All forms of transport, including gunzelly
Petrol prices are hitting record levels, something that’s been predicted for some time by the Peak Oil people. On Sunday I took the kids across town to visit their grandad’s/my dad’s place, for his 74th birthday. With my last petrol fill-up costing over $60 (thankfully it’s only about fortnightly), my public transport travel already paid ... [More]
Today I went and got my defective Yearly Metcard ticket replaced. It stopped working a couple of weeks ago, after only 5 months, and I’ve finally got sick of having to find a human to get through the fare gates. To get it replaced, you have to go to Flinders Street Station, find the door ... [More]
I’m a bit of a geek, but even I can see that sometimes technology isn’t the answer to a problem. The Victorian government has announced a $494 million deal for a new public transport ticketing system, to run for 10 years from 2007. Question is: does it solve the number one problem with the old ... [More]
Oh. Just found this rather similar picture from 1997 to compare to:
So I was on my way home last night, after a lovely day and doing the grocery shopping. A closed road and a detour on the way, but I manage to find my way around that. I decide since it’s quiet at the local petrol station, I’ll fill up. Is Sunday night the cheapest time ... [More]
The new Siemens train rolls through the burbs, resplendent in the latest train company colours. A middle-aged man chats into his mobile phone about planning permission for a four story storey monolith in a residential area of one storey homes, with the voice of experience and reason, rather than that of the outraged NIMBY. He’s ... [More]
Review: The End of Suburbia. I saw this at a PTUA screening to about 60 people a week or two ago. A fascinating film about the consequences of the forthcoming shortages of oil and natural gas. The film is North American-centric (as you can tell from the subtitle “Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the ... [More]
After yesterday’s little circus, it had to happen… I get off the train at Flinders Street and go through the gate. “Hello!” says the barrier attendant. “Uhh, hi.” “Are you the transport minister?” Oh, well done fella. Hint: the minister has a beard. “No…” and I tell him who I am. I am, if anything, ... [More]
If you didn’t see it on the news, here are some images from today’s funeral of a tram stop.
Following the decision to close tram stops in Collins St, Flinders St and Victoria Pde, and expectations that more will follow, there will be a funeral for tram stop 7 at Russell and Collins Streets on Monday: R.I.P. Tram Stop 7, Route 109 1886-2005 Public Funeral 12.30pm, Monday 23rd May 2005 Cnr Collins St & ... [More]
Coming into Flinders Street… “Train arriving platform 13, this train is not taking passengers.” The guy standing in the doorway pipes up. “I hate platform 13.” “Why, ‘cos it’s deep underground in the middle of nowhere?” “No” he shuddered, “I just don’t like the number 13.”
This picture taken inside Flinders Street Station yesterday reveals what we train users should have guessed all along… That Connex is aligned with the Dark Side.