   Description   Credit   Debit   myki money Balance*
04/08/2010   09:32:21   Touch off   Train   2   Belgrave Station   -    $2.02    $17.06
04/08/2010   08:21:31   Touch on   Train   1   Flinders Street Station   -    -    -
04/08/2010   08:06:14   Touch off   Train   1   Flinders Street Station   -    $2.94    $19.08
04/08/2010   07:23:28   Touch on   Train   1/2   Oakleigh Station   -    -    -
04/08/2010   07:22:01   Touch off   Train   1/2   Oakleigh Station   -    $2.94    $22.02
04/08/2010   07:11:24   Touch on   Train   1   Murrumbeena Station   -    -    -
03/08/2010   13:58:19   Touch off   Train   1   Murrumbeena Station   -    $2.94    $24.96
03/08/2010   13:11:16   Touch off (Default Fare)   Train   1   Southern Cross Station   -    $4.96    $27.90
03/08/2010   13:11:16   Top up myki money   -   -   -   $20.00    -    $32.86
03/08/2010   13:11:16   Touch on   Train   1   Southern Cross Station   -    -    -

Note default fare 03/08/2010   13:11:16   will be chasing that one.



I think it relates to when there was a failure with a reader at Murrumbeena in January 2010

Ed:  Contacted myki, reimbursement underway.  Quick to sort. 

[ozbob]

Some photographs on the way to the Melbourne airport

















Interior of articulated Sky Bus










Tram turning into Spencer St out the front of Southern Cross rail station on a wet Melbourne morning



Photographs R Dow 6th August 2010

[ozbob]

Metro trains at Caulfield  5th August 2010

[ozbob]

Tram passing through Middle Park station at speed 5th August 2010

[ozbob]

Myki history for the 5th. Note CAPPING!   

Date   Time   Transaction Type   Service   Zone   Description   Credit   Debit   myki money Balance*
05/08/2010   16:37:20   Touch off   Train   1   Murrumbeena Station   -    -    -
05/08/2010   16:00:51   Touch on   Train   1   Flagstaff Station   -    -    -
05/08/2010   13:15:21   Touch off   Tram   1   Tram   -    -    -
05/08/2010   13:12:34   Touch on   Tram   1   Tram   -    -    -
05/08/2010   12:58:14   Touch off   Tram   1   Tram   -    $2.94    $11.18
05/08/2010   12:15:27   Touch on   Tram   1   Tram   -    -    -
05/08/2010   11:00:46   Touch off   Train   1   Carnegie Station   -    $2.94    $14.12
05/08/2010   10:48:10   Touch on   Train   1   Murrumbeena Station   -    -    -

[Jonno]

We want Trams We want Trams We want Trams !!!!!!

[#Metro]

  TRAMS!
Look at that- if you want bigger capacity you just get a bigger tram.

[ozbob]

The Melbourne tram system is the largest electric tram system in the world.  Moves > 200 Million passenger trips annually.  It is a great system.  The Brisbane trams at their peak were doing around 150 million passenger trips annually (mid 1940s).   There is little doubt that trams/light rail are the real people movers that contribute much to the amenity of a community.   Bus Rapid Transit cannot simply do it in the same way as a tram system.

I think that light rail for the inner parts of Brisbane is the way forward.  BRT for the longer runs on the busways, put the light rail on the surface existing roads and thoroughfares.  Not on the busways. 

[#Metro]

he Melbourne tram system is the largest electric tram system in the world.  Moves > 200 Million passenger trips annually.  It is a

did i read that correctly? 200 million?

[ozbob]

Yes.

[Golliwog]

Well putting light rail on all the busways can't be done easily anymore anyway. The original busways were designed so that if the need arose light rail could be put in on them instead of buses. However, I have heard that the newer busways have not been constructed like this so would most likely need some costly re-allignment.

[#Metro]

However, I have heard that the newer busways have not been constructed like this so would most likely need some costly re-allignment.

From who? And which busway?
The extension to Springwood is apparently LRT-compatible.
Seems strange to make the busway LRT compatible and then not bother to upgrade.

The intention to convert was there- has something changed?

[Golliwog]

A friend within the Department of Transport and Main Rds. Not sure which busway/s. On the plus side though, they have changed the legislation so that now a road (or part thereof I would assume) can become a busway and vice versa. Back when the two departments were seperate they didn't trust each other and thats how the legislation was written.

It might to worth putting a question to Translink to confirm the LRT compatibility issue though.

[#Metro]

I think it is a bad idea to invest billions in a particular mode of technology and then deliberately have it unable to be upgraded. I have a funny feeling that the Northern Busway or the Eastern Busway may be those "newer busways:.

Why construct a billion dollar busway which might have a service life of 10-15 years before requiring upgrades, only to find that you can't upgrade the capacity beyond that period? What is the purpose of that? Is there a purpose?

Nobody would construct a railway that way. One would expect a bit more for the huge cost as well.

[Golliwog]

Actually you're slightly wrong on the rail example there. I know until a few years ago the old wooden bridge on the FG line just before FG station was only wide enough for single track, if they had gone to upgrade then it would have been a hassle. Since then of course when QR went through its stage of removing all wooden bridges they replaced it with a concrete one that looks like it would be able to handle dual track, it just requires more ballast. I know its a small example but I'm sure theres more like it elsewhere on the network.

[ozbob]

A bit of history, and a re-birth.  St Kilda railway station

--> http://www.skhs.org.au/skhsbuildings/pdf%20files/19.pdf