New Metro Melbourne timetables for May 8

[ozbob]

http://destinationbetter.metrotrains.com.au/

Metro Melbourne timetables to be implemented on May 8.

[ozbob]

TransLink should note ..

[#Metro]

Isn't it odd that QR does line by line, whereas Metro just does the entire network all at once???

[#Metro]

http://destinationbetter.metrotrains.com.au/timetables/frankston.pdf

'Metro-style' rail services- TRAINS EVERY 10 MINUTES ON THE FRANKSTON LINE!!!

And we are going to wait until 2031 to get 15 minute frequency. Are you serious!

(Still 20 minutes on the weekends)

[ClintonL94]

Isn't it odd that QR does line by line, whereas Metro just does the entire network all at once???

If you remember back in Feb 2009 every line was implemented. They're doing the most popular lines first with the drivers they have. June/July when those trainee drivers are fully qualified then the other lines can be done.

[#Metro]

I see, thanks for this insight...

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Altona commuters slam delays from Metro timetable changes

Altona commuters slam delays from Metro timetable changes

    * Ashley Gardiner
    * From: Herald Sun
    * March 29, 2011 12:00AM

ALTONA commuters are outraged by the new Metro timetable that will more than double the time taken to make some trips.

A ride from Altona to Hoppers Crossing that now took 13 minutes would take 31 minutes under the changes to come into effect from May 8, Greens MP Colleen Hartland said.

Those travelling into the city during the day would have to get off at Newport and wait seven minutes for a connecting train.

"The community isn't going to take this lying down.  This is the first government announcement on trains and it's bad," Ms Hartland said.

"The service wasn't great to start with, but this will make it much, much worse."

Ms Hartland has organised a protest against the changes at Altona station this morning.

Metro spokeswoman Geraldine Mitchell said the changes would advantage Werribee passengers, with shorter journeys.

From Newport station onwards, there would be a service every 10 minutes during the day.

[ozbob]

From the Hobsons Bay Weekly click here!

Community anger over train changes

Community anger over train changes
BY TARA MURRAY
30 Mar, 2011 12:26 PM

COMMUNITY anger about train timetable changes in Altona has boiled over following a second community meeting last night.

Hosted by Western Metropolitan Greens MLC Colleen Hartland, more than 500 people attended the meeting to hear Metro Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Lezala and Department of Transport's Hugh Millchip explain the changes.

Despite Mr Lezala and Mr Millchip's explanations many residents left feeling angered.

''Why don't you address our problems and focus on Altona,'' said one resident.

''Your wasting our time we don't need to hear this,'' said another.

''How do you justify telling us our service has improved when we've gone from a 20 min service to a 22 min service,'' a third said.

Mr Lezala said a new timetable was needed as the old one had not been redesigned since 1996.

''We have a target of 88 per cent of trains on time, which isn't being reached on a lot of lines and we know a lot of the troubles are timetable related,'' he said.

''All that has happened since 1996 is trains have been squeezed in between other trains and it doesn't work now.''

Werribee was the third worst line with less than 80 per cent of trains on time in 2010.

Mr Lezala said it wasn't possible to run trains more frequently through the Altona loop.

''What we have to do is work around the infrastructure we've got and at the moment we have a single line section on the Altona loop, which prevents us from running a 10 minute service.

''If we could we probably would, but at the moment we don't have the infrastructure to do it, so a 20 minute service is the best we can run on the track.''

Mr Lezala said there was no plans to duplicate the Altona line

''When we get extra money, it will be put where the highest priority single tracks are, from Dandenong through to Cranbourne and Hurstbridge line.

''They both present major obstacles and we are looking at those first I'm afraid. Hopefully Altona will come after that.''

Mr Millchip said demand for trains in Werribee and Williamstown had resulted in some of the changes to the Altona Loop.

''The Greenfield timetable is a major rewrite of the timetable, creating a cross city group- with Frankston, Werribee and Sandringham.

''Creating this group means a total rewrite of the Werribee timetable.

''We need to cater for a high demand growth area, which is high in the Werribee area, so it needs to be considered.

''Williamstown has stronger demand than the Altona loop, with only one per cent of the patronage on Altona line, so demand and pressures mean trains are going elsewhere elsewhere.''

The Altona Loop community group will meet on April 7, to decide what action to take next.

[#Metro]

Single track on the altona line!

[Stillwater]

And they don't have freight and inter-regional trains to contend with, as is the case on the Sunshine Coast Line.  I witnessed the 'dance of the trains' today at 1.06pm as two tilt trains stood stationary north of Cooroy while the worked out which should shuffle around which through Cooroy station ahead of the Cooroylander heading north.  One of the tilts would have had to pass the Cooroylander around about Eumundi.

[BrizCommuter]

http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/2011/03/melbourne-leaves-brisbane-in-its-shadow.html
Time to move cities?