On Saturday I participated in an Infrastructure Victoria session on transport network planning. It was described as a kind of speed-dating session – seven speakers doing quick 12 minute conversations with groups of 4-5 people. They suggested kicking off with an introduction to your view on the topic, then seeing where the conversation takes you. ... [More]
I’m sorry to go all Neville Shunt on you and drone on about railway timetables again, but I’m going to do it anyway. In an ideal metro system, that is a rail network designed to maximise capacity and frequency, one of the key things is to separate the busiest lines so they don’t share tracks. ... [More]
Another in my series of photos from ten years ago. Black Saturday, 7th February 2009. There were dire warnings earlier in the week about the fire risk, though I’m not sure everyone believed them. It was a stinking hot day. The car thermometer at one stage measured 47.5 degrees – here it is showing 47. That night we had ... [More]
Rail Projects Victoria has released some draft plans for parts of the Metro 1 project. The plans include both portals (where the tunnel connects to the existing aboveground tracks) and the western turnback – a facility to be added at West Footscray station to turnback (terminate and/or originate) train services through the tunnel. Below are ... [More]
Last year the government announced that Myki would be coming to mobile phones. Early testing happened late last year, and last week PTV opened up the trial to up to 4000 participants. The technology allows you to load a “virtual” Myki card onto your Android phone within Google Pay, and use it for travelling on ... [More]
(I’m hoping to blog about the Myki Mobile trial in the next few days, so hold those thoughts) Some time in the last few days, a subtle addition appeared on the platform screens at Flinders Street Station: a countdown to departure. This has been on other displays around the network for decades, but some clever ... [More]
In the past year or two, the Cranbourne/Pakenham rail line has seen numerous upgrades to prepare for the High Capacity Metro Trains to start this year. Some of the upgrades are to power systems. I’m not normally one to write blog posts about new items of infrastructure, but have you seen these bad boys installed ... [More]
Social media has been swept with the #10YearChallenge – people posting photos from ten years ago. I’ve been doing this for a while now, though this tends to be of spots around Melbourne, rather than personal photos. I suspect the challenge for some is even finding the photos. Anyway, here’s January 2009… Flinders Street Station ... [More]
Last Monday’s meltdown soured the return of trains after upgrades on the Dandenong and Frankston lines – which included works for the Metro tunnel, and also power upgrades and extensions to some platforms. So, how long is a railway station platform? Generally, as long as the trains that serve it, plus a bit for spare. ... [More]
I’ve been on a break at home, having a rest and trying to get stuff done around the house. Alas, this is now at an end, and while I guess I’ve had a rest, I certainly haven’t got all the stuff I planned done. And people telling me “nobody ever does” isn’t helping. My break ... [More]
The other day I went and took a look around the new Frankston station, upgraded last year by the Level Crossing Removal Authority alongside the nearby Skye Road level crossing removal, and in parallel with Vicroads upgrades to Young Street. In a similar manner to Southern Cross, there’s been an extensive renovation and replacement of ... [More]
It’s the end of the year, so I’m going to clear out some blog drafts, snippets of writing, going back a bit over a year. The Great Australian Transport Dream If the Great Australian Dream is home ownership, preferably a quarter-acre block with a huge backyard, then the Great Australian Transport Dream might be free-flowing ... [More]