Melbourne Trains

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Melbourne train strike averted as Metro and union reach agreement

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Twitter

Nine News Melbourne ‏@9NewsMelb 12h

#BREAKING: Planned train strike ahead of AFL Grand Final cancelled after an agreement between Metro and Union. #9News

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Metro Trains finally agrees on pay deal

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Melbourne Age --> Melbourne's rail commuter crush worsens, even as Metro rips out seats

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Rail Express --> British Railways career inspired Lezala's Metro method

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Twitter

Pat Mitchell ‏@patty_mitchell 24m

Vandals derail a train in Hurstbridge. @3AW693



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Metro Trains ‏@metrotrains 1h

Hurstbridge line suspended between Hurstbridge - Diamond Creek due to an emergency services request. Info: http://www.metrotrains.com.au

[ozbob]

Twitter

3AW Melbourne ‏@3AW693 23m

FIRST ON 3AW: Vandals have started, crashed, derailed a Hurstbridge train, closing the line http://bit.ly/1L8KKEU 

[ozbob]

Twitter

Zoe Daniel ‏@zdaniel 34m

On Hurstbridge line expect delays - vandals derailed a train last night = big mess @abcnewsMelb @BreakfastNews pic.twitter.com/BrVr74KLCP

[ozbob]

Twitter

Nine News Melbourne ‏@9NewsMelb 13m

Vandals have caused three train carriages to derail at the Hurstbridge. #9News

[#Metro]

This is extraordinarily serious! How did thet get access and start the train! Poor security!!

[ozbob]

Twitter

Adam Carey ‏@adamlcarey 1m

Hijacked train did what it was supposed to when it derailed, RTBU's Marc Marotta says

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/melbourne-express-wednesday-november-11-2015-20151110-gkvs25.html ... via @theage

Marc Marotta from the Rail Tram and Bus Union says while getting keys to a train was one thing, getting the rail that connects the train with overhead electricity wires is tricky for those not in the know, but it can be figured out.

But the train did what it was supposed to do in this kind of event to prevent further damage.

The Hurstbridge depot incorporates a "derail block" which is designed to stop out-of-control trains by automatically derailing them.

"The wheel hits it, lifts it, and takes it off the rail. That's automatically put on when the facility is closed. It's put there because in years gone by... We had vandals breaking into trains and undoing handbrakes. Trains would roll away."

Mr Marotta said he'd been told the damage to the train was more extensive than what had been reported.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/melbourne-express-wednesday-november-11-2015-20151110-gkvs25.html

Marc Marotta from the Rail Tram and Bus Union says the union has been complaining about Metro's decision to remove security guards from its rail depots.

"This could have all be averted for the cost of one security guard."

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/melbourne-express-wednesday-november-11-2015-20151110-gkvs25.html

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Train stolen and derailed, 'destroying everything in its path' at Melbourne station

Vandals have broken into a railway station in Melbourne's north-east, started a train and then derailed it, causing extensive damage.

Victoria Police believe the offenders broke into the train at the Hurstbridge Railway Station about 1:50am.

They managed to start the train and drive it forward, before running into carriages, fencing and security boxes.

Spokeswoman for Metro Trains Leah Waymark said a key would have been needed to start the train.

"To be able to move a train in this way, it does require a key, but the rest is really for police to investigate," she said.

"Those keys are not kept in the carriage, they are with our drivers and with key staff, so we're still assessing exactly what's happened here."

Sergeant Mark Chetcuti from Victoria Police said the crash caused about $2 million in damage.

"[It's] not confirmed at this point whether it's forced entry, they've used a rock to force the lever and put the train in motion, causing that to drive for 40-50 metres and basically just destroying everything in its path," he said.

He said the train was stopped by derailment pads.

"As a result of those activating, it caused the train to derail and come to rest against other carriages, causing major damage, major disruption and inconvenience to the public," he said.

"We're talking a large, excessive bill, in excess of probably around $2 million."

A security guard and a cleaner were at the station at the time, but no one was injured.

"There was a cleaner and a night watchman who obviously saw the activities unfold, and just had to move away and put themselves in a safe position, there was not too much they could do," Sergeant Chetcuti said.

"They got onto triple-0 pretty quick and the response was pretty prompt."
Hurstbridge services to be disrupted for days

Police are have urged any witnesses to come forward, and are looking at CCTV.

Services on the Hurstbridge line between Hurstbridge and Diamond Creek have been suspended while the clean up continues.

Ms Waymark said buses were replacing trains on the affected part of the line and major delays could be expected.

"It's going to take us a long time to recover this, we're not sure exactly how long as we're still inspecting the extent of the damage here," she said.

"My read is that it's going to take us days, certainly not two weeks at this stage, but it will take us days, and in the meantime we'll be running a full service for our Metro customers, albeit buses replacing trains between those three stations."

She said a crane would be needed to repair the damage.

"There's quite extensive works, there's damage to the overhead, there's damage to the trains - three of the four cars are fully off the tracks here, so the extent of the damage is quite extreme," she said.

Customers have been advised to check the Metro Trains website or the MetroNotify phone app for the latest information.

[ozbob]

Rail Express --> Vandals derail Metro train at Hurstbridge

[ozbob]

7 News --> Petrol prices hurt Melb train patronage

Cheap petrol has been blamed for Melbourne train patronage staying flat, growing just 0.6 per cent in 2014-15.

Metropolitan trains carried more than 227 million passengers in the past financial year, Public Transport Victoria's annual report shows.

Patronage grew just 0.6 per cent despite the city's strong population growth, as petrol prices hit a six-year low in January.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Metro drops plan to break up Melbourne railway in 17 per cent pay deal before staff

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Melbourne Age --> The confidential deal that secured four Melbourne train stations a spot on Monopoly board

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Melbourne Age --> Flagstaff station to open seven days a week from January 1

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Melbourne Age --> Billions go to train and tram operators with little improvement

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Melbourne Age --> Metro hopes to avert train meltdowns with new monitoring system for hot days

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9 News --> Melb stations to close on Code Red days

Four train stations in one of Victoria's most bushfire-prone areas will shut on Code Red fire days, leaving passengers stranded.

The final four stations on the Belgrave line will be closed when a Code Red is declared to protect the safety of Metro Trains staff.

Community workers say the decision will leave disadvantaged residents who rely on public transport stranded and in danger.

Belgrave is deep in the Dandenong Ranges, one of the most dangerous bushfire zones on Melbourne's outskirts.

"In the event of Code Red, it is not safe for customers or staff to be in the area so services would not operate in that section," Metro spokeswoman Sammie Black told AAP.

"We have assessed that the safest and closest station to change ends and return is Bayswater.

"A shuttle bus service will replace trains from Bayswater to Ferntree Gully, with all stations from Upper Ferntree Gully to Belgrave closed."

No other line will be affected on a Code Red day.

Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service manager Tania Bevan says it's a lose-lose situation for Metro and passengers.

"It's understandable that Metro is looking after their drivers, but I also think there are some people who really could be left stranded," Ms Bevan told AAP.

Ms Bevan said locals needed to know in advance when the stations would be closed - but even then it would be tough for them.

"You're already talking about a lot of disadvantaged people, they can't afford motels, so then they're going to have to look for friends and relatives to put them up," she said.

"They may have pets. It's a huge logistical thing."

Emergency relief worker Peter Pieklo has worked with disadvantaged people in the region for 10 years and said Metro needed to offer solutions.

Code Red fire days are the worst possible conditions for fires, and residents are told to avoid forested areas, and consider leaving home a day early.

A Public Transport Victoria spokesman said it was up to individual operators to determine their own emergency plans.

Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/12/21/15/04/melb-stations-to-close-on-code-red-days#WaPhj6CeJAbDYypJ.99

[#Metro]

I don't get it. It's not safe for metro staff but it is safe for bus driver apparently???

[ozbob]

Bayswater is easy for turnback.  Bus to Ferntree Gully.  End of service. No bus or train from Ferntree Gully - Belgrave if code red.



> http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/warnings-restrictions/about-fire-danger-ratings/

[ozbob]

The line from Upper FG through to Belgrave is at risk from bushfires.  The thing that always worries me when I go there is the large number of residences really in the bush and at risk.  I have seen bushfires in Vic at close range and it is best to be careful.

Trees catch fire rapidly, debris etc. falls on overhead, train stranded ... danger.

[hU0N]

It's interesting (to me) that the primary argument against this is that it leaves Dandenong range residents who have no access to a car stranded on high risk fire days.  Which raises the question, how far out of town should you be able to live without access to your own transit?  And by extension, to what extent should the private car be the primary way of providing mobility to people in ex-urban areas?

[ozbob]

There is usually a warning for code red.  E.g tomorrow will be code red.  Time to get out if you don't have other transport I reckon!

There is usually not that many days with code red.  My experiences with locals in the Dandenongs is that most do have cars or access to them.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Track faults on Melbourne's rail network a safety risk, union claims

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Four train stations on Belgrave line to close on code red fire days

[ozbob]

FYI

>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/q59389vhkhz24v4/No-Job-For-Christmas.pdf?dl=0

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Twitter

3AW Melbourne ‏@3AW693 37s

TJ: "Hopefully you and Metro can work it out." Luba: "And the state government, they should probably get involved as well." #allinbrawl

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3AW Melbourne ‏@3AW693 9m

NOW: @TJch9 asks @Lubag85 if rail staff could strike if sacked staff aren't reinstated. "I'm not sure ... we are having a meeting atm."

[ozbob]

Metro --> Network Changes in the new year

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Melbourne Age --> Action after five Metro Trains workers sacked for walking on tracks

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Melbourne Age --> Union threatens strike action as Metro stands down worker

[ozbob]

Woo hoo, parallel run x2 ! #MetroTrains https://t.co/mq1BPxCVqD

— Dan-yule Bowen (@danielbowen) December 23, 2015

[ozbob]

Spraying the rails during a Melbourne heat wave ..

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Melbourne Age --> 'mind the gap' announcements on loop driving Metro customers loco

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Melbourne Age --> Melbourne weather: Train speeds restricted as Melbourne waits on cool change

[ozbob]

Twitter

Metro Trains ‏@metrotrains 3m

Glen Waverley line: Services have resumed. Check out the new Gardiner Station, there's free coffee & giveaways!



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Twitter

Vicsig ‏@vicsig 2h

Trains have returned to the Glen Waverley line and are stopping at the new Gardiner station.

[verbatim9]

I wonder if Qld Rail are going to offer free coffee (Barista) with the MBRL opening ? Not talking Nescafe or International Roast here!

I like the coloured cladding.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> 1200 people on a train is 50 per cent too many: rail overcrowding rapidly getting worse

[ozbob]

FLASH

A metro train has derailed at Fitzroy or near abouts ..

[ozbob]

Twitter

Nine News Melbourne Verified account ‏@9NewsMelb

A metro train has derailed at Fitzroy North. @SebCostello9 is LIVE at the scene in #9NewsAt6