Planned disruptions to rail services

[ozbob]

http://www.transport.vic.gov.au/pt/public-transport-projects-and-improvements/disruptions

Planned disruptions to rail services

Throughout 2012 Victoria's public transport network is undergoing a significant maintenance and renewal program. These works across the train and tram networks will include new concrete sleepers, new overhead wires, new and upgraded sub-stations to power more train services, and major train and tram track upgrades.

In addition to increased maintenance, a number of projects are under construction which require major work on parts of the network. These projects include Regional Rail Link, new stations and the electrification of the rail network to Sunbury.

These maintenance and project works mean that, on most weekends, regular services will be disrupted on part of the public transport network. In some cases this will mean a significant shutdown of normal services.

It is anticipated that in coming years Regional Rail Link works will also take place over summer or school holiday periods.

Our aim is to provide early advice about the dates, duration and location of works to minimise the impact of disruptions to services.

Keep checking the Metlink website for more information closer to the dates listed below.

During disruptions to rail services buses will replace trains and journey times may be extended.

More --> http://www.transport.vic.gov.au/pt/public-transport-projects-and-improvements/disruptions

[ozbob]

What a contrast to Queensland ...

[Fares_Fair]

What's a regional rail link ?   

[ozbob]

The Regional Rail Link is an Infrastructure Australia federally funded project.

See --> http://www.transport.vic.gov.au/projects/pt/rrl  

They were on the ball in Victoria ...

About Regional Rail Link

Regional Rail Link is a major new rail line running from West Werribee through Deer Park and suburbs including Sunshine and Footscray to Southern Cross Station.

It separates regional trains from metropolitan trains – for the first time giving Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat trains their own dedicated tracks through the metropolitan system from Sunshine to Southern Cross Station.

This will increase capacity and reliability for these services and means they will not get delayed by sharing tracks with metropolitan trains.

It will also free up critically needed space for additional suburban services on the Werribee, Sunbury and Craigieburn lines.

New tracks will be built from West Werribee Junction to Deer Park and from Sunshine to Southern Cross Station. The line will use existing tracks from Deer Park to Sunshine.

The project will include:

    dedicated regional tracks - allowing regional services to run directly into Melbourne and not be caught up with the growing number of suburban services
    three new stations at Wyndham Vale, Tarneit and West Footscray
    major upgrades to Sunshine and Footscray stations
    improvements to the entrance and forecourt at Tottenham station
    two new platforms at Southern Cross Station
    construction of a new rail bridge over the Maribyrnong River

http://www.transport.vic.gov.au/projects/pt/rrl/project-overview

[ozbob]

I think I might go and live for part of the year at Ballarat when the RRL is finished.  I can spend all day on V/Locity units having fun at the buffet, and dream of an extra platform at Goodna and trains with loos on the Sunny Coast ...

[somebody]

Yet another Australian rail project to make services more indirect and therefore slower.

[ozbob]

No it will actually make them a lot quicker, the major hold up is negotiating the metro system on the western approach to Melbourne, constant peak delays particularly.  They will be able to run a lot faster sooner and longer. 

There is a still a problem east side .. but they have a grand tunnel plan for that  .. LOL

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Repairs signal a rough ride ahead

Repairs signal a rough ride ahead

    Greg Thom
    From: Herald Sun
    March 22, 2012 12:00AM

COMMUTERS will bear public transport pain in the next few months as a $353 million maintenance program is rolled out.
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The works range from 11km of new tram tracks on St Kilda Rd to thousands of concrete rail sleepers and signal equipment upgrades on the suburban train network.

Premier Ted Baillieu said yesterday the next stage of the "repair and renewal" effort was needed to revitalise Melbourne's crumbling public transport infrastructure.

"Labor failed to fund or undertake the required maintenance of Victoria's public transport network and instead let the network deteriorate," he said.

But Opposition transport spokeswoman Fiona Richardson asked why it had taken more than 18 months for the Liberals to act.

Work includes more than 132,000 new railway sleepers, 32km of railway track, 27km of new overhead wiring and the upgrade of 300 tram power poles.

Transport Minister Terry Mulder said public transport would be interrupted every weekend for the next few months.

Buses would replace trains and trams on affected routes, with work done at night, on weekends and over Easter to keep passenger pain to a minimum.

The Cranbourne rail line would receive particular attention, with the equivalent of 12 months' maintenance crammed into nine days over Easter. St Kilda Rd would see replacement of tram tracks and overhead poles on what is the busiest tram route in the world.

More than 10,000 tonnes of dirt will be removed and replaced with crushed rock, in a move designed to give travellers a smoother ride.

Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen said commuters needed to balance the inconvenience caused by construction work against the eventual benefits.

"There is enough disruption already caused by faults in things like signals and break points that clearly the system does need better maintenance and upgrades," he said.

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

$400m Easter blitz on train, tram maintenance

$400m Easter blitz on train, tram maintenance
Adam Carey
March 22, 2012

VICTORIANS can expect widespread disruptions to public transport over Easter and on many other weekends this year as the state's transport network undergoes major maintenance works aimed at improving reliability and boosting capacity when new trains are rolled out.

More than $350 million is being spent on train network maintenance that the government says is needed to make the system more efficient, while $54 million will be spent fixing tram infrastructure.

''Over the coming months, commuters will witness rail and tram maintenance works right across the network,'' Premier Ted Baillieu said yesterday.

''The scale of work across the network is likely to result in changes to train and tram services on most weekends. We are not simply undertaking routine maintenance required to maintain the network; we're addressing a backlog of years of maintenance requirements that Labor failed to fund.''

But the state opposition argued there was ''nothing new'' in the announced upgrades, which are being funded out of the state budget.

''Why has it taken over 18 months for the Liberals to crawl out from under their desks and continue maintenance work on public transport infrastructure, and what guarantees are there for commuters that the planned disruption to services will be kept to a minimum?'' opposition public transport spokeswoman Fiona Richardson said.

Buses will replace trains on many lines for nine days, including the Easter break, while the works are completed.

Affected metro lines are Dandenong, Cranbourne and Sydenham, while V/Line's Seymour, Shepparton and Gippsland lines will also be out of action. Werribee and Hurstbridge lines will be disrupted later next month.

The works include the replacement of more than 32 kilometres of metro track, more than 132,000 rail sleepers, and 27 kilometres of overhead wiring.

The Minister for Public Transport, Terry Mulder, said the equivalent of a year's maintenance would be performed on the Cranbourne and Dandenong corridor during the nine-day blitz. Work will also be done on the $5 billion regional rail link, and on the Seymour line.

The St Kilda Road tram arterial - the world's busiest - will also be overhauled. More than 11 kilometres of track will be replaced and more than 16 kilometres of trolley wire renewed.

''We won't stop until we get it right,'' Mr Mulder said. ''There is going to be some disruptions across the network while this work is being undertaken, however the vast majority of works will be undertaken at night.''

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/400m-easter-blitz-on-train-tram-maintenance-20120321-1vk6r.html