Categories
Far North Queensland 2024

History, old and new

We were holed up in our accommodation on Thursday Island. No sleep-in for us; we received a delivery of locally produced “breakfast boxes” at 7am. This was actually a great start to the day, a great mix of yummy stuff to eat for breakfast or save for later, and an hour later we were boarding  ... [More]

Categories
Far North Queensland 2024

That’s not north! This is north.

A homecoming of sorts

Categories
Far North Queensland 2024

Bananas and sugar cane

Chasing family history in Innisfail

Categories
Far North Queensland 2024

Above the treetops

It’s skyrail, but not as you know it

Categories
Far North Queensland 2024

Flight 702 to Cairns

Escaping winter to the warmth of Far North Queensland

Categories
transport

The train speed myth (again)

The claim that trains to Geelong were faster last century came up again. It’s still wrong.

Categories
transport

Grattan Street gets a road diet

The new improved layout has wider footpaths, protected bike lanes, fewer traffic lanes and less parking.

Categories
transport

Which train on which line?

Recent changes mean that most Metro lines now run only one type of train.

Categories
transport

Metro 2 Fishbend preferred route

You might have spotted this in The Age or on the government’s web site: the preferred route and station locations for Metro 2 through Fishermans Bend have been announced. Rewind a moment: What is Metro 2? I’ve got an explainer I wrote a few years ago, but to summarise: just as Metro 1 is a  ... [More]

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Photos from ten years ago

Old photos from May and June 2014

So busy recently that I didn’t get around to posting my usual ten year old photos last month, so here’s May and June 2014 combined into one post. The then-newish tram platform stops in Northcote on route 86. Quite narrow, I guess by necessity, but hopefully they do the job. Punt Road traffic. Always bad,  ... [More]

Categories
transport

Free fares: two charts

Free PT continues to distract from the actual reasons people don’t use the system

Categories
transport

Mud, glorious mud

Despite years of regular shut downs on the Cranbourne/Pakenham line, for removal of level crossings, signalling upgrades, power upgrades, Metro tunnel… yet there are still mud holes like this on the line. This can’t be good – not for ride quality, and not for the trains using this track. It’s been an issue for years  ... [More]