Melbourne January 2019

[ozbob]

Looks like there will significant track closures Dandenong, Pakenham, Gippsland, Bendigo and Frankston lines ..

I was hoping to go to Gippsland for a day trip, probably either Ballarat or Warrnambool now ..

https://twitter.com/andrew_lund/status/1072270215243739141

https://twitter.com/andrew_lund/status/1072268928036954112

[ozbob]

https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/news-and-events/news/construction-blitz-across-roads-and-public-transport-2/

Buses replace trains between Flinders Street and Westall    Wednesday 2 January to Sunday 13 January

Map -->  https://static.ptv.vic.gov.au/Images/maps/1543538502/Major-Works-And-Events-January-2019.pdf

[SurfRail]

Buggery.  I was meant to be catching a Bairnsdale train on 7 Jan.  No mention whatsoever when booking it a week or so ago (not that it would have made a difference to my plans).

[ozbob]

 

Very late notice I agree.

SkyBus to SC, then rail to FSS for me when I arrive ex Adelaide. 

Then find the rail replacement bus stop (think it will be Fed Square)  all with luggage ..

Oh joy! 

Ed:  Daniel Bowen has told me there might be express bus from Burnley to Carnegie.  Rail is closed to Burnley 12/13 Jan only according to the info above.   So I can catch the train from SC to Burnley then the express bus to Carnegie by the looks of things.

Ed #2.  Just realised the Sandringham line is only closed to Elsternwick 2 to 5 Jan.  I arrive on the 6 jan, I can catch the train to Elsternwick and get picked up there.  A lot easier than stuffing around with rail replacement bus with luggage.

Ed #3.  Closure to Elsternwick has been extended to 4am 6 Jan.  So I am being picked up at Southern Cross in a horseless carriage.

Ed #4.  PTV says closure Parliament <> Elsternwick is only to 4am 6th Jan.  Presently checking with Metro Melbourne .. 

Ed #5.  Trains will running FSS to Sandringham from 4am 6th January 2019.   Rippa Rita! 

Ed #6.  Glen Waverley closure free for my visit so I will use East Malvern station too.  I used to live in Waverley Road just up from it for a number of years as a teenager.  Be like old times!  This is easier on the 6th Jan as just catch a Glen Waverley  train from Southern Cross to East Malvern. 

[ozbob]

Decided if The Overland is running to do the Ararat loop one day.  One way by The Overland and the other way by VLiner  ..

[SurfRail]

I mucked up my dates (I am meant to be travelling east on 8 Jan).  Timetable appears to be SXS-Stratford-Bairnsdale only and about the same time as the train end to end, which is reasonable enough.  I've never been on a train east of Pakenham so I will have to go back at some point, maybe a weekend at Lakes Entrance.

[ozbob]

Gippsland bound service June 2015 Murrumbeena.  Very different now ..

[ozbob]

The Overland is to continue in 2019!  > https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/stepping-in-to-save-the-overland-for-western-victoria/

I will try for Melbourne to Ararat on The Overland Tues 8 Jan 2019, arrives at Ararat 11.15am.

Then have lunch at the RSL and back on the afternoon service VLine depart 2.49pm.

Overland Bookings > https://bookings.greatsouthernrail.com.au/  (open tomorrow).

[ozbob]

Booked!

Also have booked my ticket for the VLiner back from Ararat. Last time I went to Ararat I thought I could use my myki. When I got to Ararat I asked the station staff where I touched off. Sorry Sir, you are meant to have a paper ticket!   

[ozbob]

The Overland train from Melbourne to Adelaide

Very good guide.

http://www.railmaps.com.au/overland_mel_adl.htm

[ozbob]

The Sandringham line will be running from 4am on the 6th Jan 2019, while the inner Frankston (FSS <> Moorabbin) and Dandenong ( FSS <> Westall) closed.

So I can get the 67 tram to Elsternwick rail station to get onto the rail network.  The 67 is the Carnegie to Melbourne University tram route.

https://yarratrams.com.au/route-guides/route-67

Early morning trams from Carnegie ( M - F ) at 5.07am, 5.25am, 5.42am, 6.06am, 6.14am. 6.23am ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ptv_official/status/1076604550436581377

[ozbob]

Bus replacement FSS <> Westall
https://www.metrotrains.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/CranPak-January-DL.pdf

[ozbob]

Melbourne weather > https://www.accuweather.com/en/au/melbourne/26216/daily-weather-forecast/26216?day=11

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/danielbowen/status/1077861772353167363

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1081701128901779456

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1081711142454538240

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1081712972676747264

[ozbob]

Have walked from Oakleigh to Murrumbeena and then Murrumbeena to Caulfield on the Djerring trail.  Marvellous community resource for sure.

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1081760407277133824

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1081778909161508865

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1081779511090307072

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1081780098468990976

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1081780997128040450

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1082024963555581952

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1082032216396390400

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1082033457054638080

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1082036751990808576

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1082037590478311424

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1082076897033445377

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1082086721519407105

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1082118131483533312

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1082147051767361537

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1082369436214996992

Departed 1 hour 24 minutes late at 9.29am

Signalling issues at Tottenham

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1082461911638130688

Scheduled arrival at Ararat is 11.13am.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1082504301811982336

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1082532545235845120

[SurfRail]

Coach to Bairnsdale and coach to Eden for me today.  (The Fisherman's Rec Club does a reasonable buffet.)

Some dill got left behind at Cann River adding 30 min to the trip while we retrieved him.

[ozbob]

 

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1082564084489379840

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1082777383650787330

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1083264633522155520

[ozbob]

The Overland departing Ararat 8 January 2019

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1083134894249627649

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1083218817235378176

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1083268692933103616

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1083536867763470338

Back in brisBANE with the usual 29 minutes wait for the Ippy when using Airtrain.. 

[ozbob]

I was on The Overland on January 8.  I didn't notice that we went through the LX at Thompson Road with the booms up!   

Rail Express --> Safety bureau to probe Geelong level crossing failure

Safety experts will investigate why boom gates failed to lower when the Overland passenger service passed through a level crossing in North Geelong earlier this month.

According to an early report from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the crew of the Overland passenger service running from Melbourne to Adelaide saw multiple vehicles in the vicinity of the Thompson Road crossing when the train passed through just before 11am on January 8.

"The Thompson Road level crossing provides for dual-lane road traffic to traverse dual-gauge and broad-gauge railway lines," the ATSB said.

"At the time of the occurrence, planned infrastructure work involving the level crossing's equipment was being performed."

The Bureau says its investigators will now collect relevant evidence, including recorded data and interviews with parties directly involved in the incident.

A final report is expected in the first quarter of 2020.