Metcard weekly and monthly tickets won’t be available for sale from this Sunday (though you’ll still be able to use them if you have them). Myki’s equivalent to Weekly, Monthly and Yearly Metcard tickets is Myki pass, which gives unlimited travel on the days paid for. The pricing of a Metcard Weekly is identical to ... [More]
…judging from these four lined up next to Flagstaff Gardens. From the front: GoGet GreenCarShare (whose web site needs a going-over with a spell checker, and whose pricing rates need rationalisation with a hacksaw) Flexicar (I think they have two cars there) Unfortunately while they might be plentiful in the CBD and inner-suburbs, it might ... [More]
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Regional Rail Link works continue
There’s a good view from North Melbourne station of the works on the new Regional Rail Link line that will come in from Sunshine and the western suburbs, bypassing North Melbourne (unfortunately, with no interchange platforms) into Southern Cross. The idea is that V/Line trains will be able to bypass the suburban tracks, allowing both ... [More]
If you’ve never been to the Grand Prix (which is on today), here (from 2009 when I went for The Who concert) is what you get to see trackside. Can’t say it appeals much to me. Note what I assume are sonic booms.
My neighbour Bob had his car broken into this morning. He said he heard noises outside and went out to find a bloke smashing up the steering wheel and console, apparently trying to hotwire it. When the bloke realised Bob was out there he shouted “I’m coming out mate, I’m coming out!” He did so, ... [More]
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Pic: real Retro trains!
I mocked up a fake ‘Retro Trains’ a couple of years ago, but this morning I spotted a real one: Yeah, not a great pic; had to whip out the phone and snap it super-fast. One suspects this was an unofficial modification of the usual logo.
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Who “owns” your surname?
Go to Google News (preferably in an anonymous browser window so it’s not skewed towards your usual searches — though it will detect your location/country). Search for your surname. Who comes up top? For me it’s Immigration Minister Chris Bowen. Related: Google’s top ten Daniels
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Steamrail open day
I haven’t been to one of Steamrail’s open days before, but went along with my sister, her kids, and some friends. I was most amused to find my nephew Leo happily shouting out engine numbers as they steamed past. I might have to get him an anorak and clipboard for his next birthday. On a ... [More]
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Why today is a holiday
It’s Labour Day today in Victoria, marking the reduction in working hours during the 19th century to 8 hours, and the relaxation of working conditions, which in the 1840s were strict: Conditions of the time were governed by the Master and Servant Act. Employees in Australia in 1840 who left their employment without permission were ... [More]
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Car servicing: dealer or elsewhere?
The other week my right hand car mirror lost its glass. I have no idea why. I had adjusted it because I noticed it was out of alignment, then a minute or two later, it fell off and shattered while driving. Bizarro. I put a temporary $6 concave mirror on it, and in the process ... [More]
The train to Pakenham on a recent Saturday afternoon, about 5pm: Finally this looks to be fixed, at least on the Frankston, Dandenong and Ringwood lines, with trains to run every 10 minutes between 10am and 7pm on weekends. This is genuinely good news, and although the extra padding going into the timetable is a ... [More]
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Stubbly me
There are times when a random snap turns out to be quite a good photo — without any cropping or editing. Jeremy snapped this on the way back from camping a couple of weeks ago. I like it.
A couple of pictures from the drive up past Nagambie yesterday, which took us close to the flooded areas north eastern Victoria… We were advised to stick to the sealed roads (which meant taking a longer way than usual), and although none that we were trying to use were flooded, some weren’t too far off ... [More]
This is the new “Easy Access” tram stop in Macarthur Street. It’s not the first of its type — there’s been one in Albert Park for some years. But it’s the first on a moderately busy street, and it’s claimed it could be the new model for providing accessible tram stops around Melbourne. I think ... [More]
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Troll Squad (formerly Quoll Squad)
Happy Leap Year! It’s a few weeks ago now, but this made me laugh: Troll Squad (formerly Quoll Squad), from the First Dog On The Moon exhibit at Platform, in the Degraves Street subway.
I’ve droned on and on about the importance of frequency in public transport services. I recently pondered why Metro don’t promote their every-10-minutes service from Newport via the City to Frankston. Some of the operators do understand that waiting time is critical, and do advertise when they put on extra services, and/or run frequent services. ... [More]