Melbourne Visit June 2012

[ozbob]

Heading to Melbourne for a few days mid week.

Plan to visit  Cardinia Road station (relatives near by via 926 bus), and head to Ballarat on V/Line this Friday.

See what else comes up.  Last time I was Melbourne there was a track failure Newport to Williamstown so that was good to check out. Urgent bus substitution was the same cluster as here.

Regional Rail Link works have cleared a lot of vegetation in some spots which makes it a bit easier to get some photographs too.

Twitter

Vicsig (vicsig.net) ‏@vicsig

One of the advantages of the Regional Rail Link is all the site clearing and tree chopping creating new photo spots. http://pic.twitter.com/IZlnqOPa

New Cardinia Road Station opens and train and bus services introduced: effective Sunday, 22 April 2012
Date Published: Wednesday 4 April 2012

The new Cardinia Road Station will open and train and bus services will be introduced on Sunday, 22 April 2012.

Cardinia Road Station will be located between Officer and Pakenham stations on the Pakenham line.

All off-peak train services will stop at Cardinia Road, with trains stopping every 20 minutes in peak times.

Weekday train services will operate on average:

    every 20 minutes during peak times
    every 30 minutes at off-peak times during the day
    every 20 minutes at night until 10pm
    every 30 minutes from 10pm until the last train.

Weekend train services will operate on average:

    every 20 minutes during the day on Saturdays and Sundays
    every 30 minutes at night on Saturdays and Sundays.

Cardinia Road Station will include parking for 450 cars, a safe drop off area, a taxi rank, a bus interchange and a secure bike cage.

Bus Route 926 (Pakenham – Fountain Gate Shopping Centre) will be extended to travel to the new bus interchange at Cardinia Road Station.

Buses to the station will run along Cardinia Road, Shearwater Drive, The Parkway and Melaleuca Place.

Buses will run hourly, till 10pm, seven days a week.

Myki loaded and ready to go.  I have a myki money top up in progress    $13.78, no idea what that is about.  Must be some sort of ' bonus '  lol ...

[ozbob]

EMU35 Goodna to Roma St, on time.  IMU 174 to BNE.  Few changes at the BNE domestic station and walkway since last here.  Sky Bus to Southern Cross, then the 5'3".  I like dual gauge days .. lol  Might make it a triple gauge day and get on a tram later as well.  (trams standard gauge).

[ozbob]

Presently on board 1.49pm Pakenham service, parked at Dandenong.  Arrived from town 9 minutes late we are just waiting.  No explanation to punters. 

There is a Vline 2.06pm service for Gippsland due through.  Despite doors closed we have not actually moved, maybe control has decided to let the VLine run past first?

Now 21 minutes adrift and waiting ...  now moving ...

Train has multiple wheel flats just to make the ride more interesting as well ...old Hitachi unit ..

Thank god it is 5'3", on 3'6" probably bounce off ...

Go Metro!!   

[Fares_Fair]

How do you tell the wheel flats, is it a distinctive noise or just vibration?

[ozbob]

Thud thud which develops into a dull roar at full speed.  Vibrations as well.

[colinw]

How do you tell you're on a Melbourne train?

1. There is a pile of vomit at one end of the carriage, which everyone is careful to avoid.
2. An empty 750ml VB bottle rolls up the aisle toward the front of the train every time it slows, and down to the back of the train as the train (sluggishly) accelerates.
3. The fabric on the seats is so grotty & greasy & matted that you're worried you might stain your trousers sitting on it.
4. You, your wife and your young daughter get hassled by a random weirdo.
5. It takes 1 hour 20 to go the 40 or so km to Belgrave (and we bitch about the 41km Beenleigh line being slow!).

All of the above is from a single suburban train journey from Flinders St to Belgrave to go on Puffing Billy a few years ago. My wife's comment: "God, I'll never complain about QR again".

Hopefully Metro has improved things.

In comparison, we loved V/Line to Warrnambool.  I think if I lived in Victoria I'd like to live beyond the bounds of the electric system. Go V/Line!

[Stillwater]

I am with you, Colin

I'd live at Birregurra  - http://www.birregurra.com/pages/frameset.htm

Or Clunes  - -http://www.clunes.org/

Or any of a number of smaller towns because each of them has a good rail service to the nearest regional city and to Melbourne.

http://www.vline.com.au/about/news/mediareleases/866922540/article.aspx

http://www.vline.com.au/pdf/timetables/warrnambool.pdf

We just need the Queensland Government to see good regional rail networks, without bougainvillea planted beside them, as part of a sensible population settlement pattern. 

[ozbob]

Melbourne trains are bit cleaner these days.  Spent most of the afternoon tracking between Dandenong, Beaconsfield, Cardinia Road and Pakenham.  Lots of V/Line trains running through as well.

[somebody]

Melbourne trains are bit cleaner these days.  Spent most of the afternoon tracking between Dandenong, Beaconsfield, Cardinia Road and Pakenham.  Lots of V/Line trains running through as well.

Increasing patronage will probably do that.  Getting more and higher socio-economic people on it tends to get others behaving better.

[colinw]

I'd live at Birregurra  - http://www.birregurra.com/pages/frameset.htm

Or Clunes  - -http://www.clunes.org/

Southwest for me, anywhere from Colac through to Warrnambool, or if you don't want direct rail Koroit & Port Fairy.

I just love the landscape of the area, and the cool climate.

With the added excitement of living in one of Australia's few potentially active volcanic regions, with around a 1 in 10,000 chance of a new eruption in any given year.

[ozbob]

Travelling to Ballarat today on V/Line.  Normally a Velocity, always a good run.

Bombadier have said that they can build 3'6" Velocity if needed.

Early peak hour run into Southern Cross on Metro.

Did some tram riding yesterday as well.  The tram network is really very good.

Got my scarf and gloves ... lol  Ballarat can be a very cold place this time of the year ...

[ozbob]

Had a good look at Cardinia Road station yesterday, which opened for regular services on the 22nd April 2012.  Interesting station, functional without being over the top.  No toilets but everything else seems well done.  Of particular interest was the subway.  One of the best I have seen at a railway station.  Ramps and the subway meet full DDA requirements.  Subways are better than lifts because they don't break down, and maintenance costs/operating costs are reduced.

Cardinia Road station pedestrian underpass

[ozbob]

Just departed Southern Cross station 8.03am Ararat V/Line service, Velocity unit 1319 lead 2 cars go past Wendouree to Ararat 6 car train, I am going through to Wendouree for a look, station opened a year or so ago, then back into Ballarat. 

[ozbob]

Accelerating out of Bacchus Marsh.  Locals certainly love their V/Line services, good pax loads.  Fast, comfortable, frequent ...  and toilets of course   

[colinw]

Bombadier have said that they can build 3'6" Velocity if needed.

Perfect for services to Gatton. 

[Stillwater]

Maybe even to Gympie Station via Banks Pocket (non-electrified) line.

[ozbob]

Presently parked platform one Ballarat ... signal fault Rockbank to Sunshine ... pax have been advised, and if heading to intermediate stations bail and bus .. gee I can pick them ...  lots of footy fans inbound .. no way will buses cope ...

Train was due to depart 3.58pm  now 4.31pm or thereabouts ... still at Ballarat ..

[ozbob]

It is a mess.  Buses coming apparently to run express to Melbourne.  I think I will head back to the George,  warmer there ....

[ozbob]

Finally left Ballarat at around 7.30pm, not sure if it as a timetabled service as such, although we will get to SC around 9pm or so.

I gave up my seat earlier to the footy fans, I went back to the pub ...lol

As I type the Velocity is climbing the Warrenheip bank ...

R761 & 3 diesels tackle Warrenheip Bank



=========

Arrived at SC around 9.20pm, time lost due to speed restriction running on authority Rockbank - Sunshine.

[ozbob]

Heading to South Morang later today.  This extension commenced regular services 22nd April 2012.

Last time I was out that way was on the Whittlesea rail motor, long gone ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Morang_railway_line

http://www.transport.vic.gov.au/projects/pt/smrep

The South Morang Rail Extension Project has provided new high-quality infrastructure to improve access to public transport services for Melbourne's northern communities. The Epping rail line has been duplicated from Keon Park to Epping and extended to South Morang.

Services on the new South Morang line commenced on 22 April. Visit the Public Transport Victoria website for timetable details.

A new premium railway station is now open at South Morang with integrated public transport services. Epping railway station was relocated and modernised and a new railway station has also been built at Thomastown.

[ozbob]

Made it to South Morang this afternoon.  Station is sunken and has lifts.  Staffed station with the frills, including retail outlet with the hot foot snacks etc.

There was a football game at the MCG today, access to the MCG can be from Jolimont station which is served by South Morang trains.  The other station for MCG access is Richmond.  Both stations had large numbers of pax transiting through to the football, and additional Metro Staff to direct passengers.  They do get big numbers travelling normally and when football is on it is very heavy leading up to and after the game.

One thing I have noticed is that Metro staff seem to be a lot more visible  around the network, the driver of the train I was on Dandenong to Carnegie earlier today was making welcoming announcements and even station calls.

Travelling around with 10 minute frequency and a $3.30 capped weekend fare does mean that a lot of people get out on trains.  Large numbers of shoppers to and from Preston for example (has markets).

Myki has worked well.  Only issue is that card readers on stations that have not been recently used take a few seconds to wake up and register touch.

The other thing which is very noticeable is the generally short dwell times relative to SEQ.  The three double doors helps, but the Melbourne public transport users seem to be more public transport savy and quicker getting on and off the trains.

[somebody]

The other thing which is very noticeable is the generally short dwell times relative to SEQ.  The three double doors helps, but the Melbourne public transport users seem to be more public transport savy and quicker getting on and off the trains.

DOO.

Guards are a real obstacle to achieving this IMO.

[HappyTrainGuy]

DOO doesn't speed up dwell times. Its a mixture of multiple things such as the people boarding, crowding around doors and alot to do with timetabling. Catch a few inbound trains at night time. No one gets on/off and there is still a delay as the guard waits for the departure time or if it leaves early listen to how the driver coasts the train under acceleration/top end speed and breaking.

[somebody]

Well there is no incentive for bad passenger behaviour if you know that there is no guard to press the button to re-open the door.

[HappyTrainGuy]

The guard doesn't control the doors/train as that's the drivers job.

[ozbob]

Overall Melbourne does well with the trams and trains. Some gaps with buses but slowly improving.

Most Melbourne public transport punters don't realise how well they are off with frequency and the myki, particularly the fare structure.  The myki equipment particularly the card readers on stations are wearing fast.  Still problems with the clumsy gates at major stations, although I expect when metcard finally goes they will too.

I checked out three new railway stations during my short stay, Cardinia Road, Wendouree and South Morang.  All done well I thought.

I have noticed general track improvements, for example Caulfield station now concrete sleepers, weeds under control.  General standard seems improved in terms of train cleanliness and operational staff support.

[ozbob]

One thing that is not the best in Melbourne is the first morning services times Sundays/Public Holidays.  I caught the first inbound train from Murrumbeena this morning, 7.35am scheduled actual 7.37am.  Around 300 pax on board.  This service normally runs via City Loop, Southern Cross, Flinders Street.  Leaving Armadale there was an announcement that the train would now run direct to Flinders Street ' signalling issues '.  From Richmond into a few hundred metres outside Flinders St it appeared that a lot of the signals were dead.  Metro is fairly adept at changing things on the fly, the aged signalling and track infrastructure gives them plenty of practise ... lol

The effect of late starters means that the Sky Bus at Southern Cross gets flooded as pax all seem to arrive at the same time ...

[somebody]

The guard doesn't control the doors/train as that's the drivers job.

Isn't based on the guard giving the right of way though?

FWIW, I've seen the doors opened at Roma St for someone managing to get their bag into the door before it closed, quite deliberately.

Overall Melbourne does well with the trams and trains. Some gaps with buses but slowly improving.

Yeah, Australia's best all day performance.  Still a long way behind Sydney's journey to work performance though.

I still think that Australia's best isn't saying very much.  Most of Canada and (I understand) Europe does a fair bit better.

I think it has to be said that growth on Metro has slowed with timetable slow downs and improving reliability!

[ozbob]

Back in BNE.  Always good for a laugh to watch the train depart from the station as you head up the escalator, only a 29 minute wait  LOL ...  well, it is warm on board smu 289 ..

[HappyTrainGuy]

Yeah, the guard signals to the driver that they now have the right of way but that hardly extends the dwell time. Its the timetable that does. Plug doors also make dwell times longer.

Re Roma Street, the guard could have signaled to the driver or the driver saw a possible obstruction in the mirror.

[ozbob]

On board EMU 07 Ippy, made the swap at Bowen Hills with 2 minutes to spare ...

[ozbob]

DOO in Melbourne has definitely speed things up a bit IMHO.  The public become educated that you need to get on and off quickly. The also fan better along platforms.  Three doors helps as well.  The stations that need them have 4 video screens and/or mirrors to allow the drivers to check things.

Door speed on the Melbourne trains is not that different, some have plug type doors as well.

Another thing is once the driver closes the doors for departure the doors are locked shut. Pressing on the outside will not open the door.  This also encourages pax to get on quickly.

[SurfRail]

Plug doors also make dwell times longer.

There is no reason why they have to.  I'm led to believe the B2 sets in Perth have modified doors which close more quickly than the B1 sets (themselves with the same mechanisms as all our 160s/260s).

[HappyTrainGuy]

Another thing is once the driver closes the doors for departure the doors are locked shut. Pressing on the outside will not open the door.  This also encourages pax to get on quickly.

Same applies here. Press the button and the doors remain closed. They remain active until the train stops at another platform with the same side which is why you can sometimes see trains with green lights on near the doors at night

There is no reason why they have to.  I'm led to believe the B2 sets in Perth have modified doors which close more quickly than the B1 sets (themselves with the same mechanisms as all our 160s/260s).

Can't say what happens in Perth but the plug door closing times are based on the operating system running it ie from pressing the button in the cab to the warning message/display till when they actually start closing - Similar to EMUs where they used to instantly close when the button in the cab was pressed but now the message is made and the delay on when they close. Perth have a different configured system than what QR has.

[somebody]

Another thing is once the driver closes the doors for departure the doors are locked shut. Pressing on the outside will not open the door.  This also encourages pax to get on quickly.

That applies here doesn't it?

[HappyTrainGuy]

Another thing is once the driver closes the doors for departure the doors are locked shut. Pressing on the outside will not open the door.  This also encourages pax to get on quickly.

That applies here doesn't it?

Yep. The only time someone can open the doors from the outside are when the driver has enabled the doors for operation (normal stop) or when the doors have closed again after a prolonged stop (somone has opened the door to get on/off and it has closed again due to a short delay to prevent rain coming inside the train or the AC getting out - Also enables a quick get away too as the train won't do the closing procedures if the doors are closed. Just lock, check the lights and go) otherwise once the door button to close has been pressed they will remain locked no matter if the entry/exit button was pressed from inside or outside of the train.

[ozbob]

The point I was trying to make is that with DOO once the doors locked that is it.  With a guard people think they can still try to get on, and often do.

[HappyTrainGuy]

The guards shouldn't do that but some do it because there is enough slack in the timetable if its ontime especially if the train is in an area where its a 30 minute frequency/at night. If the train is not on time the guard usually has no sympathy for someone running late.

[ozbob]

Photographs 6 June 2012

Roma St



Brisbane Airport









Southern Cross









Murrumbeena, Carnegie and Caulfield





















Photographs R. Dow 6th June 2012

[ozbob]

Photographs 7 June 2012

Caulfield



















Cardinia Road































Pakenham













Beaconsfield





Photographs R Dow 7th June 2012