-----Original Message-----
From: Roderick Smith [mailto:rodsmith@werple.net.au]
Sent: Friday, 18 May 2018 5:15 PM
To: 'transportdownunder@yahoogroups.com'
Subject: Tues.8.5.18 daily digest.

Attached

180508Tu Melbourne 'Herald Sun':
- fox on a 57 tram.
- federal budget.
- letters (rail & road).
- tram strangers.
- free tram zone.

180508Tu Melbourne 'Age':
- Moreland car on tracks. (Jamal Haddou)
- wet Melbourne, B2.2129.
- fox on a 57 tram.

Roderick

Tues.8.5.18 Metro Twitter
6.07 Upfield line: Delays over 20 minutes in the Moreland area (a motor
vehicle stopped across rail lines) at Moreland Road level crossing.
Emergency services are on site, and are working to have the line cleared as
soon as possible.
- 6.13 Delays are now over 40 min.
- 6.24 Presuming that the 6.20 from Merlynston to the city isn't running?
- 6.29 trains are holding at various platforms, with delays up to 40
minutes.
- 6.33 We were told to seek alternative transport - there isn't any at
Gowrie.
- 6.36 The 6.32 from Upfield is running; we are anticipating that, as it
gets closer to Moreland, the line will be clear.
- 6.47 It's been 47 min delay now - any further updates?
- 6.51 the line has been reopened in the last minute.
- 6.54 The line has been reopened in the Moreland area; delays up to 10
minutes
- 6.59 Some guy keeps announcing there's still a delay of 30-40 min and to
seek alt transport...I'm going to ignore him for now?
- 7.00 Services have resumed on the Upfield line from ~10 min ago. From
which station are you travelling?
- 8.15 It would've been great if you notified us that trains were departing
only from Coburg.
- 8.19 The alteration was last moment, we sent a message to our metroNotify
app at 8.04.
- 17.40 I don't have the app. I didn't know that I needed PTV, Twitter and
metronotify.
- 6.04 9.5 Our team is in the Train Control Centre and we update the app as
soon as we have confirmed issues.
Werribee line: Minor delays through Newport (a faulty freight near Altona
Junction). Services may run via Altona. [which they can't do; that line is
at saturation unless a down crosses two ups at Westona, with flow-on delays.
- 7.24 Minor delays through Newport. Service changes are in place for
passengers on the Altona Loop. [more likely all down via the straight, and
all up via Altona].
- 7.28 No they're not. At Altona station we were told to board the next
Werribee bound train. It slowed then took off. We're all still waiting.
- 7.32 Minor delays clearing. Service changes are still in place for
passengers on the Altona Loop.
8.34 Frankston line: Minor delays (an operational incident near Carrum).
- 8.42 clearing.
8.47 Sandringham line: Minor delays (an equipment fault near Elsternwick).
- 9.58 25 min...No trains, no announcements.
- 10.11 Trains are running, can you tell us your location and direction of
travel?
8.56 South Morang/Hurstbridge lines: Minor delays clearing through Flinders
St after an earlier ill passenger required medical assistance. [which we
didn't announce].
9.12 Delays clearing after earlier train faults at Flagstaff and
Craigieburn. [which we didn't announce].
- 9.14 Just spent over 30 min going back and forward at Craigieburn station.
Missed the 8.43 because of it (left empty), now waiting for the 9.10 (which
is late).
- 9.16 Your staff at Craigeburn are so incompetent.
10.38 Sandringham line: Delays over 20 minutes (a passenger needing medical
assistance at North Brighton).
- 10.54 clearing after an ambulance attended.
13.25 Glen Waverley line: Major delays (police at Syndal and Holmesglen).
Select services may terminate/originate at Darling.
- 13.42 delays now minor.
13.57 Hurstbridge line: Minor Delays (an equipment fault near Eaglemont).
- 15.02 You just had 6 weeks of no trains, could the equipment issues not be
fixed in this time? Every week there is a delay for equipment issues. Fix
the crappy system.
15.09 Frankston line: Major Delays (an operational incident near Carrum).
- 15.16 I'm on the train at the moment; I hope that that won't affect me,
I'm getting off at Mentone. Fingers crossed.
- 15.27 Been a lot of these 'operational incidents' lately.
16.21 Glen Waverley line: Minor Delays (police).
16.36 Cranbourne/Pakenham/Frankston: Major Delays (a train fault at
Richmond).
- 16.37 again.
- 16.38 To those passengers on the train between Parliament and Richmond,
there is a fault with your train. Please remain on the train and listen for
further announcements or directions from staff.
- 16.38 "altered platforms", more like we're cancelling every train and
telling you nothing.
- 16.41 Yesterday it was at Hawksburn station; today it's Richmond; tomorrow
maybe Caulfield?
- 16.42 How about informing those stuck behind. Where is the communication?
- 23.45 To those passengers on the trains between Parliament and Richmond,
we have a fault with the train ahead of you. Please remain on the train and
listen to further announcements or directions from staff.
- 16.47 Please save us.
- 16.49 Do you just copy and paste the same tweet every day? Probably easier
if you do! ANOTHER DAY FOR METRO.
- 16.50 Can Metro staff come and assist us off the train? People are about
to go nuts on the train.
- 16.51 You have 10 platforms, maybe select another?
- 16.53 seems it's more than a faulty train. Please let us know when train
will go to a station! Always great service.
- 16.54 When will the trains be moving again? Any information at all for the
people stuck on trains? All we've got is empty promises about it being
cleared up "soon".
- 16.55 usual coming to 5pm delays....consistently pathetic services at peak
hours.
- 16.55 good thing I have to work late tonight. I try to find the best in
all situations but it seems its the same line, same station all the time.
- 16.56 are trains going from Flinders St to Richmond?
- 16.56 All good now.
- 16.57 To those passengers on the trains in between Parliament - Richmond,
we have a fault with the train ahead of you. Please remain on the train and
listen to further announcements or directions from staff.
- 16.58 Get your shit together Metro. A packed train sitting for what will
be one hour just off Richmond Station is bullshit.
- 16.59 Don't really have many other options.
- 17.00 what a shock.
- 17.01 The aircon is pretty stifling. People are going feral. It's 40
minutes stuck. You have better not turn this into a stopping all stations.
- 17.02 To those passengers on trains in between Parliament & Richmond, your
trains will now proceed to Richmond.
- 17.13 Are trains running again?
- 17.15 Yes, with minor delays.
- 17.15 Tell Kylie in the control centre that she did a great job.
- 19.58 You should now update on the days there's no delay on these lines.
You'll save yourself sometime.
- 22.43 Wow what a surprise.
22.50 Belgrave line: Minor Delays (an equipment fault near Bayswater).

Melbourne Express, Tuesday, May 8, 2018
9.05 On the trains, minor delays on the Craigieburn, Hurstbridge,
Sandringham, South Morang, Sunbury and Upfield lines. Works alert for
Frankston/Stony Point passengers.
8.36 A fox has been spotted on a Melbourne tram. The animal was snapped on
the 57 tram at West Maribyrnong at the weekend. That fox is always at that
terminus. I saw a lady feeding it the other day & patting it.
video of that vehicle over the tracks at Moreland that delayed trains
earlier (Jamal Ben Haddou).
7.00 There were heavy train delays earlier after a vehicle was parked over
the lines at Moreland. That has been cleared but there are still waits up to
10 minutes.
There are also delays on the Werribee line (a broken-down freight train in
Newport area). Major delays also on the Craigieburn line and minor waits for
South Morang.
<www.theage.com.au/melbourne-news/melbourne-express-tuesday-may-8-2018-20180
508-p4zdxl.html>

Fox snapped riding route 57 tram at West Maribyrnong.
Herald Sun May 8, 2018.
video: Rescuer Finds Fox Chilling in Melbourne Shop. Credit -
Facebook/Nigel's Animal Rescue and Pest Control via Storyful.
FA BUSHY-TAILED fare evader has been spotted on a Melbourne tram.
A passenger snapped this picture of a fox aboard the Route 57 tram at West
Maribyrnong on the weekend.
3AW's rumour file was told the fox reportedly rode the tram for several
stops, to the delight of passengers.
This fox boarded the route 57 tram without a Myki. Picture: 3AW Fox
sightings are increasingly common in urban areas which offer valuable food
sources to the animals.
Last year a commuter captured images of a fox prowling around Alphington
train station.
A fox spotted prowling Alphington Station at night. Picture: Supplied FOX'S
SUBURBAN STROLL CAUGHT ON CAMERA.
HOW TO HANDLE THE SUBURBAN FOX BOOM.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/fox-snapped-riding-route-57-tram-at-west
-maribyrnong/news-story/7a6d25cdd5babeee591c59d6fd33c6ab>

Crackdown on Victoria's most wanted train vandals Herald Sun May 8, 2018.
video: Myki machine attacker wanted. [the ad got hundreds of applications].
POLICE are hunting down Victoria's most wanted train vandals as they launch
a crackdown on criminal damage across the city's railway network.
Victoria Police has released photographs and CCTV footage of suspects they
want to question about recent incidents of vandalism.
In one case, vision obtained by the Herald Sun shows an enraged man in his
20s kicking, punching and throwing rocks at a myki machine at Tecoma
station, causing $30,000 damage.
RELATED: MELBOURNE'S SPORTING PRECINCT A CORRIDOR FOR RUBBISH, VANDALISM TOM
ELLIOTT: MAKE VANDALS CLEAN UP THEIR OWN VILE MESS A screenshot of a man
attacking a myki machine at Tecoma station. Picture: Supplied Other cases
involve graffitiing of trains, inside and out. Metro Trains spends more than
$10 million a year cleaning and repairing vandalism at stations and trains
across Melbourne.
Leading Senior Constable Luke Gandolfo, of Victoria Police's Transit Safety
Division, said the vandals were "fools" who did not believe they were doing
anything wrong.
"They try to convince you until they're blue in the face that they're
full-blown artists," he said. "But we all know for a fact they are far from
that.
"They're vandals. Plain and simple. They have no respect for anyone else or
other people's property," he said.
Senior Constable Gandolfo said the suspects were mostly in their 20s and
30s, old enough to know better.
"It's not like these criminals are rebellious teenagers. They're adults, but
they're not behaving like adults."
He warned: "It's not a matter of if we catch you, it's a matter of when, and
be sure that we will get you and hold you accountable."
Police are hunting:
- TWO MEN who tagged multiple train carriages in graffiti before fleeing at
Pascoe Vale station on January 22.
Police wish to speak to these two men in relation to a criminal damage
incident on the Craigieburn Line on Monday, 22 January 2018.
- A MAN who graffiti a train carriage while on-board a Frankston bound train
on December 4, 2017.
- A YOUNG man who tagged the outside of a carriage at Richmond station after
he exited the Sandringham line on December 1, 2017.
Police wish to speak to this man in relation to criminal damage incident on
the Frankston Line on Monday, December 1, 2017.
Police wish to speak to this man in relation to a criminal damage incident
on the Sandringham Line on Friday, December 1, 2017.
- TWO MEN who boarded a Cranbourne/Pakenham line train at Flinders Street
and proceeded to tag 'FBFK2, DKAPMAOK and DKAR' in different areas of the
train on October 8, 2017.
Police wish to speak to this man in relation to criminal damage on a
Caulfield-bound train on Sunday, 8 October 2017. Picture: Supplied - A MAN
who boarded the Upfield line at Coburg station and graffiti a train carriage
on January 22.
Police wish to speak to this man in relation to criminal damage on a train
on the Upfield line on January 22. Picture: Supplied - A MAN, with texta
across his forehead, who tagged a carriage in black graffiti and fled at
Moonee Ponds station on December 12, 2017.
Police wish to speak to this man in relation to a criminal damage incident
at Moonee Ponds station on the Craigieburn line on Tuesday, December 12,
2017.
Metro spokesman Marcus Williams said that crews were out day and night
removing graffiti from the network.
"We have more than 9000 CCTV cameras and a security and surveillance team
tracking vandals. We catalogue every tag and provide intelligence and CCTV
to police," he said.
He said when vandals were prosecuted Metro sought costs for the clean-up
bill in court.
Metro employs 60 staff to deal with graffiti removal on more than 800km of
railway.
Up to 12,000sq m of graffiti is removed from stations and structures a month
and 800sq m from train exteriors.
About 1500 graffiti tags are removed from stations, 1400 from inside trains,
and 75 from the exteriors of trains.
A spokeswoman for Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said: "Any dollar
spent fixing senseless vandalism across the public transport network is one
dollar too many.
"This money could be better invested in more services.
"As well as being a crime, vandalism in and around an operating public
transport network is incredibly dangerous," she said.
"Vandals are putting their lives, and the lives of our public transport
staff and the travelling public at risk."
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/crackdown-on-victorias-most-wanted-trai
n-vandals/news-story/dfb8e8b57d351a538beac8619acb7483>