On Friday a number of UK publications posted news articles about a Deutsche Bank report saying that London’s public transport fares are the highest in the world. Evening Standard: London travelcards ‘the most expensive in the world by a large margin,’ study finds BBC: London’s monthly travel cost ‘most expensive in world’ London Loves Business: ... [More]
So here we are, state budget day 2017. A lot of things have already been announced, but they usually leave a few things until the day itself. Nobody was expecting anything huge, as logic would suggest they’d save their money until next year, when there’s an election and they need to dazzle people a bit ... [More]
I know I was just writing about Night Network last week, but the news that it’s been made permanent came through over the weekend, so here’s another post on it. My sons are of the age when they get out and about after dark. Recently one was out at a party in Brunswick until about ... [More]
Another in my series of ten year old photos. The old Olympic Doughnuts caravan, well before the shops along Irving Street were demolished to make way for additional station platforms. Footscray station snapped from the old (uncovered, ancient) overpass. This is platform 1, which has now become platform 3. Despite The Met having been long ... [More]
Sometimes the little things matter. Sometimes a bit of thought can result in a better outcome. Logic says that when they put in a new bus route to serve the station, it should stop at the station. When the signs for the new 979 Night Bus went up at Bentleigh, I noted that they were ... [More]
I’m thinking it might be time to upgrade my car at some stage soon. Some people turn them over every few years. Not me — I’ve been driving a 2000 model Astra hatchback since 2008, almost nine years. The previous car was a 1993 Magna, which I had from 1998 to 2008. Of course, I ... [More]
Five years ago I published some figures on V/Line’s peak patronage, based on their capacity reports, where they show the number of seats occupied in each service in peak hour. Here’s an update comparing with their figures for February 2017. Line 2012 2012 2017 2017 Change 2012 2012 2017 2017 Change Trains AM đ ... [More]
Caroline Springs Station opened in January, and is already being used by a fair number of people. But the station has a weakness: it’s in the middle of nowhere, a not-very-pleasant one kilometre walk from the nearest houses. Which means you pretty much have to use transport to get there: bike, bus, or car. Of ... [More]
Fare evasion is a drain on the public transport network. But sometimes the “tough on fare evasion” rhetoric isn’t matched by practical, non-confrontational approaches to reduce it. Across the public transport network, there is a mix of strategies. On Melbourne’s train network as on many big busy systems, there are too many passengers to check ... [More]
On Sunday the Coalition pledged to upgrade more lines to trains every ten minutes off-peak. Here’s the Channel 9 story – have a watch: FIRST ON 9: The Coalition will go to next year’s state election with a policy to increase Melbourne’s train frequency. @andrew_lund #9News pic.twitter.com/kTsnGTvILQ â Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) March 26, 2017 ... [More]
Friday night concert! I was sold on Things Of Stone And Wood – though my compradres were really going for the support act, Club Hoy. It might be cruel to call TOSAW a one-hit wonder, though none of their efforts charted as well as Happy Birthday Helen. But the song was on an album called ... [More]
On Tuesday I headed out to the new Caroline Springs station for a look around. It opened at the end of January. I caught the 17:59 train from Southern Cross. It was heading to Bacchus Marsh, and it was full — at least by V/Line’s standards, which means every seat was taken — reflected in ... [More]