-----Original Message-----
From: Roderick Smith [mailto:rodsmith@werple.net.au]
Sent: Saturday, 26 May 2018 1:53 PM
To: 'transportdownunder@yahoogroups.com'
Subject: Wed.16.5.18 daily digest

Attached.

180515Tu 'WA Today' - emu.

180516W Melbourne 'Herald Sun':
- Santos, with tdu/flickr.
- population growth.

180516W 'SMH' - Japan metro.

180516W 'Brisbane Times' - bus station.

180516W Metro Twitter:
- 9.36 & 9.45 at Flinders St (Joshua Saunders).
- 9.13 Dandenong delays.
- 9.14 (Westall?) congestion.
- Carrum sunset (Luke Hildred).

Wed.16.5.18 [Huntingdale is confusing. Metro's continued use of
'trespasser' hints that the jumper survived, which is why services resumed
after only an hour. It was only an attempted suicide].
5.46 Frankston line: Minor delays Carrum - Caulfield (police).
5.56 Sandringham line: Minor delays citybound (an equipment fault near
Prahran).
- 6.43 still minor .
- 8.19 Ok, the copper wiring was stolen. But why are trains able to come
from Flinders Street to Sandringham? Two have come by while I wait for one
train?
- 8.22 The vandalism this morning primarily affected the citybound line, but
there are some delays to outbound services.
- 8.29 Are there still delays?
- 8.30 Trains are still running, but with minor delays.
6.08 Werribee line: Citybound services are not running via Altona (an
equipment fault near Seaholme). Citybound passengers from Altona Loop board
an outbound service, change at Laverton. Our maintenance team is on site
working to fix the fault.
- 6.31 Normal services have resumed.
6.54 Minor delays Werribee - Laverton (police).
- 7.01 Trains are now on the move again but with minor delays.
After a slightly busier than usual start to the day, things are settling
down just in time to enjoy the sunset in Kennethmont (Scotland).
9.00 Cranbourne/Pakenham lines: Major delays (police attending to a
trespasser).
- 9.01 A trespasser doing what exactly?
- 9.02 Where? I'm just sitting at Westall waiting.
- 9.07 Can the police take the trespasser on the side and deal, so that
trains can continue?
- Why does a trespasser have to stall all the trains for this long?
- 9.08 Buses will replace trains between Westall and Oakleigh. Buses have
been ordered but may take over an hour to arrive, consider alternative
transport options.
- 9.11 There's an ambulance parked at Huntingdale.
- 9.11 What happens if you're stuck in between those two stations?
- 9.14 Apparently it was a suicide.
- 9.15 Delays at Dandenong too .
- 9.15 We're working with police to deal with the issue and get trains
moving again as soon as possible. Please stay on board the train and listen
for announcements.
- 9.16 I'm stuck at Pakenham - trains not getting through. Not sure how
long.
- 9.16 We are stuck on a train just outside of Clayton. Lovely service
metro.
- 9.17 Death by Metro, not the way I would ever want to go out - it's a
living hell travelling with them already.
- 9.17 To those passengers on the train in between Westall and Oakleigh
Please remain on the train and listen to further announcements or directions
from your driver.
- 9.19 Already jumped on a bus to Caulfield - hope services from there are
running as normal?
- 9.19 Stuck between stations and the announcer asked us to stay onboard.
Interesting... I didn't know that we had options.
- 9.21 Haven't noticed any problems with them, but that's because I travel
off-peak PM and usually take a detour to the Glen line. Recommend waiting
until the 3 week bustitution is over in order for improved services?
- 9.23 There are trains running from both Oakleigh and Caulfield to the
city, though there are some delays at Oakleigh caused by congestion. [We
can't cope with terminating trains at a three-platform station].
- 9.24 Please stay on board the train.
- 9.24 I was just at Huntingdale. It's a tragic incident. Metro shouldn't be
blamed for this.
- 9.26 They are one of the most sub par train operators on earth. For the
world's most liveable city (bullshit) we definitely have one of the worst
transport systems.
- 9.26 Still stuck in Dandenong. We were just got told to get off the train
we were told to switch to. Would this be a good time to maybe fix the
system?
- 9.26 alternative transport: Bus route 704 Clayton - Huntingdale -
Oakleigh; Bus route 900 Huntingdale - Oakleigh; Bus route 824 Westall -
Clayton.
- 9.27 Yeah rightio then.
- 9.28 Or I can take a taxi and send the invoice to Metro?
- 9.32 An announcement at 9.00 before we got on the 9.07 train at Lynbrook
would have been ace.
- 9.32 We have arranged for buses to replace trains between Westall and
Oakleigh.
- 9.32 Are trains running? I'm on a Dandenong service.
- 9.34 This is 3 DAYS IN A ROW that this line has major delays! Are you
serious!
- 9.35 How can we get off the train when mid track? What is the plan for
passengers stuck?
- 9.36 The incident occurred only a few minutes before 9.00 and was reported
to our control centre shortly after that.
- 9.36 Meanwhile at Flinders St. [photo]
- 9.36 And it's been over almost 30 min at Oakleigh before we finally got a
train. Can you please explain that?
- 9.37 In Japan the family would be fined for the suicide for every minute
they cause delays for everyone.
- 9.37 We'll bring any trains mid-section into platforms as soon as
possible. [except, for Metro, that isn't soon].
- 9.37 And now we are told that it's changed again.
- 9.38 Ok so no real idea of time frames? I need to reschedule all my
meetings in the office (city).
- 9.39 Compared to the Sydney Trains fiasco and other developing countries
and I think we're fine. Most of the delays are out of their hands
(trespassers, suicides, mysterious packages, fiber cable theft). Just wait
for 3 more weeks and see improvements with services.
- 9.40 The reason mainly why it's "bullshit" is because of the previous 2
term Liberal Government always neglecting public transport infrastructure
upgrades bc (roads work apparently /s).
- 9.41 It's been almost an hour without any trains moving at all. The
incident happened at 8.50 at Huntingdale. It's now 9.40 and no train has
departed Oakleigh at all in this time.
- 9.41 We can't give a specific timeframe; we're awaiting clearance from
police to start moving trains.
- 9.42 [stay on the train] Oh yeah, cool. Thanks. Insightful info.
Appreciate it.
- 9.42 Please let the your staff know how much we appreciate what they do.
I was at Huntingdale this morning when the "trespasser" fell from the road
bridge above the line on to the tracks, the compassion the staff showed him,
running to his assistance.
- 9.42 Another great effort from Metro. If it's not one problem it's
another.
- 9.42 Buses are replacing citybound trains Westall - Oakleigh. Outbound
train services will operate Oakleigh - Westall at a lower speed. Extended
journey time of ~30 minutes.
- 9.43 The road works are pointless (Monash Fwy widening into same
bottlenecks) and Metro have made little to no effort to prevent the issues
that cause major delays (fixing their constant signalling issues and track
faults). Just constant lies and excuses.
- Money changing hands with tradies but nothing is improving. Skyrail may
ease traffic congestion at line crossings but people gonna be pissed when
they find out trains will run slower because they stuffed it up right from
the beginning. Whole thing is a disaster.
- 9.44 We're awaiting clearance from police to get the citybound services
moving again.
- 9.45 Platform 6&7 are dead. [photo].
- 9.46 Japan takes public transport seriously. For Metro, it's a joke.
- 9.51 RIP to the person concerned, in other developed countries they do run
proper train services. Metro has no interest in improving services in low
socio demographic south-east suburbs that's the reality...well anywhere. The
government doesn't care how the plebs get to work.
- 9.51 Train services will resume Westall - Oakleigh, with major delays.
- 9.52 30 minutes? There hasn't been a train to get anyone to Westall for an
hour already (from Noble Park). Add a couple hours to that number please.
- 9.53 Trains in that area are now moving again.
- 10.01 Coupled with all the issues over the last week, we're all getting
sick and tired of your service regardless of the reasons.
- 10.03 Just one trespasser could shut down the entire Pakenham line in peak
hour? You have no idea what to do, people just waiting more than an hour!
What is Metro's contingency plan for this sort of incident, or just blaming
police, again?
- 10.14 Someone fell from the tracks at Huntingdale. Pretty sure that's
something beyond their control.
- 10.15 We work very closely with police in these situations, and have to
await clearance from them before we can safely run trains through the scene
of the incident. [the classic 'safety' invocation].
- 10.41 Major delays.
- 10.54 So are the trains normal now? [sarcasm?]
- 14.00 Thoughtless impatient passengers have been known to force open doors
and get off trains (especially older Comeng trains), wandering dangerously
along operational tracks, which then compounds the problem. [a management
apologist, who hasn't had to suffer Metro's typical 1 h or worse].
- 17.02 You didn't know. Generally with Metro it is just annoying delays but
today really was a complete shock.
- 17.03 Someone fell from the tracks at Huntingdale. Pretty sure that's
something beyond their control.
- 17.15 I was there too...and saw the efforts of staff, paramedics and
police.
8.06 Werribee/Williamstown lines: Major delays (an operational issue at
North Melbourne).
- 8.22 My journey been extended more than 2 h, charged twice on myki. Will I
get a refund?
9.29 Sunbury line: Major Delays (an equipment fault near Diggers Rest).
15.28 Why are express trains stopping at Fairfield? Is this permanent?
17.53 Werribee/Williamstown lines: Delays clearing after an earlier
[unannounced] passenger incident at South Kensington.

Melbourne Express, Wednesday, May 16, 2018
8.05 A man has been stabbed near Hoppers Crossing station. Channel Nine
reports the offender had demanded the victim's car keys.
Good (if controversial) question from public transport advocate Daniel Bowen
this morning. If the price of parking is rising in the CBD, will they also
start charging on Sundays?
The shops are open, more people work. What do you think?
7.59 Route 12 & 109 trams have now resumed along normal lines, with delays.
7.51 Because of a tram fault in Victoria Parade, no Route 12 trams are
operating between Stop 12 St Vincent's Plaza & Victoria Gardens. Route 109
trams to Box Hill are diverting via Bridge Rd & Church St (along Route 48)
between Stop 8 Spring St & Stop 31 Stevenson St.
A rental bike was thrown from a footbridge into a moving near Birrarung Marr
about 16.30 on April 29.
The incident caused about $300,000 worth of damage. It happened after the
Collingwood-Richmond clash.
Passengers were forced to evacuate. Were you there? Get in touch via email
or Twitter.
A rental bike was thrown from a footbridge into a moving train three Sundays
ago.
Police have called for witnesses to the event, which occurred near Birrarung
Marr about 16.30 on April 29.
The incident caused about $300,000 worth of damage but a spokesman says it
could have been much worse.
"It definitely has the potential to cause some serious injuries if it
derails a train," he says.
558 Minor delays already on the Frankston and Sandringham lines.
<www.theage.com.au/melbourne-news/melbourne-express-wednesday-may-16-2018-20
180516-p4zfit.html>

2.5.18 Why do rail workers on the elevated have the right to block my
driveway and a road without notification? Workers refused to move truck
despite me asking. I could not exit my own house. This is disgusting. No
respect. Rego: 1JT3KL

oBike thrown onto moving train causes $300,000 damage. 16 May 2018.
Police are investigating after an oBike was thrown onto a moving train
causing $300,000 worth of damage.
The rental bike was thrown from a pedestrian bridge near Birrarung Marr and
Rod Laver Arena between 16.30 and 16.41 on April 29, causing chaos on the
train lines and extensive delays for passengers.
An abandoned oBike in Melbourne's CBD. Photo: Supplied.
Metro Trains said the oBike was thrown from the footbridge onto a train
which damaged the equipment that connects the train to power lines. The
power lines were also damaged.
The oBike caused the train to lose power as it approached Flinders St
station and 120 passengers had to be assisted from the train. Commuters were
reportedly stuck on board for over an hour as safety precautions were
completed.
"This is an irresponsible and dangerous act of vandalism that caused
significant disruption to a large number of people," a Metro Trains
spokesman said on the Sunday the bike was thrown.
"The train remained near Flinders St Station for several hours while crews
worked to fix the damage to overhead lines. Platform 4 at Flinders Street
station was unavailable causing knock on delays throughout the evening."
The damage meant the Glen Waverley line was suspended between Burnley and
Darling stations for over an hour because of the power fault. There were
also delays on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines.
Police on Wednesday asked for any witnesses to come forward.
"A rental bike was thrown from William Barak Bridge and struck the moving
train sometime between 4.30pm and 4.41pm on Sunday the 29th of April, 2018,"
a spokesman said.
"The incident caused approximately $300,000 worth of damage but no one was
injured."
The City of Melbourne, City of Port Phillip and City of Yarra signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with oBike last year with mutually agreed
guidelines for the dockless bike company after dozens of the yellow bikes
were fished out of the Yarra River.
The councils now have the power to confiscate and impound oBikes. The
impounded bikes are released to the company if they are claimed within 14
days. A $50 release fee is charged per bike.
Related Articles:
Ride sharing bikes at Waverley Oval, Bondi Road.
Bike sharing companies have three months to comply with new council rules 23
comments
<www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/obike-thrown-onto-moving-train-causes-3
00-000-damage-20180516-p4zfjs.html>
* Anybody who thinks that throwing o-bikes off bridges or into rivers is
somehow a uniquely Melbourne/Australian issue is...
* The share bike thing is starting to become a big problem. I can see big
regulations coming. These things are accidents ...

May 16 2018 Travelling when you don't know the local language - why there's
no such thing as a language barrier .
Don't know the local language? It's possible to travel a country knowing
just a handful of phrases. Photo: Shutterstock
"I would love to come to Australia one day," the waiter confessed, smiling
wistfully. "I want to go surfing there! But my English is not good enough."
I laughed, like he must be joking. "Your English is great. You would be fine
in Australia."
"No," he said, shaking his head. "It's not good enough."
Point at things, wave your arms and rely on the kindness of strangers to
figure out what you mean. Photo: Alamy
And then he wandered off and got back to the business of waiting tables.
Case closed.
This was in Tokyo not so long ago. Our waiter had clocked that we were from
Australia, my partner and I, and had started talking to us about his love of
motorbike riding and surfing, about how he dreamed of one day doing them
both in Australia. But he'd probably never go, he said, because of the
language barrier.
This is patently crazy. Not purely because he'd just conducted this entire
conversation with us in English. And not just because my partner and I were
clear and present examples of the fact you can travel with an appalling
command of the local language and still get by. But, even more importantly,
because the language barrier doesn't really exist.
It's not a barrier at all. Let's call it a bump.
See also: $230 to enter: The most expensive countries for Australians to
enter
For people who are new to travel, I can understand how this could be one of
the most intimidating aspects of the whole experience. How do you
communicate with people who don't speak your language? How do you get by?
How do you order food and ride public transport and book accommodation and
just move about the world when you suddenly can't say anything to anyone
that would make any sense?
That's a frightening feeling. It seems like such a huge challenge. It really
does sound like it would be a barrier to successful travel. But it doesn't
take long to figure out that it's absolutely not.
Take Japan as an example, one of the more extreme. There's not much English
spoken in Japan. There's still plenty of signage around that's only in the
local language, an unrecognisable alphabet that's impossible for
non-speakers to puzzle out. Some restaurant menus are only in Japanese. The
people you need to explain to you the various cultural quirks that make up
everyday life in this country don't speak your language.
So what do you do? You get by. You point at things and wave your arms and
rely on the kindness of strangers to figure out what you mean. You drag
waiters outside the restaurant and point at the plastic food you want to
order. You bumble around and smile and make mistakes and let people excuse
them.
In a more practical sense, and in a modern sense, you also pull your phone
out of your pocket and you utilise its magic: you talk into it and allow it
to translate your words; you take photos of signs and menus and allow it to
spit out the English equivalents.
You also find, pretty swiftly, that just a few words of the local language
will take you far, that you can achieve many of life's necessities with just
a handful of phrases.
And this is one of the more extreme examples. Try travelling through Europe,
where you think French people are going to be rude to you and Spanish people
won't be able to understand you and that Greece will be all, well, Greek.
But it's not even close.
You can puzzle out most signs by relating them to English. You easily get
your point across with a few local words and some waving of the hands.
You've seen most words on the menus a million times back in Australia
anyway. This stuff is simple.
Sure, you're not going to get into any deep conversations that reveal the
intricacies of the local psyche. But you are going to find a decent
restaurant and order a beer. You are going to catch that train and book that
hotel (both of which are easy to do online pretty much anywhere in the world
in your own language).
And then of course there's the trump card for Australians: English. We just
happen to speak everyone's second tongue. We already possess knowledge of
the language that anything else will be translated into. We get to be
incredibly lazy, because everyone else has come to the party for us. Pretty
much anywhere you go in the entire world, you'll find someone around who can
speak some your language.
So don't concern yourself with this "barrier". Don't avoid places where they
may not speak your tongue. Communication in a foreign land is one of
travel's most enjoyable and rewarding challenges, and the secret - which
unfortunately my waiter in Tokyo didn't quite understand - is just to give
it a go.
Where have you found the language barrier to be the biggest challenge? How
did you get through it? Which countries speak the best English?
Email:b.groundwater@...
See also: Twenty things that will surprise first-time visitors to Japan
See also: Eight countries where most visitors miss the best attraction
<www.traveller.com.au/travelling-when-you-dont-know-the-local-language--why-
theres-no-such-thing-as-a-language-barrier-h1038s>

May 16 2018 Most expensive visas for Australian travellers: Priciest
countries to enter.
The Taj Mahal. Australians flock to India but a visa will set you back
$US50.
Australians have one of the world's most powerful passports, giving citizens
the ability to enjoy visa-free access to 174 nations.
That puts us equal sixth, along with Belgium and Greece, while Singapore and
Japan, with visa-free access to 180 countries, share the number one spot.
But despite ranking among the top 10, when we do have to pay for visas we
often pay handsomely. Visas are still required by dozens of countries,
including some of our most-visited destinations.
Torres del Paine. Tourism in Chile is booming, but Aussies will have to pay
$151 to enter. Photo: Craig Platt .
Of these, China charges $98.50 for a visa, though that doesn't put off
visitor numbers, which according to the Australian Bureau of Statistic rose
17 per cent in 2016 to nearly half a million. You can, however, avoid
China's visa fee altogether if you spend only 72 hours in the country and
arrive at certain airports such as Beijing and Shanghai. You can also visit
tropical getaway Hainan Island and the Pearl Delta region (which includes
Guangzhou) without a visa, under certain conditions.
The cost of an Indian tourist visa will set you back USD50 (AUD67) plus up
to $130 more in additional fees. Still, nearly twice as many Aussies (around
320 000) visit India now compared with 10 years ago, lured especially by the
Taj Mahal, the exotic desert cities of Rajasthan, and the Ayurvedic wellness
and spa tourism of southern region Kerala.
And if you're hoping to make it to the FIFA World Cup this year, a
single-entry visa for up to 30 days in Russia is going to set you back $135.
Of course, there's nothing new about visa charges. Visa-like documents have
a long history, the earliest example dating from 450 BC and allowing Persian
court official Nehemiah to travel to Judah. Such letters and safe conducts
are among the world's oldest documents. Passports and visas as we think of
them today, though, only became common after World War I as larger numbers
of people began to travel.
Visas are a means by which nations control who enters their territory, what
they can do there, and how long they can stay. If issued in advance, they
also allow time for potential security, financial or health checks. But
visas are also an easy means to raise government revenue.
Strangely enough, the cheaper the destination, the steeper the visa fees.
The central Africa nation of Gabon, with a fledgling tourist industry based
on wildlife-dense national parks, charges $112 plus a $24 online fee. Uganda
charges $150, though you can apply for an East African Tourist Visa valid
for Kenya and Rwanda too. Nearly 200,000 international visitors now visit
Rwanda, famous for its mountain gorillas.
Bangladesh relieves you of $145. The Bangladesh high commission in Canberra
comments that "visa fees are determined on the basis of reciprocity", so
maybe we only have ourselves to blame. It's not the only country with
tit-for-tat charges. The Chilean embassy says Australian citizens don't need
visas - but they do have to pay a US$117 ($151) reciprocity fee, though it
only applies when arriving in Santiago by air.
Visitor numbers to Chile have nonetheless soared, hitting a high of 6.5
million in 2017, of which 62,000 were Australians. Small wonder: the
elongated country packs in towering Andes peaks, hot deserts and pink
volcanoes in the north and emerald-green lakes, fjords and glaciers in the
south, with Torres del Paine considered one of the world's most beautiful
national parks.
Entry to Mongolia will cost you $230. Photo: James Brickwood
Neighbouring nation Argentina recently abolished its reciprocity charge.
Brazil charges a reasonable US$44 ($57) for an e-visa, but apply by post or
in person at the embassy and you'll be stiffed a shocking $216. Gallingly
New Zealanders don't need a Brazilian visa at all to shake their Carnival
tail feathers or hit the beaches of Rio.
Happy the non-Australian citizens too that holiday in Ukraine: they pay just
$85 for a tourist visa at the Ukrainian Embassy in Canberra, while
(mysteriously) Australians are slugged $130, or a whopping $260 for a
seven-day service. Other countries on the hit parade of expensive visas are
Russia at $135, Burkina Faso at $180 and Nigeria at $182, though virtually
no Australian tourists visit that troubled nation.
The most expensive tourist visa of all? If you're off to adventure
destination Mongolia or to explore the Persian culture of Iran then a
single-entry, 30-day visa will cost you $230. For Iran you must pay the fee
in euro, in cash, upon arrival. Start saving.
PRICY COUNTRIES FOR AUSTRALIANS TO ENTER
Mongolia $230
Iran $230
Sudan $199
India $196
Nigeria $182
Burkina Faso $180
Paraguay $174
Chile $151
Uganda $150
Bangladesh $145
See also: The world's most powerful passports for 2018 named
See also: The hardest countries for Australians to get into
<www.traveller.com.au/most-expensive-visas-for-australian-travellers-pricies
t-countries-to-enter-h10369>

Japanese rail company apologises after a train leaves 25 seconds early 16
May 2018.
A Japanese railway company has issued an official apology after one of its
trains departed the station 25 seconds early.
The West Japan Railway Company's apology came after one of its express
trains left the platform at Notogawa station in central Japan at 7:11:35
a.m., instead of the scheduled 7:12 a.m., on May 11.
Japan's train operators are notoriously meticulous when it comes to arrival
and departure times. Photo: Shutterstock
The train conductor misunderstood the departure time and closed the train
doors ahead of schedule, according to the company's press release.
The early departure didn't affect any other travel schedules that day, but
led to one person missing their train.
"We inconvenienced our customers very much, and we will strive to prevent
this from occurring again," JR West said in a statement quoted by the
country's Asahi newspaper.
Japan prizes itself on punctuality. Last November, management at the
Tokyo-area Tsukuba Express line also apologised for a train leaving 20
seconds early - it had left at 9.43.40 instead of 9.44.00.
video: Japanese trains apologises for 'inconvenience'.
Metropolitan Intercity Railway Co in Japan publicly apologised when one of
their trains left a station 20 seconds earlier than scheduled.
According to Casey Baseel, an American blogger living in Japan, this isn't
surprising: Many commuters in the country plan their journeys so that they
arrive at the train platform just as the cars pull up.
Japan's obsession wtih punctuality has taken a deadly turn in the past, too.
In 2005, a commuter train derailed and killed more than 100 people after the
driver, running 90 seconds late, sped up.
<www.smh.com.au/business/companies/japanese-rail-company-apologises-after-a-
train-leaves-25-seconds-early-20180516-p4zfkx.html>
* Unfortunately, the problem with late running trains / public transport in
Australia isn't just a problem with govenance or management, it a cultural
probalem where the mentality is "close enough is good enough". In Japan,
they strive for perfection in everything they do, whether it be customer
service, food, agriculture, transport etc. Each individual eprson feel a
great deal of shame if they feel they've let the system down or
inconvenienced other member of society. An example would be people with the
flu or cold wearing face masks when out in public so they don't spread it to
others. On the trains nad stations I see the meticulous processes that each
driver, conductor, platform signaler follow right down to pointing to the
clock and train when it arrives and departs. The whole culture of Australia
would have to change to get anywhere near this kind of perofrmance.
* I have a feeling that there is a large intersection of those who fiercely
oppose privatisation of rail, but are here complaining about how Australia
stacks up by comparison.
Just privatise everything short of basic security, healthcare, and education
already.
* Yes, it's worked so well in so many areas. We pay much less now for all
those privatised services...not.
* Quote "Many commuters in the country plan their journeys so that they
arrive at the train platform just as the cars pull up." In Sydney, you can
plan to arrive at the station on the departure time, top up your Opal card,
get a coffee, browse Netflix for a movie, do a toilet stop, make a phone
call and finish as the train arrives at the platform.
* Perhaps their service ethics need to be applied here at QR!
* Meanwhile in land down under, the Sydney to Wollongong 18:03 train has
been cancelled second time in a week because of "signal failure".... or
breakdown... or because its day that ends with Y.
* QR trains aren't late. They just cancel the scheduled service so the
statistics look good enough & the senior management at QR get their bonuses.
* I missed my train on Monday because it left 2 minutes early! It doesn't
sound like a big thing but it is worse than a train that is running a couple
of minutes late.
* We have 99 problems but this aint one.
* Well there'll be no problem throughout Australia as all our transport
organisations do not have the word 'punctuality' in their vocabulary.
And if they did, most passengers would miss their Train, Tram, Bus or Ferry,
resulting in them having to catch the next scheduled one.
* A Sydney bus company has a 2 minute departure rule. The bus can leave 2
minutes early which I found out to my displeasure whilst running from a
train to the bus as it drove away.
* Australia Metlink on time: 4 minutes and 59 seconds within scheduled
arrival or departure and
What announcements?
* Hope Gladys and Andrew Constance read this
* "Japan prides itself on punctuality"
I wonder what transport service Australia prides itself? certainly not
Sydney trains!!
I've seen regular commuters placing bets to guess what time the train will
arrive.. ;)
* Sydney trains pride themselves on getting most people to their stations
most of the time and keeping the trains on their tracks. If that's not good
enough, go to Japan.
* Wouldn't it be lovely if this sort of statement was made in QR.
Unfortunately their announcements generally concern late running
* QR may learn a thing or two about running an efficient passenger network
by visiting Japan. Rather than letting the unions control it resulting in
one of the most inefficient networks in the world.
The Japanese are able to run trains close together to increase capacity...we
think we need to build expensive new rail to do the same.
Maybe the sun will rise over QR one day.
* This is the way the Japanese are. A few years ago we had the privilege of
visiting Japan and had arranged for a transport company to pick us up after
a cruise. Our transport arrived 7 minutes late. As soon as we boarded the
transport we received a mobile phone call apologising most profusely for
the delay. Extremely customer orientated people.
* Any chance of bringing a Japanese rail executive into the country?
This would qualify, IMO, for the sparing use of a 457 that they were
originally designed for.... until Howard and Rinehart had other ideas.
* These position are reserved for the person who have experience with LONDON
Rail only.
* Not enough on its own. You'd have to sack most of the current Sydney
trains staff and management and start again. Their service culture has built
up over many years, if not centuries. So, sadly, has ours!

Andrews government opens up state's western coastline to gas drilling 16 May
2018.
<www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/andrews-government-opens-up-state-s-wester
n-coastline-to-gas-drilling-20180516-p4zfp6.html>

Wed.16.5.18 Brisbane reveals underground station plans
Take a first look at plans for the Brisbane metro underground station at the
Cultural Centre. Video supplied: Brisbane City
The project received a $300 million funding boost in the 2018-19 federal
budget.
The council released the fly-through vision of the station despite still
being in discussions with the state government about purchasing parcels of
the required land.
The state government owns a 1600-square-metre lot on Grey Street at South
Brisbane, which is crucial for the underground station to go ahead.
Related Article: A small block of land could undo the $944m Brisbane Metro
project
A 4.5-hectare block of land at Rochedale which is needed for bus depot is
also owned by state government.
Cr Quirk said the council had asked the state government for the two parcels
of land. which it would continue to pursue.
"We've certainly got the money in our budget if they want to negotiate with
us to gift it, but if we have to buy it, so be it," he said.
The land is expected to cost council up to $30 million, with the parcel of
land at South Brisbane being the most expensive.
Construction of the Brisbane Metro is expected to start in 2019 and be
completed by 2022.
Cr Quirk said construction of any project was a "challenge".
Brisbane Metro underground station at the Cultural Centre in South Brisbane
"The timing around the construction process needs to be worked through but
that will be all part of the detailed work we do over the coming period of
time," he said.
Opposition councillor Jared Cassidy said the lord mayor promised a Brisbane
a Paris-style subway at the last election.
"What we've got here is a single underground station which is supposed to
substitute his original promise of a Paris-style subway system," he said.
Cr Cassidy said the council needed to get the land deal with the state
government before putting out videos.
"I understand it's more than land at South Brisbane and Rochedale there is
actually a whole lot of other issues state government haven't signed off on
yet and the deputy mayor and lord mayor haven't been forthcoming about
them," he said.
"The project is stuck in the slow lane."
Cr Quirk said the opposition had been knocking this public transport project
since the very beginning.
Related Article: Brisbane Metro plans progress, but vehicle type is unknown.
"I don't know why Labor is so negative towards what is a very good public
transport project," he said.
The council is still exploring the possibility of turning Victoria Bridge
into a green bridge, banning its use by general traffic.
Cr Quirk said the green bridge proposal still needed backing from the state
government but had been supported by the RACQ.
Mr Fletcher said the Turnbull government looked forward to the project going
ahead.
"It is so important in terms of allowing people to travel efficiently into
and out of Brisbane as the city continues to grow," he said.
The appearance of the metro vehicles is also yet to be decided.
Cr Quirk said several vehicles were being looked at but confirmed they would
be much bigger than the city's current buses.
"You can't drive it with a bus license, or a train license," he said.
<www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/first-glimpse-at-brisbane-s-un
derground-metro-station-20180516-p4zfkj.html>
* This dud project of Quirk's and his LNP cronies, is going to waste another
$1 billion dollars of ratepayer/taxpayers money.
The elongated buses are not metro vehicles, but they are disguised to look
like a tram/light rail.
The Brisbane City Council is not interested in rail development such as
light rail or trains.
They only support road-based transport such as cars or buses.
I believe that they are also just trying to boost the revenue of the
disastrous toll tunnels by adding more cars to our roads.
They are opposed to Cross River Rail which is the most important transport
project for Brisbane's future growth.
Cross River Rail will make the whole rail network more efficient and allow
for an increase in new rail extensions right throughout the rail network.
The state Labor government should sack the anti-rail BCC for historically
wasting billions of dollars on dud projects and use the billion dollars, not
on bendy buses, but on Cross River Rail.
* State Government already says they can fund CRR....but they just seem to
st by and not do anything.
* you cannot call a bus service a metro! even the light rail metro in Los
Angeles is a push but certainly not buses, this is just ridiculous
* So has Quirk confirmed these are indeed "big buses".
* I'm keen to watch this pipedream fall into the abyss as the cost of
developing a new bus type balloons.
* This is an example of the lack of planning for a coordinated and
integrated public transport system in Brisbane.
We have the Queensland Government building a tunnel for trains and a local
government authority building a tunnel for buses.
Both groups of politicians trying to get their hands on the same money from
the federal government..
A better way would be for the 3 levels of government to sit down draw up a
plan for public transport both buses and trains.
With SEQ growing so quickly the sooner we develop a master plan and stop the
political games the better!
* Actually, both the Qld Government and BCC have said that both the Metro
and CRR are complimentary and will work well together (just search for past
media reports).
The major difference is that while BCC is getting on with building it, the
Qld Government is doing nothing but whinging about funding (despite them
stating that they can and will fund it - which appears to be a lie the
longer nothing gets done).
* London has gone through the exercise of having bigger buses and after
running them for a few years discovered that the "bendy-bus" causes more
problems than it solved. So Brisbane Council instead of trying to reinvent
the wheel learn from other cities experience. Buses may be cheaper than an
underground rail system but look what the big cities of the world use, it's
not buses.

Fishermans Bend: Location announced for new secondary college, station, tram
route
Port Phillip Leader May 16, 2018.
video: Melbourne University's new Fishermans Bend campus.
THE STATE Government has announced the location of a new high-rise secondary
school in Fishermans Bend.
And a new tram route and railway station to service the area are also on the
cards.
The five-storey development will adjoin JL Murphy Reserve at 477 Graham St
Port Melbourne.
Albert Park MP Martin Foley said the Victorian School Building Authority had
scheduled an opening date of 2021, and up to 900 enrolments.
While public transport access to former industrial suburb is limited, it
would be improved, Mr Foley promised.
"The Fishermans Bend planning framework nominates public transport routes,
the tram being the first one (with a rail station plan to follow)," Mr Foley
said.
"The (tram) route will finish at the new school and will cross the Yarra."
Mr Foley said it would be "touch and go", but if transport routes were not
completed by 2021, there would "certainly" be an expanded bus network to
meet demand.
A new Melbourne University engineering campus is also expected to open at
the former Holden site during the same time.
Mr Foley said about 6000 students would be using that $49.8 million
facility, but could not confirm which tram link would be prioritised.
There would be changes in school zone boundaries in the area, he said.
"Most kids that will come here will probably come from the same precinct
which is back towards South Melbourne and Southbank," Mr Foley said.
"The Albert Park College boundary will be Williamstown Rd, but if anything
there will be more changes to the primary school zones."
Waste company Citywide Service Solutions currently operates out of the Port
Melbourne Graham St depot, where the new school will be built.
Mr Foley said the Melbourne City and Port Phillip councils have a joint plan
to consolidate their depots in the one site at the former General Motors
Holden site, which the government has now purchased.
He said the depot at 477 Graham St could also be relocated there.
A total of $3.8 million was allocated for the planning of Fisherman's Bend
Secondary School out of the 2018-19 State Budget.
FISHERMANS BEND COULD FAIL DUE TO LACK OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT.
MELBOURNE UNI CAMPUS FOR FISHERMANS BEND.
FRANKSTON LINE WORKS CREATE COMMUTER CHAOS.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/inner-south/fishermans-bend-location-announced-
for-new-secondary-college-train-station-tram-route/news-story/da6d9f95f0c426
4698e4b999a6185f86>

Safety regulator finds track maintenance had dipped at time of train
derailment in Melbourne
Herald Sun May 16, 2018
video: Infrastructure Victoria transport modelling
KEY maintenance work around Melbourne's metropolitan network had fallen away
at the time a train carrying 120 passengers derailed in Fitzroy North, a
safety regulator has found.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has today handed down its report into
the February 2016 derailment that took place just 100m away from Rushall
train station.
Crews at the scene of the derailment in 2016. Picture: Stuart Walmsley
The wheels of one of the carriages came off the tracks as it approached the
station, with one passenger taken to hospital with minor injuries as the
network was thrown into chaos.
In its report the ATSB found the train had been travelling at a safe speed
but a drop in important track work had been a key factor behind the crash.
"The maintenance of rail lubricators had become less effective in the months
leading up to the derailment," the report reads
"Rail lubricator maintenance was being transferred from contractors to Metro
Trains Melbourne staff and this transition was not adequately managed."
It comes after a week of pain with commuters in both Melbourne and regional
Victoria, with track faults and issues delaying peak-hour services.
TRAIN DERAILS AT RUSHALL STATION.
BOOM GATE FAIL TRAPPING RESIDENTS IN DRIVEWAYS.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/safety-regulator-finds-track-maintenance
-had-dipped-at-time-of-train-derailment-in-melbourne/news-story/9cdfa831b192
fd4104ac11a0f8c0faa6>

Cab fares rise as drivers pass on State Government $1 Commercial Passenger
Vehicle Levy. paywalled, with tdu.
Herald Sun May 16, 2018.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/cab-fares-rise-as-drivers-pass-on-state-
government-1-commercial-passenger-vehicle-levy/news-story/64f5c8c96182c19484
815dce94132d1d>

Commuter chaos: Frankston line rail works throws boom gates off trigger,
causing lengthy delays
Mordialloc Chelsea Leader May 16, 2018.
video: Victoria to receive $7.8b infrastructure package
FRUSTRATED residents say they are being trapped in their driveways for more
than an hour by banked-up traffic trying to cross the Frankston line onto
the Nepean Highway.
They claim level crossing removal work on the line has been causing chaos at
the Station St, Bonbeach crossing.
It's adding insult to injury for commuters already besieged by bus
replacements on rail lines, signalling faults, level crossing works and
Metro Tunnel Project works across Melbourne.
Steve Talbot, who lives opposite the level crossing, said since rail work
began the boom gates were staying closed for three times longer than usual.
"They used to come down about 60 seconds before a train came through and
rise again about 30 seconds after the train had passed," Mr Talbot said.
"Now they are taking up to 15 minutes to rise. I've seen cars waiting for an
hour to move through the queue of traffic."
Mr Talbot said the congestion started on May 4, the day buses started
replacing trains between Frankston and Carrum.
"I think the boom gate sequence changed at the same time," he said.
Members of a local Facebook group also vented their anger.
Alicia Newman posted about being 30 minutes late for an appointment after
being forced to do a u-turn to escape the queue.
Brooke Dunleavy saw about 50 cars "backed up past the station trying to turn
across the tracks".
Kel Clarke said she had experienced delays at Carrum.
"A train will set off the first boom gate ... then eight minutes later I'm
still there as train after train after train gets priority over road and
pedestrians," Ms Clarke posted.
According to Metro boom gates across the metropolitan train network are
triggered automatically by the presence of a train to ensure the safe
separation of trains, vehicles and pedestrians.
The termination of trains at Carrum could affect the frequency and duration
of the automatic activation.
An equipment fault at Carrum on May 7 caused the gates to be down for
extended periods before it was fixed later that day.
Metro spokesman Andrew Nelson said there had been no specific changes to how
the boom gates at were operated during the crossing removal works.
"We thank the community for their patience during these important works," Mr
Nelson said.
Buses are replacing trains between Carrum and Frankston and Stony Point
until June 17.
TRANSPORT A TOP PRIORITY ON MELBOURNE TO-DO LIST.
EVENING PEAK HOUR CHAOS AS TRAINS DELAYED HOURS.
CALL FOR TRAIN STATION NEXT TO POPULAR SHOPPING CENTRE.
WHAT DRIVES YOU CRAZY ABOUT THE PEAK-HOUR COMMUTE? COMMENT BELOW.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/inner-south/commuter-chaos-frankston-line-rail-
works-throws-boom-gates-off-trigger-causing-lengthy-delays/news-story/f367d9
5eb2704b561d5ff3d57d3f82cf>