Melbourne - April 2014

[ozbob]

Spending a few days in Melbourne later this month.

Had planned to go to Bendigo on the 23rd April, alas RRL closure so will probably head to Geelong instead.

Many closures in Melbourne over Easter and the following week.

Details --> http://ptv.vic.gov.au/easterworks/

[ozbob]

Also a track closure Corinda - Roma St over Easter [ http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/381/details ]

so I will be travelling by horseless carriage to get to BNE on the 21st April ... 

[SurfRail]

Lo and behold, yet again we are both down there... 17 to 23 in my case.

[ozbob]

Lo and behold, yet again we are both down there... 17 to 23 in my case.

[ozbob]

At BNE  QANTAS club ...  5'3" here we come!

[ozbob]

Apart from Sky Bus (have online ticket) my travel on the network in Melbourne later today  will be a flat $6 unlimited (myki money) ...

[ozbob]

Trains passing through North Melbourne station 2013-03-01.

[ozbob]

In the late 1990's, West Coast Railway in Victoria, Australia operated their weekend passenger services with steam. Hudson locomotives R711 and R766 were used on the service. Here we join the crew of R711 at Geelong on the Down journey for a fast run to Warrnambool. On the Up journey we rejoin the cab for a run from Geelong towards Melbourne.

[ozbob]

Some photographs of travels yesterday ...

































Photographs R Dow 21st April 2014

[ozbob]

The new Springvale station opened today, part of the level crossing removal project.  No lifts just ramps.




























Bairnsdale V/Line service at Dandenong





Photographs R Dow 22nd April 2014

[ozbob]

Travelled to Drouin this afternoon on this 3 car Sprinter set.

Photograph R Dow 22nd April 2014

[ozbob]

Inbound ex Drouin on the Bairnsdale to SC V/Line passenger service (N DEL + 4 carriages). 

At Pakenham, buffet has just closed ...

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Split-level luxury arrives at Springvale station, at $159 million]

[ozbob]

Photographs from yesterday's travels ..


































































Photographs R Dow 23rd April 2014

[ozbob]

Trip to St Kilda Beach on the 96 tram/light rail ...











































Southern Cross



^ Grill'd - hamburger restaurant excellent! ..  had lunch with Tony Morton and Daniel Bowen from the PTUA





V/Line pass at Dandenong



Photographs R Dow 24th April 2014

[ozbob]

Melbourne fares are most reasonable, a little out of balance particularly with changes flagged for next year.

Myki history - concession card

Date   Time   Transaction Type   Service   Zone   Description   Credit   Debit   myki money Balance
24/04/2014   16:15:09   Touch off   Train   1   Murrumbeena Station   -    -    -
24/04/2014   15:41:54   Touch on   Train   2   Dandenong Station   -    -    -
24/04/2014   14:52:56   Touch off*   Train   2   Dandenong Station   -    $3.03    $34.34
24/04/2014   13:52:14   Touch on   Train   1   Southern Cross Station   -    -    -
24/04/2014   12:00:55   Touch off   Train   1   Southern Cross Station   -    -    -
24/04/2014   11:57:16   Touch on   Train   1   Southern Cross Station   -    -    -
24/04/2014   11:30:08   Touch on   Tram   1   Tram   -    -    -
24/04/2014   11:30:08   Touch off (Default Fare)   Tram   1   Tram   -    -    -
24/04/2014   11:02:02   Touch on   Tram   1   Tram   -    -    -
24/04/2014   11:00:35   Touch off   Tram   1   Tram   -    -    -
24/04/2014   10:36:38   Touch on   Tram   1   Tram   -    -    -
24/04/2014   10:25:50   Touch off*   Train   1   Southern Cross Station   -    $1.79    $37.37
24/04/2014   09:54:22   Touch on   Train   1   Murrumbeena Station   -    -    -

23/04/2014   16:15:16   Touch off   Train   1   Caulfield Station   -    -    -
23/04/2014   15:54:01   Touch on   Train   1   Southern Cross Station   -    -    -
23/04/2014   15:53:18   Touch off*   Train   1   Southern Cross Station   -    $3.92    $39.16
23/04/2014   15:08:53   Touch on   Train   -   -   -    -    -
23/04/2014   14:48:38   Touch on   Train   4   Geelong Station   -    -    -
23/04/2014   11:05:17   Touch off*   Train   4   Geelong Station   -    $2.13    $43.08
23/04/2014   10:35:59   Touch on   Train   -   -   -    -    -
23/04/2014   09:20:33   Touch on   Train   1   Southern Cross Station   -    -    -
23/04/2014   09:08:26   Touch off*   Train   1   Southern Cross Station   -    $1.79    $45.21
23/04/2014   08:34:13   Touch on   Train   1   Murrumbeena Station   -    -    -

22/04/2014   21:49:00   Touch off*   Train   1   Caulfield Station   -    $5.18    $47.00
22/04/2014   20:28:02   Touch on   Train   -   -   -    -    -
22/04/2014   20:12:19   Touch on   Train   6   Drouin Station   -    -    -
22/04/2014   15:56:36   Touch off*   Train   6   Drouin Station   -    $1.00    $52.18
22/04/2014   15:10:31   Touch on   Train   -   -   -    -    -
22/04/2014   13:57:43   Touch on   Train   2   Dandenong Station   -    -    -
22/04/2014   13:56:13   Touch off   Train   2   Dandenong Station   -    -    -
22/04/2014   13:31:07   Touch on   Train   2   Clayton Station   -    -    -
22/04/2014   13:06:57   Touch off*   Train   2   Clayton Station   -    $1.24    $53.18
22/04/2014   12:15:08   Touch on   Train   2   Dandenong Station   -    -    -
22/04/2014   07:41:22   Reimbursement   -   -   Reimbursement   $38.00    -    $54.42

21/04/2014   16:31:22   Touch off*   Train   1   Carnegie Station   -    $1.79    $16.42
21/04/2014   16:20:34   Touch on   Train   1   Caulfield Station   -    -    -
21/04/2014   14:10:55   Touch off   Train   1   Caulfield Station   -    -    -
21/04/2014   14:04:56   Touch on   Train   1   Murrumbeena Station   -    -    -
21/04/2014   14:04:15   Top up myki money   Train   -   -   $20.00    -    $18.21
21/04/2014   13:13:13   Touch off*   Train   1   Murrumbeena Station   -    $1.79    -$1.79
21/04/2014   12:36:48   Touch on   Train   1   Southern Cross Station   -    

* $38 reimbursement was a transfer from an expired myki

[ozbob]

Some succinct observations. I didn't have time to get out on the buses, so these comments confined to tram/trains.

Myki - fare costs compared to SEQ are very affordable.  Effectively getter even cheaper for most come January 2015 when virtually flat fare zone one on the entire metro system (this not necessarily a good move as it makes short trips relatively expensive compared to longer trips, and will make it difficult when reality trumps polyticks and a more sustainable fare base needs to be implemented). V/Line fares as also very reasonable.  Many people travelling on all trains and trams I travelled on, around the clock not only peak.  This is what needs to happen in SEQ.

Myki equipment is not wearing well.  Noticeable lag with myki on trams, rail seemed fine to me.

V/Line services are excellent, even if often disrupted due to train congestion particularly from the Gippsland line.  Regional Rail Link works are impressive and will be worth coming down for on the opening.

There is a basic cando attitude in Melbourne, that is really missing in Brisbane.  For example, Springvale station, not gold plated (costs were really with the sinking and relocation of the double mainline) in that good design means ramps and lifts not needed.  A lesson was learned from Laverton station which has lifts and no ramps - this has been a problem. Later edit:  Have been advised that lifts will be added to Springvale later this year.  However at least it has ramps when the lifts fail ...

Melbourne (Vic generally) has a more sophisticated public transport culture than SEQ. Helped a lot by the tram network - makes it so easy to get around and make connections.  The new trams are impressive.  The rail track infrastructure seems to be slowly recovering from the post privatisation neglect, and this is a real risk for SEQ.  Queensland Rail track standard is high class - it is easy to observe obvious holes and warps in the track around Melbourne, something you don't see very often at all in SEQ.  Broad guage does give a bit more slack. 

DOO is fine.  There seems little reason to not move to DOO eventually in SEQ.  This with a better bus network will no doubt improve the network overall and help drive fare reforms.

So back to BNE today.  Back to a network that in reality can be sorted, just takes some political courage from the top.

[ozbob]

Early morning departure Murrumbeena (half light in the early morning).  This train was running late and converted to Flinders St station, a following train a few minutes behind was a City Loop which services Southern Cross.

Flight to BNE uneventful.



Back to a very disconnected network.  Arrival of the Airtrain at service at Central was just in time to see the Ippy service depart.  No connection possible.  This means that instead of being able to catch the 524 bus at Goodna at 2.42pm, have to wait for the 3.42pm bus.

Honestly, it is just a major shambles ...  frequency ratsh%t and they still cannot get the timetable right, to give the punters at least some chance of reasonable journey times ...

[ozbob]

Early morning departure Murrumbeena (half light in the early morning).  This train was running late and converted to Flinders St station, a following train a few minutes behind was a City Loop which services Southern Cross.

Flight to BNE uneventful.



Back to a very disconnected network.  Arrival of the Airtrain at service at Central was just in time to see the Ippy service depart.  No connection possible.  This means that instead of being able to catch the 524 bus at Goodna at 2.42pm, have to wait for the 3.42pm bus.

Honestly, it is just a major shambles ...  frequency ratsh%t and they still cannot get the timetable right, to give the punters at least some chance of reasonable journey times ...

It was quicker to fly between Melbourne and Brisbane than get PT to Goodna ... oh dear ... 

[ozbob]

Restricted signals during morning peak slow inbound VLocity at Murrumbeena Vic. 5'3"  23 April 2014.

[ozbob]

Twitter

misguidedjenni ‏@misguidedjenni 2h

Let's hope #springst fixed public transport more effectively than the Laverton station lifts. Is this week 3 or 4? http://t.co/uuxjBLQLpz