Regional Rail Link - articles discussion etc.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Regional Rail Link ‏@rrlproject

June/July major works are complete. Bendigo and Ballarat line trains are now using the new Regional Rail Link tracks http://www.regionalraillink.vic.gov.au/news/june2014

[ozbob]

Twitter

Marcus Wong ‏@aussiewongm

Footscray this morning - V/Line's oldest trains on their newest tracks

[ozbob]

Twitter

Marcus Wong ‏@aussiewongm

More Regional Rail Link action at Footscray station this morning #vline #MetroTrains

[ozbob]

Twitter

Regional Rail Link ‏@rrlproject 23m

All @vline_ballarat & @vline_bendigo trains now use the new platforms 3&4 at Footscray. Pls follow directional signs

[ozbob]

Twitter

Daniel Bowen ‏@danielbowen

Blog: New look around Regional Rail Link. Lots of pics, including new Wyndham Vale station. http://www.danielbowen.com/2014/07/27/rrl-tour-part-2/ ...

[Stillwater]

Will you look at that!  A government that actually plans for the future and builds additional capacity into its rail infrastructure.  Compare with Queensland and its attitude of 'make do for today -- worry about tomorrow when it comes'.

[#Metro]

Queensland did increase capacity - in the form of busways.

The high inefficiency of QR (due to lack of ATP/DOO) plus the lack of buses feeding into the network no doubt contributed to this as well.

[ozbob]

PTUA tours Regional Rail Link

--> http://www.ptua.org.au/2014/08/04/ptua-tours-rrl/

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> First major Melbourne rail line in 80 years still six months off

[ozbob]

Waking up in Geelong (blog) --> Regional Rail Link platforms and North Melbourne

[ozbob]

Daniel Bowen blog --> Victoria's first 21st century rail megaproject: benefits from Regional Rail Link

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Andrews government delays Regional Rail Link opening by two months

[colinw]

So, when this opens, the broad gauge lines between Werribee and West Werribee become effectively disused bar the odd BG freight train?

That will make for a long backtrack for anyone on the Werribee & Altona Loop lines who want to go to Geelong rather than Melbourne.  I hope decent bus services across to Wyndham Vale are being provided.

I am a little surprised that the Werribee line isn't being extended to an interchange station where the RRL rejoins the main line.

[Gazza]

The extension of the Werribee line south to an interchange is in the network development plan but in the interim buses are being provided.

With Geelong getting trains every 20 mins it seems like it would surely be economic in the near future to electrify the whole line to Geelong too.

[ozbob]

[colinw]

And so the sledging continues, but with the boot now on the other foot.

No wonder people are so tempted to vote for loons like Palmer and the KAP.

[ozbob]

^ LOL

I have noted that so far the new regime in QLD has not included the former Govt's mantra (it's Labor fault!) in any media statements so far ..

[Stillwater]

^ Nor should they, if they wish to distinguish themselves from the other crowd!  If you wish to be seen as a responsible government, you take responsibility - and draw a contrast that way.  A glance at Mr Emerson's contribution to literature (his media statements) reveal a man whose mind never changed gear from Opposition mode!  Having said that, Labor should not resurrect its mantra -- delivering a world clarse PT network -- unless it absolutely means it.

[pandmaster]

I am a little surprised that the Werribee line isn't being extended to an interchange station where the RRL rejoins the main line.

I agree. People commuting between stations along the Werribee and Geelong lines (and vice-versa) now have an ugly commute. I hope there is a reasonable connecting bus service.

With Geelong getting trains every 20 mins it seems like it would surely be economic in the near future to electrify the whole line to Geelong too.

I have no idea why the line to Geelong has not been electrified already. Was RRL built with electrification in mind? They could have at least left holes for masts to go in. With the Victorian government ordering more DMUs recently, perhaps now is the time? Once the current order is filled they can order electric sets and that would free up diesels for other lines.

Will you look at that!  A government that actually plans for the future and builds additional capacity into its rail infrastructure.  Compare with Queensland and its attitude of 'make do for today -- worry about tomorrow when it comes'.

They mostly planned for the future. Unfortunately they left a pinch point that could cause issues and will have to be removed to allow electrification to Melton. http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/cutbacks-compromise-5b-regional-rail-link-20140330-35rx6.html

[SurfRail]

^ As I understand it, under one proposal the Geelong and RRL lines would have been electrified and trains extended from Southern Cross to South Yarra, with Werribee trains extended to Wyndham Vale.  No idea if any of this still forms part of the current plans.

[pandmaster]

^ I read that there is space provided at Wyndham Vale for extra platforms for a suburban service, be it diesel or electric and towards Sunshine and/or Werribee. Unless extra tracks are built for suburbans will not that defeat the purpose of RRL separating metro and regional trains? Little River to Werribee takes 12 minutes at present and is about 18km. Unless the entire Geelong line is electrified, it may be more cost efficient to build new tracks to Wyndham Vale than building an interchange station at the Werribee West junction and extending electrification. It would also depend on what growth is like in those two areas.

Hopefully once Melbourne Metro is complete or underway the government look at it seriously.

[ozbob]

>> http://www.regionalraillink.vic.gov.au/home

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Mind the gap: key connection missing from Regional Rail Link

[pandmaster]

Further proof of how twisted the Napthine government was. $450 million in savings were made. That could have kept the RRL crews employed for a while longer on a Wyndham Vale to Werribee link and/or the grade separation at Sunshine.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Melbourne's first double-decker bus ready to rumble when Regional Rail Link opens

[SurfRail]

The only reason its in Victoria is because it was originally built for CDC in Sydney (Hillsbus) and RMS wouldn't approve it!

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/the-hills/weight-restrictions-keep-double-decker-bus-off-the-road-in-the-hills/story-fngr8i1f-1227285063505

[ozbob]

PTV --> https://ptv.vic.gov.au/june21timetablechanges/

From 21 June, new timetables and extra services will give you more choice.

On Sunday, 21 June 2015 changes will be introduced to the public transport network for the Geelong, Wyndham and Ballarat regions. These network changes are an important step towards delivering better train and bus services for customers.

These exciting network changes are part of the $3.65 billion Regional Rail Link project that will see Geelong trains operate for the first time on dedicated tracks from West Werribee Junction to Southern Cross Station. Two new V/Line stations at Wyndham Vale and Tarneit will open to meet the growing needs of this expanding area.

Following extensive community consultation we have re-designed bus networks in Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and Wyndham to better connect with trains and provide more frequent services to get you to your destination.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Vic Government News ‏@VicGovtNews 1h

Labor's Regional Rail Link Project Honoured Again - http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/labors-regional-rail-link-project-honoured-again ... #springst

[ozbob]

Twitter

PTUA ‏@ptua

Ch7 video: Regional Rail Link set to open, bringing extra services to Geelong and #MelbsWest. https://au.news.yahoo.com/vic/video/watch/28289322/just-the-ticket-for-victorias-public-transport-problem/ ...

[ozbob]

Daniel Bowen --> Regional Rail Link – details and timetables at last

[ozbob]

From 21 June, Regional Rail Link arrives

[pandmaster]

Daniel Bowen --> Regional Rail Link – details and timetables at last

One detail some may miss in the new timetables: urban fringe stations Sunbury and Pakenham are now marked as "d" (set down only) for inbound trains, and "u" (pick up only) for outbound trains. This means local residents will no longer be able to use V/Line trains to and from the city.

I once caught a V/Line from Pakenham to the city. The departure boards indicate that it is "Set down only" despite that not being the case. Lots of people on the platform were waiting for a Metro train to take them towards the city and I was the only person to get on the V/Line train. Since the practice seems to have been discouraged this is no real loss.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Regional Rail Link ‏@rrlproject

Tarneit station open day next Saturday 13 June, 10am to Midday. Details here http://ptv.vic.gov.au/june21timetablechanges/tarneit-station-open-day/ ...

[ozbob]

Wyndham Vale open day 20 Jun --> http://ptv.vic.gov.au/june21timetablechanges/wyndham-vale-station-open-day/

[ozbob]

Twitter

V/Line ‏@VLine 53m

The @CDCVictoria Super Bus is at Tarneit! Access via Leakes/Derrimut Rd or via shuttle bus from Werribee Station.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Vicsig ‏@vicsig 13m

Tarneit station open day with a VLocity on display.

[ozbob]

Twitter

CDC Victoria ‏@CDCVictoria 1h

Our new Double Decker on show at Tarneit RS today

[ozbob]

Tarneit open day. pic.twitter.com/COrSqrLijh

— melbourneway (@MelbourneWay) June 13, 2015

[verbatim9]

Nice station, be better once the line is electrified to Ballarat and Geelong. The  double decker commuter bus would be better served with an articulated bus with all 3 door boarding.

[pandmaster]

Tarneit open day. pic.twitter.com/COrSqrLijh

— melbourneway (@MelbourneWay) June 13, 2015

Some of the replies make a very good point: it was difficult/impossible to get there by PT today as it is before the new timetable.