Melbourne Trains

[ozbob]

https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/new-contracts-putting-passengers-first/

New Contracts Putting Passengers First

Minister for Public Transport

3 January 2019

One year on, the Andrews Labor Government's new contracts for Melbourne's train and tram operators are delivering a better overall passenger experience including fewer faults and cancellations.

New data shows passengers are seeing significant benefits, with new measures and reports from mystery shoppers resulting in clearer announcements, less graffiti and cleaner stations.

Since the introduction of the new contracts, greater investment in maintenance has seen train faults on the metropolitan network drop almost 20 per cent, and infrastructure faults reduce by almost 30 per cent.

Tram cancellations, and short running – where trams don't complete their full route – have also seen a 25 per cent decrease. Tram reliability is set to improve further with 85 per cent of the tram fleet to be refurbished and the preventative maintenance program at the new Super Depots at Preston, Malvern and Southbank.

Yarra Trams has seen a 15 per cent drop in complaints compared to a year ago, including a 40 per cent reduction in complaints about passenger information.

Results of the independent Customer Satisfaction Survey conducted for PTV shows metropolitan train and tram satisfaction levels increasing under the new contracts, and trains recording a 22-year high in the November 2018 quarter.

The introduction of passenger experience measures and mystery shoppers into the new contracts is also providing an extra measure against which the performance of operators is being regularly monitored. Since January 2018, a team of 22 mystery shoppers have been conducting around 1,000 surveys on metropolitan trains and stations across the network every quarter, and 1,300 surveys across trams and tram stops.

The passenger experience measures and penalties are in addition to the higher thresholds for punctuality and reliability that operators must meet under the new contracts introduced by the Labor Government.

Quotes attributable to Acting Premier Tim Pallas

"We introduced tougher new contracts that put passengers first and it's great to see that's exactly what they've done."

"We're investing in rolling stock, better training for frontline staff, extra Passenger Information Displays and in cleaner stations and tram stops – that's why we're seeing happier passengers and more reliable services."

Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Melissa Horne

"After just the first year of the new contracts we're already seeing significant improvements across the network."

"Passengers have told us they want to see cleaner trains and stations, more reliable services, more timely and accurate information and less graffiti and that's what these contracts are delivering."

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/metrotrains/status/1011801896619634688

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1084205648995205120

[ozbob]

Some issues in Melbourne this PM Peak.  A train has done a pantograph and is stuck at Carnegie.  Buses operating Caulfield <> Oakleigh.

People are posting pictures of loose wires around Malvern as well. 

Frankston line is congested,  Sandringham the same.   Bit of a mess ..

https://twitter.com/danielbowen/status/1084719154618220544

https://twitter.com/metrotrains/status/1084715458673045504

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Xtrackka/status/1084723828045934593

[ozbob]

It is a bit confusing but possibly two issues.  The train stuck at Carnegie with pantograph problems, and some overhead issues at Malvern.

Metro trains have only confirmed the train stuck at Carnegie.

This is the first day that services have resumed FSS <> Moorabbin, and FSS <> Westall after the closures the last week or so, so it is bit of unfortunate timing to say the least.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/danielbowen/status/1084707844253933568

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1084726713722929152

[ozbob]

Latest theory is that the OHT at Malvern was damaged by the train with the faulty pantograph on the way through, and which is now dead at Carnegie.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Xtrackka/status/1084728788041125888

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/andrew_lund/status/1084984126061522946

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Brand new equipment caused Monday peak-hour train chaos

A brand new piece of equipment proved faulty on its first day of use, causing train chaos that left thousands of commuters stranded for hours in the heat during Monday evening's peak hour.

The new piece of overhead equipment had just been installed near Malvern station on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines during two weeks of upgrade and maintenance works.

Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne apologised for the lengthy delays and ordered a full audit by Public Transport Victoria.

Commuters on the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Frankston lines will get refunds for their journey, while those from Gippsland will receive a refund and a free day of travel.

But commuters who were forced to pay for expensive Uber trips or extra childcare services will not get their money back, despite this being an option after train meltdowns in previous years.

A train is understood to have become entangled in the faulty piece of overhead equipment near Malvern station on Monday afternoon.

But the train travelled another two stations to Carnegie before being stopped.

This damaged the overhead wires between Malvern and Carnegie stations. Photos posted to social media show loose or ripped overhead wires at both stations.

Three trains were stopped on the tracks between Malvern and Caulfield, while another two were evacuated.

The incident also caused delays of more than an hour on the Frankston line, because two tracks that are shared with Frankston trains at Malvern station were rendered unusable.

Crews worked through the night to remove a faulty train blocking the track at Carnegie and the line re-opened between Caulfield and Oakleigh just before 5am on Tuesday.

"I want to apologise unreservedly to all the passengers who got caught up in [the] incident," Ms Horne said.

"The disruption that occurred was completely unacceptable, especially after putting up with two weeks of disruption on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines."

She said Gippsland commuters would receive a day of free travel, because they had put up with more than six weeks of closures on the line due to rail works.

The government's investigation will help determine the cause of the delays and who will foot the bill for the refunds.

Metro Trains is fined up to $700,000 for delays lasting for more than two hours across half the network.

It's not yet clear whether Metro Trains will pay this fine, or whether the construction alliance carrying out the upgrade works including Lendlease, CPB Contractors, WSP Parskons Brickerhoff and Aurecon will foot the bill.

PTV's chief executive Jeroen Weimar said the investigation would seek to ensure that "this kind of issue will never happen again".

"We take this very seriously, it's rare to get this scale of disruption on our network. It's unacceptable and we will be working very closely with the operators to ensure we understand the root cause," Mr Weimar said.

Commuters took to social media to complain about the disruptions, with some saying it took more than three hours to get home in the searing heat.

One Twitter user, Anesh Kurian, said queues to board a bus stretched up to two kilometres.

Another man, Sameer Deshpande, said he had been late to pick up his children from childcare due to the delays and was forced to pay a $150 surcharge and a late fee.

[#Metro]

Do they test the integrity of the work by running a test train underneath?

Would it be worth having some diesel trains spare for situations like this?

[AnonymouslyBad]

https://twitter.com/metrotrains/status/1011801896619634688

I'm not sure what timeframe they're counting, because as of a couple of weeks ago the announcements at Melbourne stations very much say customers! It's actually really, really jarring how much the word is used. Even coming from being used to QR announcements.

Then again, they also have phone tones either side of the announcements which probably gives an idea of how up to date everything is.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsMelb/status/1094858230868598784

[ozbob]

Rail Express --> Melbourne braces for April shutdowns for Metro Tunnel build

Regional and metropolitan rail lines in Victoria will face intermittent shutdowns over a three-week stretch at the start of April, to facilitate Metro Tunnel, level crossing and other construction work.

Dubbed the 'autumn construction blitz' by the Andrews Government, a range of works between April 1 and April 23 will see rolling shutdowns on a number of city and regional lines.

For Metro Trains Melbourne services, the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines, the Frankston line, the Sandringham line, the Glen Waverley line, and the Mernda line will all be shut down for stretches throughout the period.

For regional operator V/Line, services will be limited or shut down on the Gippsland, Geelong and Warrnambool lines.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the inconvenience would be worth it in the long run for commuters.

"Whether it's removing level crossings, getting on with the Metro Tunnel or upgrading regional rail lines – we thank passengers for their patience as we get on with these essential works," he said.

He told the ABC: "It can't be avoided ... if we don't build these projects, we'll have nothing but disruption and chaos into the future."

During the shutdowns, crews will start work on the portal for the South Yarra end of the Metro Tunnel.

On the Warrnambool line, $4.5 million of track, signalling and station upgrades will be completed between Waurn Ponds and Warrnambool.

On the Gippsland line, power, signalling and station upgrades will be undertaken to prepare the line for High Capacity Metro Trains.

On the Geelong line, crews will upgrade a bridge at Little River, install high-voltage signaling at Corio and replace a large section of track at North Geelong.

And prior to the major April shutdown stretch, the Ballarat line will be shut down from Friday, March 22 to Sunday, March 31, so a team of roughly 200 workers can continue on the Maddingley stabling facility, station upgrades at Ballan, Bacchus Marsh and Rockbank, the new Cobblebank station, and the Millbrook passing loop.

[ozbob]

The Age --> Metro Trains reap cash haul despite late and cancelled trains

The global giant behind Metro Trains is celebrating a windfall from Melbourne's rail network, despite the train operator failing to meet performance targets nearly two-thirds of the time.

Metro now gets paid $786 million a year – a 20 per cent increase, or $164 million extra every year, under its current deal with government, compared with its previous contract.

This is despite only 92 per cent of trains arriving on time last year. Trains must arrive more than five minutes late to be categorised as late.

The lucrative contract for MTR Corporation – Metro Trains' Hong Kong parent company – led to the giant listing Melbourne as a key driver of a 14 per cent revenue rise in the first six months of 2018.

MTR runs railways in Hong Kong, Stockholm, London and Beijing and is a major property developer in Hong Kong, highlighting how valuable the deal is to the multinational.

A year ahead of the state election, in late 2017, the Andrews government rolled over Metro Trains' franchise agreement, meaning the $6.2 billion seven-year contract did not go out to tender.

The contract was renewed despite major controversies around station skipping – a practice the new contract cracks down on, while also beefing up the operator's performance targets.

But in the 13 months since the contract was signed, Metro has failed to reach its tougher punctuality and reliability targets in eight of those months.

Under the new contract, Metro's on-time monthly performance target was raised from 88 to 92 per cent and its reliability targety increased from 98 to 98.5 per cent.

However, Metro has been paid $7 million in bonuses and only penalised $993,965 for missing its targets.

The new contract, higher fare revenue and infrastructure projects in Victoria were listed by MTR as key reasons for the company's revenue spike, in addition to Hong Kong property developments.

The company said the revenue rise came from "the increase in franchise payments under the renewed concession, higher fare revenue and project revenue of MTM [Metro Trains Melbourne] in Australia" as well as the Hong Kong business.

Metro was part of several level-crossing removal contracts collectively valued at nearly $3 billion in the past three years, but the rail operator's profits from these deals have been kept secret.

But leaked documents have previously revealed Metro stood to gain a profit of $32.8 million from a contract to remove level crossings between Caulfield and Dandenong.

Since 2017, Metro has signed other lucrative deals, including a $1 billion contract with Bombardier for high-capacity signalling, $18 million in contracts to deliver new trains and $2.7 million for signalling works at East Pakenham Depot.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union secretary Luba Grigorovitch said the huge profits were proof that the railways should be run by the government.

"Privatisation has failed taxpayers and commuters alike. Public transport must be returned to public hands to ensure public interest is front and centre.

"Our public transport is being stripped of critical investment by the greed of private ownership."

A government spokesman said the new contract was significantly tougher, with increased penalties, higher performance targets and more money for maintenance.

"We know there is more to do, but the new contracts give us stronger mechanisms to hold the operator to account for the service they provide passengers."

A Metro spokesman claimed the company "spends 97 per cent of revenue on operating, maintaining and enhancing the network.

"Tougher performance targets mean we are working harder than ever to continually improve services for our passengers."

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsMelbourne/status/1110802930070745088

[ozbob]

The Age --> Train drivers take Metro to court over widespread under-payment

A pay dispute has broken out between Metro Trains and the train drivers union over claims the company has underpaid 900 workers to the tune of more than $1 million in total.

The union is accusing Metro of breaching the Fair Work Act by failing to reimburse drivers who worked on a rostered day off and lodged a statement of claim in the Federal Court on Friday afternoon.

It comes amid revelations that the global giant behind Metro is celebrating a 14 per cent revenue rise from Melbourne's rail network, despite the operator repeatedly failing to meet its performance targets.

Train drivers are eligible for an extra day off once every four weeks.

The long-standing entitlement is designed to give relief to drivers, whose rosters can include night shifts and weekend work.

Drivers who work on their day off are entitled to 12 hours' pay, in addition to their wage for working an eight-hour shift.

But a year-long investigation by the union uncovered that many drivers have not received the extra pay.

The union counted more than $1 million in outstanding pay for about 450 drivers going back as far as 10 years, assistant divisional secretary Jim Chrysostomou said.

On average, the union estimated that most drivers are out of pocket by between $1000 and $2000, some by up to $5000 and one driver by as much as $18,000.

"We conducted an investigation into the under payments and found that it was far more widespread than we initially thought it would be and includes the bulk of drivers," Mr Chrysostomou said.

"If it happened once or twice, we would say it's an error but it's been systemic over the last nine to 10 years."

However, Metro said that a number of employees had chosen to accumulate their day-off entitlements.

A spokesman admitted there was a "payroll error" and the company had reviewed the records of 600 drivers.

Metro has repaid 250 drivers over the past six months, the spokesman said, and believes this is the bulk of the drivers who are out of pocket.

Most drivers affected were owed an average of $1500, with a maximum of $6000 in one case, Metro said.

The total amount the company expects to pay drivers is $700,000.

"As soon as Metro was made aware of this payroll issue, immediate steps were taken to contact the affected employees," the spokesman said.

"The majority of staff have received their entitlements as owed, with payments to be finalised by the end of next week."

Senior associate at Maurice Blackburn, Jenna Vardi, who is representing the union, said the legal limitation on bringing a claim of this nature was six years, making the need to pursue legal action more urgent.

It comes after a 12 months of negotiations between the union and Metro, she said.

"In our view, Metro's actions breach the Fair work Act.Unfortunately it's a situation where legal action is required."

Tensions over pay are set to ramp up this year, as Metro and the union negotiate the enterprise bargaining agreement.

When the agreement was last negotiated in 2015, the union went on strike for the first time in 20 years after discussions broke down with both Metro Trains and Yarra Trams.

[ozbob]

The Age --> Crowd crush at Southern Cross but station revamp faces long delays

Southern Cross Station is nearly at capacity due to exploding passenger growth, prompting the station's owners to call for urgent upgrades.

Long queues snake through the station during peak periods and platforms have become so overcrowded there are warnings commuters' safety could be at risk.

About 280,000 people use Southern Cross each day, according to figures from the station's private operators, which includes commuters using trains, buses and people shopping at retail stores.

By 2031, the operators expect this will grow by an extra 100,000 passengers a day – a projection that matches Victorian government forecasts.

However, a $300 million proposal to overhaul the station pitched to the Victorian government three years ago has stalled.

The Age understands that Civic Nexus, the company with a 30-year lease on the station until 2036, is now in separate discussions with the Andrews government about urgent improvements to the station, potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

If the government refuses to fund the urgent upgrades, the company has a contractual right to lower its key performance indicators, which relate to cleaning and maintenance of the station.

The government is under pressure to find a solution quickly, with airport trains set to run from as early as 2027, which could feed even more trains into Southern Cross.

The number of passengers flocking to Southern Cross is growing faster than any other CityLoop station, according to government figures.

Within 12 years, the station with 16 platforms will be well and truly the busiest in the city, these figures show.

Flinders Street Station will have about 250,000 daily passengers, followed by Melbourne Central, Parliament and Flagstaff, which would have between 80,000 and 100,000 passengers.

The station's chief executive Colin Chanter called for upgrades to the station, which was redeveloped in 2006 and had two new platforms added in 2015.

"It's the busiest public transport hub in Victoria and it's only going to get busier. The time for an upgrade is now," Mr Chanter said.

"The growth pressure ... is leading to increased crowding and waiting times, particularly around the escalators.

"Airport trains are just one factor but not the most significant one; it's just the growth of public transport use and increasing services that have increased pressure."

Under the deal between the government and Southern Cross, the company can rewrite its contract and charge the government more money if the number of passengers rises significantly.

The trigger point for these negotiations is when passengers reach 30,000 people an hour during the peak period. It appears that this number may have been surpassed.

The $300 million company proposal - separate to the upgrade negotiations - includes a wide, elevated footbridge that would provide extra access to platforms, which would also be lengthened.

It also includes $100 million for an overhaul of the bus terminal.

Under the proposal, the company would fund the upgrades in return for a four-year extension on its lease.

The station is also part of a consortium including Metro Trains, Melbourne Airport and IFM Investors, which is behind a separate proposal to build the airport rail link.

Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen warned that crowding on escalators at peak times "has the potential to be dangerous when large numbers of people are on the platform due to delayed trains or long waits after big events".

"Problems are exacerbated when escalators are faulty or out of service for maintenance, resulting in queues."

The Transport Department believes 181,462 people use metropolitan and V/Line trains at Southern Cross Station on an average weekday.

The department's data is based on myki touch-ons, passenger load surveys and manual counts, whereas the station's figures are based on sensors at each entrance counting entries and exits.

A department spokesman said the organisation was looking at new ways to improve its patronage data.

A government spokeswoman said the Metro Tunnel and the airport rail would "fundamentally change the way Victorians travel into and around the city – and we'll continue to work with all stakeholders as we manage demand".

The spokeswoman said the government does not comment on market-led proposals.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/danielbowen/status/1123705672372191243

[verbatim9]

Updated 2030 Melbourne Train Map---------->

https://www.melbourne.vic.gov..../15289/AGENDA%20ITEM%206.4.pdf

[timh]

Updated 2030 Melbourne Train Map---------->

https://www.melbourne.vic.gov..../15289/AGENDA%20ITEM%206.4.pdf

I love a good future network map!!! 

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Push for tougher penalties after train workers attacked in record numbers

Train workers are being ­attacked by irate passengers in record numbers, including being spat on, punched and even threatened at knifepoint.

The problem has become so bad the head of the rail union will tomorrow write to the ­Attorney-General demanding laws like those which protect emergency workers.

It's believed packed trains, unreliable services and disruptions because of major ­construction works are driving the spike in attacks.

Figures provided to the ­Sunday Herald Sun show more than 880 V/Line and Metro Trains drivers, station staff and ticket inspectors were physically or verbally assaulted last year. Already this year there have been more than 250 ­recorded attacks.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union state secretary Luba Grigorovitch, who wants mandatory sentencing laws for thugs who bash emergency personnel extended to transport workers, said the attacks were all too frequent.

It's understood the rail ­operators are supportive of tougher laws to protect staff.

"One worker — a mother, a father, a brother or sister — being assaulted at their workplace is not OK,'' Ms Grigorovitch said. "More needs to be done to protect these frontline workers."

Assaults against V/Line workers have quadrupled since 2015, and now happen at least once a day.

Attacks on Metro staff have risen year on year.

In the past year, an authorised officer was headbutted when asking for valid tickets, station staff were bashed by passengers forcing their way on to platforms, and a worker narrowly dodged being stabbed in an unprovoked knife attack.

Public Transport Victoria has launched a campaign urging commuters to lay off rail staff. "No one should have to experience abuse, threats or aggressive behaviour while trying to do their job,'' a spokesman said.

"Thankfully the vast majority of passengers are respectful towards our staff."

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Trains, trams every 10 minutes on every line to cost just $200m a year

Melbourne could have trains and trams running at least every 10 minutes on every line seven days a week for a fraction of the cost of the North East Link.

Transport at that frequency would cost $2.1 billion over a decade, one eighth of the price to build Andrews government's signature toll road project.

The independent analysis by the Parliamentary Budget Office has been released just three weeks ahead of the state budget.

Ahead of the 2018 state election the Greens promised to run 10-minute train and tram services from 6am to 9pm, seven days a week, a policy not matched by the Andrews government or the opposition.

An annual estimate of $214 million includes the cost of more drivers and maintenance staff, comprising $173 million for trains and $41 million for trams annually.

The cost is dwarfed by the Andrews government's key transport projects including the North East Link ($15.8 billion), the Metro Tunnel ($11 billion) and the removal of 25 level crossings by 2025 ($6.6 billion).

The policy would double the frequency of many of Melbourne's train services, with seven lines in the north and west running every 20 minutes outside of peak periods, including the Werribee, Craigieburn, Sunbury and Mernda lines.

Train lines run about every 20 minutes on the weekends, except for the Belgrave/Lilydale, Frankston and Cranbourne/Pakenham lines, which run every 10 minutes.

Trams run about every 10 to 12 minutes outside of the peak and every 12 to 15 minutes on weekends, though they are less frequent at night and early on Sundays.

Greens transport spokesman Sam Hibbins said such an upgrade would transform the way Melburnians use public transport, but the government remained "incredibly reluctant to do it".

"The costings show the Greens policy to increase train and tram services is affordable and achievable," he said.

"For just a fraction of the cost of one of Labor's multi-billion dollar mega tollways, commuters would be able to throw away the timetable for 'turn up and go' frequent train or tram services across Melbourne."

Commuter Alienor Renaux travels on the Mernda line and was enthusiastic about the policy, saying the train "doesn't come very often" when she catches it at midday.

"It has gotten me late to work a fair few times, that's for sure," she said.

The Public Transport Users Association ramped up calls for 10-minute frequencies in the lead-up to the state election, with the Rail Futures Institute, Planning Institute of Australia and Engineers Australia also rallying for the move.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union supports the policy, but believes newer, more reliable trains and trams would be needed, on top of more staff. But the budget office found current stock would be sufficient and it did not account for new purchases in its calculations.

The 10-minute frequencies could not be run on sections of the Upfield and Hurstbridge lines and the Altona loop until more tracks are built.

PTUA spokesman Daniel Bowen said the upgrade was "precisely what is needed for a high-quality public transport network".

Too many commuters were enduring long waits and overcrowded trains, especially where services run every 20 to 30 minutes.

"If they ran the freeway network the way they run the trains, they'd be shutting down half the road lanes outside of peak hour. It doesn't make sense to run the train network like that," Mr Bowen said.

"The state government is doing great on transport infrastructure, but they absolutely need to upgrade services."

A government spokeswoman said 10-minute or better tram services are already being run on most routes and new trains, trams and the $11 billion Metro Tunnel would deliver major benefits to the network.

"We're building the Metro Tunnel and investing in more trains, trams and buses, in order to deliver the turn up and go services Victorians deserve."

Victoria's shadow public transport minister David Davis said the Coalition supports a "full turn up and go" public transport network, but stopped short of committing to 10-minute services.

The Coalition briefly promised this in early 2017, but went quiet on the pledge closer to the election.

[SurfRail]

I don't believe that costing for a second sorry.  It's a laudable goal but it also conveniently ignores the capital outlay needed to facilitate that added spend each year.

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Metro Trains and Yarra Trams fall short of monthly punctuality targets for April

Melbourne's train and tram operators have failed their punctuality targets for the third consecutive month, but irate passengers will not be able to claim compensation.

It comes after a horror month in March meant that regular commuters were able to apply for a free fare with Public Transport Victoria.

Yarra Trams and Metro Trains both narrowly fell short of their targets in April after 68,494 tram trips and 4742 train services did not arrive on time.

PTV chief executive Jeroen Weimar said operators had improved their performance despite a massive shutdown along lines in the southeast for upgrade work.

"The April blitz got on with the job of building the Metro Tunnel, getting ready for the new fleet of bigger and better trains and removing level crossings," he said.

"Despite these works disrupting nine metropolitan train lines, our operators were able to improve their performance compared to the previous month."

A level crossing accident on the Sandringham line that sparked peak hour chaos last month had a major impact on Metro's results.

"We know Metro's performance in April was below what our passengers expect, however the improvement when compared to March is a step in the right direction," Mr Weimar said.

"We understand that it's frustrating when trams don't run on time, however Yarra Trams was still able to deliver a strong service while catering for increased demand during a very busy month."

V/Line services recorded some improvements across the entire network and punctuality on the Geelong line rose to 92.1 per cent.

Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen said authorities needed to be more ambitious about meeting and exceeding the targets set in new contracts.

"We're below the government targets but above the compensation threshold," he said.

"I don't think the targets are too high ... There are obvious things they can do to improve punctuality such as road priority for trams.

"They state government and operators really should be working together.

"If they continue to miss these targets they're going to need to get serious about overcoming delays and cancellations."

[AnonymouslyBad]

Updated 2030 Melbourne Train Map---------->

https://www.melbourne.vic.gov..../15289/AGENDA%20ITEM%206.4.pdf

Did they accidentally make a 2050 map? 

[#Metro]

Is that rail to Avalon Shed Airport?

Gives the game away, hey?

[verbatim9]

Is that rail to Avalon Shed Airport?

Gives the game away, hey?

^^Yep rail rail everywhere! Let's just give billions to Victoria to invest in Melbourne trains.  I think that current metro project, Geelong electrfication, rail duplication works with minor extensions and the Airport line is more than enough. There are other priority rail projects here in Qld and other Stares that require funds as well.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsMelb/status/1131472169110663169

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Winter shutdowns to hit key train lines in Melbourne's southeast

There's bad news for commuters on three train lines in Melbourne's southeast — it could be a painful trip to and from the city during a winter construction blitz.

Commuters in Melbourne's southeast are in for more transport pain when a week-long winter shutdown hits three key rail lines.

From July 6 to 14, buses will replace trains between Flinders Street and Caulfield stations on the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Frankston lines.

The winter construction blitz has been timed to coincide with school holidays, with replacement services also extended out to Westall and Moorabbin over July 13 and 14.

It comes after weeks of major shutdowns over autumn to prepare Melbourne's rail network for the Metro Tunnel.

Residents have at times faced nightmare commutes as their lines were shut down for one of the biggest maintenance and constructionprograms in the city's history.

Signalling and tracks have been improved to allow for high-capacity trains and a mammoth portal has been built to serve asthe eastern entrance for the Metro Tunnel.

Premier Daniel Andrews said it the government would continue to build on its momentum to deliver major projects across the city.

"Crews are working around the clock to put these massive machines together, which will dig the Metro Tunnel, untangle the city loop and deliver more trains across Melbourne," he said.

We're making significant progress. In fact, a number of these projects are in fact ahead of schedule.

"Ultimately, if we don't have some construction related congestion and disruption now, we'll have nothing but disruption and congestion into the future.

"People now understand that without that disruption, we'll never get the project built and we'll never get that turn-up-and-gotransport system."

The Premier made the announcement while touring the site of the new North Melbourne station in Arden.

The first major piece of a mammoth tunnel-boring machine has been assembled in the area and digging is expected to start by the end of the year, once more pieces are lowered into the ground.

Ms Allan said work was also ramping up on level-crossing removals at Carrum and Mernda.

"Soon these massive tunnel-boring machines will be digging underneath our city to run more trains more often," she said.

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Staff block entrances, issue fines as Metro targets rail commuters trying to force open doors

Train commuters face a major crackdown, with Metro staff to block entrances and issue $400 fines to stop passengers trying to force open train doors.

Rail staff are blocking train doors to stop tardy passengers delaying services and risking their own safety.

And warning stickers are being plastered on the doors of 72 Siemens trains to deter commuters from forcing them open as culprits face a $400 fine.

Metro says positioning rail staff at train doors to prevent late boarders trying to force them open is being credited with a reduction in the number of incidents in recent months.

Chief operating officer Catherine Baxter told the Sunday Herald Sun: "People who force open train doors aren't just putting themselves at risk of serious injury or worse — they're also delaying other passengers.

"Our message is simple — never try to force open the doors of a departing train. There will always be another one.

"Metro continues to trial new initiatives to improve train performance, and discourage people from rushing for train doors."

Between January and May there were 23 passenger boarding incidents involving doors or the gap between rail station platforms and trains.

There were 33 incidents over the same period last year.

Mitchell Callaghan, 18, died when he fell between a moving train and a platform at Heyington in 2014. A court heard his friends were holding open the train doors.

Commuters stopping doors from closing are also causing significant delays.

Rail authorities say the lost seconds accumulate into minutes down the line as the behaviour is repeated.

Metro has introduced additional platform and station announcements to prevent latecomers trying to force open train doors.

It has also introduced markings on platforms to show passengers where to stand while waiting to get on services and is trialing a "Burn Line" on information displays at City Loop stations that count down to when a train is boarding or about to depart.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Next-generation $5 billion trains running months late as delays set in

The first of Melbourne's new $5.2 billion fleet of next-generation trains is more than six months behind schedule as teething problems plague the massive public-private project.

In 2016 the government signed a contract with a consortium of local firms and international manufacturers to make the shells of the trains in China and then assemble the vehicles in Victoria.

The consortium will get payments averaging $150 million a year until 2053, in return for the supply and maintenance of 65 new trains over three and a half decades.

The consortium, led by public-private partnership specialist Plenary, will see train car bodies manufactured by China's CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles, one of the world's biggest train manufacturers, and assembled by engineering and services company Downer EDI.

The consortium, Evolution Rail, was contracted in November 2016 to put the first of the high-capacity trains into service on Melbourne's rail network by March 29.

But that first train is still a month off even being tested for the first time on Melbourne's railways. It must complete 10,000 kilometres of fault-free running before it can carry passengers.

Problems identified during assembly of the first train have included issues with its traction motor, electrics, and undercarriage. The train has only been tested so far on a purpose-built facility in Pakenham East.

In all, five sets of trains have now been assembled and a sixth was being put together in yards next to North Williamstown railway station this week.

Seven carriages wrapped in white plastic sit in the yards next to the railway station awaiting assembly after arriving from China.

All bear their shipping receipts stating they have been transported from CRRC's manufacturing centre, which is in the Chinese province of Jilin, 1000 kilometres north-east of Beijing.

The carriages, which weigh at least 21 tonnes each, are fitted out and wired in Downer's Newport rail yard before transfer to Pakenham East for commissioning into service.

One source close to the project said the issue with the first trains was not so much the relatively minor problems encountered during fitout, but with problems revealed during testing in Pakenham East.

It is not known what the issues were revealed at this stage.

Another said the first testing on a live rail environment on Melbourne's rail network was scheduled to start in July, although even this was uncertain.

The new trains are a dedicated fleet to run only on the Cranbourne and Pakenham train lines, and will be the only trains allowed to run through the new Metro Tunnel rail project when it opens in 2026.

They are capable of carrying up to 1100 passengers across a seven-car set – 20 per cent more people than the largest train now on the network.

They are the first to be brought to Melbourne under a 35-year public-private partnership. It requires 60 per cent of the trains to be made locally.

The deal to provide the trains was led locally by Plenary, although the majority of the shares in the consortium are owned by a firm called Partners Group registered on the island of Guernsey.

Plenary is a regular donor to the Labor Party, giving more than $200,000 nationally in the last five years. The consortium beat two other bidders, which had manufacturers Alstom and Bombardier as part of their proposal to government.

The contract for the new trains was signed by then Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan. A government spokeswoman said on Friday that there were now three of the trains undergoing safety and performance testing in Pakenham East.

"The trains will move onto the metropolitan network shortly to be tested overnight in real world conditions," she said.

The Opposition attacked Labor over the late delivery of the trains, saying it was likely they would also fall short on the local content promised.

"They are going to force more of the work on these trains back to China," the Opposition's transport infrastructure spokesman David Davis said.

The Coalition this week succeeded in moving an Upper House motion condemning the government over its fail to deliver as much Australian-made steel on the West Gate Tunnel toll road project as had been originally promised.

Channel Nine first revealed last month that the trains were running late.

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Melbourne Age --> It's every parent's nightmare, and it's more likely to happen on a Melbourne train

It's a nightmare moment: being separated from your child on a city train network. And it's more likely to happen to you in Melbourne than in any other Australian capital city.

Metro Trains' safety boss Anthony Fewster revealed last month that parent-child separations were alarmingly common, occurring on the rail network about once a fortnight.

But figures obtained by The Age show Melbourne's figure is higher than in other states. On the Sydney metro system parents and children were separated just three times this financial year.

In most other states, rail authorities say separations occur relatively rarely.

Only Brisbane reports a figure closer to Melbourne's, with an average of one separation every 5½ weeks.

In Perth, there is about one separation every three months and Adelaide has had just three in the past two years.

The Melbourne data came to light after a mother was separated from her baby while she was attempting to board a peak-hour train as the doors closed at Southern Cross Station in May.

The woman got her baby and pram on board but was left stranded on the platform while her child continued to Flagstaff. They were reunited four minutes later.

Metro says its fortnightly rate includes separations within the stations, not just on trains, but other parents have since come forward to detail their own frightening experiences on Melbourne's rail network.

Seddon mother Carrie McCluskey was at Melbourne Central in December when she became trapped in a train's doors.

Her mother, four-year-old daughter, sister-in-law and baby had boarded the train first. Ms McCuskey was following with her 18-month-old in a pram when the doors closed on her. She was freed by other commuters and forced her way onto the train.

Ms McCluskey said while she wasn't separated from her children or seriously injured, she was left shocked by the incident. She had bruising to her elbow and upper arm.

"I was not badly injured but very shaken," she said.

"Metro did an investigation and according to CCTV they saw it happen, the doors shut on me. I was boarding in the disabled section and still the train driver did not see me and closed the doors on me.

"If I didn't have those people's help to force open the doors, who knows what could have happened?"

In a report seen by The Age, Metro told Ms McCluskey that CCTV showed the area between the yellow line and the train was not clear as the driver shut the doors.

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Herald Sun --> New operators could take to rails for airport link and suburban loop

A dramatic shake-up could see fresh operators run Melbourne's new rail services, including the ambitious suburban rail loop and Melbourne Airport link. So what does this mean for Metro?

New operators could be brought in to run trains in Melbourne.

The newcomers could operate services to Melbourne Airport and on the ambitious suburban rail loop.

It would signal a significant switch from existing arrangements which give Metro Trains free rein on the metropolitan rail network.

As many as three operators could eventually run trains across the city.

Rail planners are being brought in to work out how Melbourne's rail system will run as major projects are completed.

Tender documents show a key objective will be to "assess whether there is merit for the introduction of new operators" to the Victorian rail network for Melbourne Airport Rail and the suburban rail loop.

They would also assess the "pros and cons and issues associated with the introduction of new operators" for the new lines or keeping the same operator with revised performance goals.

State Government spokeswoman Hayley Bester said: "Rail Projects Victoria is seeking expert advice on how to integrate these massive new projects into the existing rail network."

"These city shaping projects will change our public transport system forever — it's vital all options are on the table regarding how the network is run in the long term,'' she said.

Metro Trains was in 2017 awarded a seven-year extension to run Melbourne's rail service.

Metro Trains Australia — which is also owned by Hong Kong's MTR — is part of a consortium which wants to build and operate the airport rail link.

"Under this proposal, Metro Trains Australia would operate and maintain the new line,''

Metro Trains Australia chief executive officer Leah Waymark said.

"Metro Trains Australia has interest in operating Suburban Rail Loop trains and would seek to support government by participating in any process.

"The existing Metro Trains Melbourne Franchise Contract has no relationship with the Melbourne Airport Rail Link Proposal."

Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen said separate operators had run trains in Melbourne before, tracing to Bayside and Hillside trains in the late 1990s.

"We have been down this path before,'' Mr Bowen said.

"The key would be that if there are different operators that there's a good level of integration between the different rail lines and across the public transport network.

"We wouldn't want to see separate fares or ticking or anything like that which for a little while was the case with Hillside and Bayside trains."

A Metro spokesman said its priority was improving services for the 250 million passengers who relied on its trains each year.

Documents show the appointed rail planning team — whose leader must have at least 25 years' experience in rail operations — will also help identify ways to unlock capacity in existing lines as new projects are finished.

Construction on the airport rail link and suburban rail loop, to connect every major railway line form Frankston to Werribee, will begin in 2022.

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There's already another operator - v line

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There's already another operator - v line

Now now, V Line aren't counted as Melbourne
Ah Victoria, where the electricity supply is so polluting it's the clean and green option to run diesel-drinkers through the suburbs.
Also works for Metro, they get to rake it in from their dodgy suburban service while leaving V Line with the costs of the fringes.
Nice trains though.