SRL is a huge project. Here are a few thoughts on what it needs to really be a success.
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Renaming North Melbourne
It’s perhaps a minor thing, but… Back in November 2017 the metro tunnel station names were announced, including a new station called North Melbourne, with the current station to be renamed to West Melbourne. (See update at bottom of article. This plan was cancelled in early 2020.) I don’t have a problem with that. It’s ... [More]
Another comment piece in The Age: Myki fare hikes favour some users, punish others and increasingly encourage driving Yes, fares are jumping by about 4% in January. This is a CPI plus 2.5% (eg 3.9%) rise that was devised by the Coalition in their December 2013 budget update, and delivered by Labor. So a big ... [More]
I’m running a bit behind in my blogging due to general business. Here are some pictures from the brand new shiny West Footscray station a few weeks ago. The platforms seem uncluttered, and there are Passenger Information Displays (PIDs) and a clock, which are becoming the standard now for new stations: There’s a pretty big ... [More]
This seems to cause endless confusion: A figure of 798 (or 133 per carriage) is often incorrectly implied to be the capacity of a Melbourne train. According to Victorian government standards, a six-carriage train is considered “full” if more than 798 passengers are aboard. — Age 17/5/2011: Peak-hour trains still a horror trip But 798 ... [More]
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Metro-style
I was going to rant about how the word “shuttle” is now added to bus services to make them sound more desirable, and that while the Skybus Super Shuttle, the express bus between Southern Cross Station and Melbourne Airport, is a shuttle, most of the others aren’t… including the Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle, the Western ... [More]
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Reference works
I’m in two minds about the kids using Wikipedia as a reference. On the one hand, it’s known to be a generally accurate source of information, with studies showing it can rival the big commercial encyclopaedias such as Britannica. And I love the idea of the information in it being free, helping to spread knowledge ... [More]
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Christmas party season
It’s Christmas party season. But with increasing numbers of parties and bookings, some of them are creeping backwards into November. My major work function was a full month before Christmas. Apart from the usual dinners and so on, the word on the street is that lawn bowling is the new boat cruise. Perhaps the Crackerjack ... [More]
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The morning that went askew
Sneezing attack at home. Which (may have) caused me to forget to pick up my mobile phone. (By the time I realised, it was too late to go back.) Which caused me not to get the SMS advising the train before mine was cancelled. Which meant my train was packed. (Though admittedly not up to ... [More]
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Restaurants past
I’ve moved away from Carnegie, but our old regular Friday night dinner places are worth a thumbs up… Herbs Pizza, corner Koornang and Neerim Roads, Carnegie — These are brilliant pizzas. Seems a little expensive until you find the Two Large Takeaway Pizzas for $19.50, which should leave enough for breakfast or lunch the next ... [More]
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Here is my fruitbowl
In a little-used corner of the kitchen table lies the fruitbowl. Okay, so it’s dominated by bananas most of the time. Post a picture of your fruitbowl… Link in the Trackbacks or comments. As usual, move your mouse over the picture for descriptions of various bits (note Firefox may abbreviate. Apparently you can fix it ... [More]
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The next step in law enforcement
You’ve heard of Robocop… well the next step after that is… Police Dalek! (Courtesy of Isaac’s vivid imagination)