Melbourne June 2015

[ozbob]

Regional Rail Link opens completely 21 June 2015.  Good time to visit Melbourne.  Heading down for a few days end of June.

[ozbob]

I think I will head down on a VLiner to Geelong on the new track through Wyndham Vale and Tarneit probably on the Friday 26th June.

[ozbob]

Myki flush almost set! 

[pandmaster]

I am going to be in Melbourne at the start of June. My old man and I are going to Yelta and Murrayville (http://www.dermpav.net.au/Brochure_-_Mildura_6_7___8_June_2015__sold_out_.pdf). This is my third trip with DERMPAV and they do a fantastic job. The tour is being repeated next year if anyone is interested (http://www.dermpav.net.au/html/body_upcoming_tours.html). I am very disappointed that I will just miss out on going on the new tracks. You can not have it all.

I look forward to Bob's report.

[ozbob]

^ Great tour!  Enjoy ..

I remember fondly the DERM + trailer that used to run regularly on the South Gippsland Line from Melbourne.  Often used to see on the way to and from school or when wagging .. lol   Me and my mate used to wag and head off to Newport to ride around in the E class steam loco shunter some days as well.




http://members.ozemail.com.au/~telica/Images/Whittlesea/Whittlesea_3_1959_760.jpg

DERM + trailer at Whittlesea, similar to what ran on the South Gippsland line (and other branch lines in Vic).

[ozbob]

http://www.regionalraillink.vic.gov.au/about/overview



What is Regional Rail Link?

Regional Rail Link is a landmark infrastructure project designed to remove major bottlenecks in Victoria's rail network. It will do this by untangling metropolitan and regional tracks as they travel through Melbourne's west into the heart of the city.

Dedicated regional tracks have been built from West Werribee Junction to Deer Park, then along the existing rail corridor from Sunshine to Southern Cross Station. When complete, passengers on the Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat lines will have a streamlined journey through the metropolitan system.

Regional Rail Link increased the size of Victoria's rail network by laying 90km of new track. The project also included:

    two new stations at Wyndham Vale and Tarneit
    a rebuilt West Footscray railway station
    a rebuilt Sunshine railway station
    a major upgrade to Footscray railway station
    improvements to the entrance and forecourt at Tottenham station
    two new platforms at Southern Cross Station
    removal of two level crossings at Anderson Road in Sunshine
    13 road and rail grade separations through Wyndham Vale and Tarneit
    construction of a new rail bridge over the Maribyrnong River

Regional Rail Link creates capacity for an extra 23 metropolitan and 10 regional services during each morning and evening peak period. This means capacity for an additional 54,000 passenger trips each day.

As well as improving existing services, Regional Rail Link lays the foundations for future expansion of the rail network to meet the needs of Victoria's growing population. Read more about the benefits of the project.

The project was jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian governments.

[ozbob]

I really enjoyed having rides in the E shunter at Newport.  My first was when I was about 3 years old .. 

Some slides taken by my grandfather in the 1950s.



E class. The three year old is me. Oct 1954

[ozbob]

Dear Mr Dow,

Thank you for topping up your myki card number xxxxxxxxx.

Please allow at least 24 hours for your top up to be processed. Once processed, your top up will be added to your myki the next time you touch on at a myki reader or use a myki machine.

Your debit/credit card has been charged for the top up amount detailed below:

   Amount
Top up - myki money   $20.00
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Order Total   $20.00

Your reference number for this transaction is: xxxxxxxx.

Should you require further information, please visit ptv.vic.gov.au or call 1800 800 007 between 6am and 12 midnight, 7 days a week.


Regards


PTV Customer Care

[ozbob]

Sky Bus --> http://www.skybus.com.au/

$36 for a return now ..

[SurfRail]

Actually more expensive than Airtrain (particular if you have kids with you).

[pandmaster]

There is a reasonable alternative: bus to Broadmeadow and train to the City. It takes twice the time but is a fraction of the cost.

Nice pictures Bob. A great upbringing surrounded by trains!

I hope all goes well with RRL. I am anticipating teething problems.

[ozbob]

I was fortunate to see much of Victoria by rail.  Was a very comprehensive network. The only major branch line I never travelled on was Cudgewa.  Victoria is sort of undergoing a rail revolution of sorts.  When I was a child you could do things that would be frowned upon today eg. cab rides in the Swan Hill Pass R classes rocking around at 70 mph .. 

Ballarat and Bendigo V/Liners are already using RRL  switching in the Geelong flyers hopefully will be ok.

Rumour has it that during a recent meltdown on the Werribee line some Geelong services did go via RRL ...

[pandmaster]

Ah, to have experienced those halcyon days. During my lifetime there seem to have more cuts to rail than new services. Hopefully some money can be found to standardise the Mildura line and institute a regular passenger service.

If that rumour is true V/Line deserve some praise for using the line despite it not being "officially" open. If that is the case then the line must be or can quickly be fully switched on and operational despite the delay in instituting services. I can imagine many rail operators in Australia and the world would not have done that. The lucky buggers were unintentionally the first fare-paying passengers!

[ozbob]

Booked on the Saturday VLiner to Shepparton on the 27th June.

Track work up till the 25th of June, so should be interesting day out.

[ozbob]

Booked on the Saturday VLiner to Shepparton on the 27th June.

Track work up till the 25th of June, so should be interesting day out.

Shepparton railway line --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepparton_railway_line


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Vicrailmap-albury.png

[ozbob]

V/Line --> New timetable from Sunday June 21

New timetable from Sunday June 21

A new timetable will be introduced across the V/Line network on Sunday 21 June.

There will be major changes to the Geelong line, as trains start operating on the dedicated tracks from West Werribee Junction to Southern Cross Station for the first time.

The new Wyndham Vale and Tarneit stations will open on the Geelong line, to meet the needs of these growing communities.

Customers on the Ballarat line will also see changes to their timetable.

All of these changes are an important step towards delivering better train services for our customers and are part of the $3.9 billion Regional Rail Link project.

There will be minor timetable alterations to Bendigo, Traralgon, Seymour, long-distance and V/Line coach services.

Shepparton timetable (from 21 June) > http://www.vline.com.au/pdf/timetables/shepparton1.pdf

[pandmaster]

Rumour has it that during a recent meltdown on the Werribee line some Geelong services did go via RRL ...

I asked one of the DERM drivers (who works for V/Line) if this was true. He did not think it was.

[ozbob]

It might have been train positioning ..

[colinw]

Booked on the Saturday VLiner to Shepparton on the 27th June.

Track work up till the 25th of June, so should be interesting day out.

Shepparton railway line --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepparton_railway_line


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Vicrailmap-albury.png

Nice one.  Pity you can't make it all the way to Cobram (which now exists in a sadly trackless state, the level crossings having been bitumened over and the former station yard turned into a shopping centre carpark).

[ozbob]

The Courier (Cobram) --> Cobram residents miss their train

I bet they do ...

Received my VLine tickets in the mail today for Shepparton.  Only took two days.  Reserved seats 1st Class.  Civilised.   

[ozbob]

Wyndham Vale railway station

>> http://www.regionalraillink.vic.gov.au/construction/stations/wyndham-vale

Tarneit  railway station

>> http://www.regionalraillink.vic.gov.au/construction/stations/tarneit

[colinw]

The Courier (Cobram) --> Cobram residents miss their train

I bet they do ...

Received my VLine tickets in the mail today for Shepparton.  Only took two days.  Reserved seats 1st Class.  Civilised.   

Beyind the major centres like Bendigo, which lines in Victoria retain service and which are freight only or disused seems to follow little logic.  I suspect it reflects the politics of the Kennett Government as much as anything.

The line to Cobram is no further gone than the line from Ballarat to Ararat was before its revival.  Most of the track is intact, although level crossings are bitumened over and I believe the points at Strathmerton are gone too.

The economics of the line beyond Shepparton would be little different to the services to Echuca & Swan Hill.  Maybe 15,000 people in the catchment beyond Shepparton including Cobram, Tocumwal, Numurkah, etc.

Whether this justifies upgrading 50km or so of line to passenger standard, and re-opening a further 15km with disused track in place, I do not know.

[ozbob]

I can vaguely recall a trip to Picola when I was a nipper. 

http://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/Tocumwal

This was a branch line from Numurkah

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


Reservation of the closed Picola branch, headed west from the main line

Some interesting pics here >> http://www.westonlangford.com/images/photo/page/1867/

[ozbob]

VR at its finest ..


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noojee_railway_line#/media/File:VR_map_1947_Noojee.jpg

[pandmaster]

It might have been train positioning ..

That is more likely. The bloke was not very chatty so he could have neglected to mention that.

[ozbob]

Geelong <> Melbourne (incl Wyndham Vale & Tarneit) from 21 Jun 2015 --> http://www.vline.com.au/pdf/timetables/geelong1.pdf

[ozbob]

The double decker bus is being trialled on routes 170,180 and 190 I have been advised.

190 - Werribee Station - Wyndham Vale Station via Ballan Rd (from 21 June 2015)
> http://ptv.vic.gov.au/june21timetablechanges/bus-network/wyndham/view/8457

180 - Werribee Station - Tarneit Station via Tarneit Rd (from 21 June 2015)
> http://ptv.vic.gov.au/june21timetablechanges/bus-network/wyndham/view/8462

170 - Werribee Station - Tarneit Station via Werribee Plaza SC (from 21 June 2015)
> http://ptv.vic.gov.au/june21timetablechanges/bus-network/wyndham/view/8452

Will probably head from Tarneit to Werribee station, and then back to Wyndham Vale by bus hoping that I can jag the DD bus during the journeys.

[ozbob]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepparton_railway_station

Shepparton railway station is located on the Tocumwal line in Victoria, Australia. It serves the city of Shepparton opening on 13 January 1880.[1][2] It is the terminus for V/Line services from Melbourne. A 725 metre long crossing loop is located opposite the station.[3]

A number of goods sidings are located between them, used to stable the container freight to Tocumwal, and for shunting now defunct oil train. Further sidings are located to the south, the first serving disused British Imperial Oil Company, Vacuum Oil Coy and C.O.R. Oil Coy depots.[2] To the north were sidings for livestock and a second oil terminal, which was use until 2008 when oil services were discontinued by Pacific National.[2]

The station opened on 13 January 1880 as a temporary terminus of a line from Mangalore on the main North East railway. The line was extended north to Numurkah in 1881, and a branch line to Dookie opened in 1888.[4]

The V/Line passenger service once continued further north to Cobram until withdrawn on 21 August 1993.[5]



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepparton_railway_station#/media/File:Shepparton_station_overview.jpg
Southbound view in July 2008

[ozbob]

Pubs are handy to the station ..  well there you go! 

[ozbob]

The double decker bus is being trialled on routes 170,180 and 190 I have been advised.

190 - Werribee Station - Wyndham Vale Station via Ballan Rd (from 21 June 2015)
> http://ptv.vic.gov.au/june21timetablechanges/bus-network/wyndham/view/8457

180 - Werribee Station - Tarneit Station via Tarneit Rd (from 21 June 2015)
> http://ptv.vic.gov.au/june21timetablechanges/bus-network/wyndham/view/8462

170 - Werribee Station - Tarneit Station via Werribee Plaza SC (from 21 June 2015)
> http://ptv.vic.gov.au/june21timetablechanges/bus-network/wyndham/view/8452

Will probably head from Tarneit to Werribee station, and then back to Wyndham Vale by bus hoping that I can jag the DD bus during the journeys.

I have been advised that it might be the 190 next Friday (26th) so will try that first.

[ozbob]

Looks like the 190 ..

========

Twitter

CDC Victoria ‏@CDCVictoria 7m

@CDCVictoria Double decker first run 7.11am tmrw from @ptv_official WyndV RS Route190 - enjoy!

[ozbob]

Melbourne Train and Tram Map

>> http://railmaps.com.au/melbourn.htm

[ozbob]

Twitter

Wyndham Leader ‏@WyndhamLeader 3h

The new double decker bus at Wyndham Vale station #RRL #wyndhamvale #doubledecker

[ozbob]

Presently at BNE ... salivating about the myki fares ... 

http://ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/metropolitan-myki-fares/

myki money 2 hour fare table

2 hour
   
Zone 1  Zone 2  Zone 1+2
Full Fare    $3.76    $2.60    $3.76
Concession    $1.88    $1.30    $1.88


myki money Daily fare table
Daily
   
Zone 1  Zone 2  Zone 1+2
Full Fare    $7.52    $5.20    $7.52
Concession    $3.76    $2.60    $3.76


myki Daily fare caps
Other ticket / caps
   
Zone 1+2
Weekend Daily Cap    $6.00
Public Holiday Cap    $6.00
Seniors Daily cap*    $3.76

* Seniors Daily cap - Seniors myki cardholders never pay more than $3.76 for unlimited travel in Zones 1 and 2. Seniors also receive free travel on Saturdays and Sundays for trips entirely within one or two consecutive zones (including within Zones 1 and 2) and on regional town bus services.

Early Bird train travel

Touch on and off at train stations on Melbourne's electrified train network before 7am on a weekday and automatically receive the free Early Bird fare

[ozbob]

Photographs R Dow 24th June 2015

[ozbob]

Local bus at Murrumbeena




Murrumbeena - this station will rebuilt and lowered (similar to Springvale)




Oakleigh



Photographs R Dow 25th June 2015

[ozbob]

Monash Uni






Huntingdale



Photographs 25th June 2015

[ozbob]

Off to Geelong today on the VLiners via Tarneit and Wyndham Vale ..

Plan to catch 170 bus Tarneit to Werribee, 190 bus Werribee to Wyndham Vale on the way to Geelong.

Hopefully will jag the DD bus on the 190 ...

[ozbob]

Myki fares... Single page flyer

[ozbob]

Take a look at @Robert_Dow's Tweet: https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/614610060589727744?s=09