-----Original Message-----
From: Roderick Smith [mailto:rodsmith@werple.net.au]
Sent: Wednesday, 18 July 2018 10:24 PM
To: 'transportdownunder@yahoogroups.com'
Subject: Mon.16.7.18 daily digest

Attached

180716M Melbourne 'Herald Sun':
- tram strike.
- Baxter electrification.
- letters, train surfing.
- Flinders St.

180716M Metro Twitter:
- 1954 Flinders St.
- Darling - Glen Waverley alternatives.

Roderick.

Mon.16.7.18 Metro Twitter.
11.14 Delays over 20 minutes (police in the Heidelberg area). Trains may be
held at available platforms until the situation is clear.
- 11.31 Trains are on the move, with delays up to 30 minutes.
17.41 Major delays (police between Holmesglen and Glen Waverley).
- 17.51 & 18.00 Buses to replace trains Darling - Glen Waverley (a person
hit by a train). Buses have been ordered but may take over 90 minutes to
arrive, consider alternate transport options [link provided].
- 18.04 13 buses have been ordered but may take over 90 minutes to arrive.
Additional buses are being sourced.
- 18.06 Passengers on the affected train, emergency services are in
attendance. We will evacuate the train when it is deemed safe to do so by
them. [the usual can't cope, don't try, don't care].
- 18.26 Passengers at City Loop stations are advised to take
Belgrave/Lilydale or Pakenham/Cranbourne line services and change for
alternative local transport options [ie north-south buses].
- 18.27 13 buses have been ordered but may take over 90 minutes to arrive.
Additional buses are being sourced.
- 18.55 10 buses are in operation with an additional 13 enroute. Additional
buses are being sourced.
- 19.10 15 buses are in operation with an additional eight 8 enroute.
- 19.32 23 buses are in operation, with an extended journey time of up to 45
minutes.
- 20.22 Trains are resuming, with minor delays. The first will be the 19.59
down and the 20.50 up. Buses may supplement train services.

Flinders Street Station, illuminated Royal Visit and Railways Centenary
Decorations 1954. PROV VPRS 12905/P1, unit 5, m3753.
<www.flickr.com/photos/public-record-office-victoria/7252885616/in/album-721
57629805893960>

Melbourne Express, Monday, July 16, 2018
Melbourne artists, performers to transform tunnel sites. A construction
site may seem like an unlikely canvas for creativity, but that's not the
case in inner-Melbourne.
Artist Beci Orpin in front of her mural commissioned by the tunnel project.
Photo: Josh Robenstone.
Work on the $11 billion tunnel project is well under way and is set to
increase across the city, so the state government is putting a call out to
painters, performers and poets to help keep the spots vibrant and visually
appealing.
8.30:
.. Belgrave and Lilydale lines - Citybound delays up to 10 minutes (a
now-fixed equipment fault in the Nunawading area). Delays aRE expected to
reduce and clear fully by 9.00.
.. The 8.19 UP South Morang will originate from Bell at 8.40. The next UP
will depart from South Morang at 8.34.
.. Sunbury line - Citybound delays up to 10 minutes (a faulty train at
Sydenham Watergardens).
8.08:
.. South Morang - Citybound delays up to 10 minutes (a faulty train at
Epping).
.. Sunbury - Citybound delays up to 10 minutes (a faulty train at Sydenham
Watergardens).
<www.theage.com.au/melbourne-news/melbourne-express-monday-july-16-2018-2018
0716-p4zroh.html>

Guy, Turnbull all aboard the $450 million Baxter rail link 16 July 2018.
The Stony Point line would get an upgrade under a Coalition state
government. Photo: Paul Rovere.
Melbourne's Metro Trains would run all the way to Baxter on the Mornington
Peninsula if the Coalition won November's state election, with a $450
million joint project promised between the state and the Commonwealth.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will join Victorian Opposition Leader
Matthew Guy on Tuesday to announce the policy, which would link the growing
new suburbs south of Frankston to Melbourne's broader train network.
Baxter is a stop on the spartan and unreliable Stony Point line, which runs
diesel trains. Commuters have long called for an upgrade to modern electric
trains on the line.
The announcement comes on the heels of Mr Guy's promise last week to extend
the Cranbourne train line to the fast-growing suburb of Clyde, as electoral
battle for vital seats in Melbourne's south-east heats up.
The Baxter line is also mostly in the federal seat of Dunkley, held by the
Liberal's Chris Crewther but made harder to defend at the next election by
this month's boundary changes. The changes made the seat notionally Labor.
The plan would extend the Frankston railway line by eight kilometres as an
electrified, twin-track railway to Baxter along the current Stony Point
line.
There would be two new stations built, one at Frankston East, near Monash
University's Peninsula campus and the Frankston Hospital, and one at
Langwarrin.
Baxter station would also be upgraded, with the Coalition hoping to start
work next year if it won November's election.
The Turnbull Government committed $225 million towards the project in its
2018-2019 Budget and Mr Guy will pledge another $225 million for the
project, which would also see the Moorooduc Highway level crossing removed.
Mr Guy will also promise on Tuesday to tackle other "major shortfalls" in
public transport services in the area by improving bus services between
Frankston East, Langwarrin, Baxter and Portsea and Hastings on the
Mornington Peninsula.
"We need to ease the population squeeze, which is why I am so focused on
planning for decentralising our population growth and that means more roads
and more public transport," Mr Guy said on Monday.
"If we are going to decentralise Victoria's population, we need to provide
more education and health services as well as build and upgrade rail lines
to areas like Langwarrin and Baxter."
"A new station at Frankston East will improve access to Frankston Hospital
for patients and families as well as health professionals, and it will also
and help students get to the local campus of Monash University."
Mr Turnbull said the promised spending was part of his government's $17
billion infrastructure investment in the state.
"The approach would complement the Turnbull government's $17 billion
investment in Victorian infrastructure, which is possible because of a
stronger economy," he said.
"Only a strong economy enables the government to guarantee the essential
services that Victorians rely on."
"The business case for the upgrade, which was initiated by Mr Crewther and
funded by the Turnbull Government, is currently underway and due for
completion in 2019."
<www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/guy-turnbull-all-aboard-the-450-million
-baxter-rail-link-20180716-p4zrsw.html>

Digging up a lot more coal won't bring more jobs 16 July 2018. 150 comments.
<www.theage.com.au/business/the-economy/digging-up-a-lot-more-coal-won-t-bri
ng-more-jobs-20180715-p4zrlp.html>

'Late every time': Sydney's worst bus revealed 16 July 2018. 69 comments.
<www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/late-every-time-sydney-s-worst-bus-revealed-201
80704-p4zphp.html>

Part of popular Brisbane bikeway closed for 12 months 16 July 2018.
<www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/part-of-popular-brisbane-bikew
ay-closed-for-12-months-20180716-p4zrpn.html>

Federal and state Liberals join forces to extend Frankston train line
Herald Sun July 16, 2018.
video: Plan to extend Frankston line.
ONE of Melbourne's busiest train lines would get an 8km extension, almost a
century after being electrified, under a $450 million Coalition plan.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy will be joined by Prime Minister Malcolm
Turnbull on Tuesday as he pledges to build twin electrified tracks from
Frankston to Baxter should he win November 24's Victorian election.
The federal government put money on the table to help pay for the suburban
rail project earlier this year.
GUY PROMISES $487M EXTENSION OF CRANBOURNE LINE.
TEENS CONTINUE TO RISK THEIR LIVES TRAIN SURFING.
THE 12 TYPES OF TRAIN COMMUTERS YOU NEED TO AVOID.
Under Mr Guy's plan, stations would be built in Frankston East and
Langwarrin, near Monash University and the Frankston Hospital. Construction
would begin in 2019.
Metro services would replace the diesel car services, which run to Stony
Point, along the new section of track.
Mr Guy said a "jam-packed" Melbourne, growing by about 120,000 people a
year, needed more services.
"We need to ease the population squeeze which is why I am so focused on
planning for decentralising our population growth, and that means more roads
and more public transport," he said.
"We need to provide more education and health services as well as build and
upgrade rail lines to areas like Langwarrin and Baxter."
State opposition leader Matthew Guy says a "jam-packed" Melbourne needs more
services. Picture: Wayne Taylor
Mr Turnbull said the Baxter project would "ensure commuters on the
Mornington Peninsula can get home to their families sooner and safer as well
as bringing them closer to more employment opportunities as well as
educational and health facilities".
"These are the types of projects that Victorians can expect when they have
state and federal Liberal and National governments working together to
deliver for local communities," Mr Turnbull said.
Mr Guy recently promised to spend $487 million to extend the Cranbourne
train line to Clyde if he is elected.
Money will also go towards extra bus services between Frankston and other
parts of the Mornington Peninsula.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says the extension will allow commuters to
get home to their families sooner. Picture: AAP/David Crosling
A business case for the rail upgrade, paid for by the federal government, is
under way.
When that was announced in April, state Public Transport Minister Jacinta
Allan said the project could not be done without new stabling at Kananook
for trains, which would require several business acquisitions opposed by the
Liberals.
State and federal seats in the Frankston region are politically important,
and the area will get significant focus in the lead-up to the November 24
state election.
Frankston Council has argued the project would ease congestion and create
jobs.
Opposition public transport spokesman David Davis said Labor had taken the
area for granted and it should have matched Turnbull Government funding on
the table.
* $450million for 8Km mainly because of lack of parking at Frankston. Would
it mot be cheaper to build a multistory car park and upgrade the roads to
it? Have they factored in the cost of the level crossing removals, one over
a major 6 lane freeway, or will that be a separate project budget line?.New
Frankston East station, I gather that will be near the hospital precinct
although it seems closer to the freeway in the video. Now that would have to
be an option, close to major roads, looks like there could be room for a
multi story car park What of the Leawarra Station, no mention of it being
upgraded although it is the logical access to the Monash campus and
Frankston Power Centre. I would also rather see the Langwarrin station up
near Peninsula Private Hospital Karingal, Land available behind Burdett's
and upgrade McClelland Drive.
I would be more supportive of this if they at least said the plan was to
extend to Hastings, with more services to Stony Point to link up with
Phillip Island ferry service.
Interesting that we have the announcement that it will be build and it sound
like work will start next year but
"A business case for the rail upgrade, paid for by the federal government,
is under way."
Sounds a bit "cart before the horse" to me. Surly not just a pre election
announcement! I would have thought as the rail line is a state
responsibility they would have had to prepare the business case and present
it to the Federal
Government.
Perhaps that $450 million is just for the preparation of the business case.
Do we not pay a lot of public servants to prepare these sort of things?
* Reinstate trains to Leongatha.
* What about bringing back trains to Mornington.
* Yes. It wasn't all that long ago that the trains use to go there. Another
short sighted decision.
* How about electrifying the Melton line? Same distance as Frankston, but
still relying on Vline. I believe this was supposed to be done over 20 years
ago, and public transport is woeful out here
* Don't vote Liberal they have the largest Immagration intake of any party
....fact.
* I take it you mean immigration.And what has that go to do with Victoria,
it's a federal issue.
* About time excellent news Libs.
* Ask the unions.
* With the level crossings being removed, track and signalling upgraded
there will be more frequency of train services. Add to that, most services
will still terminate at Frankston but a handful will continue on to
Langwarrin and you can see there will be a minimal increase in passenger
rates. This is a great idea but one that needs to be implemented at a
number of suburbs around Melbourne, least of which is Doncaster.
* Yes we need more services, but stop focusing on only the lines that both
sides can buy votes. what about lines that only have one track? Also 8 km
for almost half a billion dollars?
* Will there be no rail crossings, and any undercover parking?
* Build a train line to Rowville you bunch of clowns!
* You should have made that suggestion to the original clowns,Dan & his
rorters.
* The only thing "jam packed " will be the trains. Once you get passed
Carrum it will be standing room only.
* They drive in now to Frankston of a morning anyway.
* Interested to see the business case and scope of works, an alternative
route to Dandenong should be considered.
* Why does it cost so much these days just to extend a rail line by a few
kilometres? Are we now installing gold plated rails?
* The line is not long enough to take in immigration. Nor any other line in
Australia.
* Then take it a step further and loop it around the the Clyde extension via
an airport in the south east!
Why isn't this new Airport happening yesterday, imagine the traffic off all
the roads into Tulla, and the jobs created in the south east. Can anyone
tell me why both sides of politics don't want this?
* All this little bloke does spend and spend and make promises. How many
years are his plans going to take and where is the money going to come from.
Major intersections, tunnels, railways how many more promises and years of
pain is
this little bloke going to put Victorians through.
* You're thinking of Dan and the ALP, surely?
* I will vote for the party that will cut immigration in half.
* That is a Federal issue not State. - pity we have compulsory voting
* No it's not. ever look at the USA elections? You want that here?
* A re-instated passenger rail service to Mildura would be good.
* Trouble is no-one used it in the last decade it used to run.
* Hey Libs, if you want to win government , you need the western suburbs.
Ignore the West at your peril. All your announcements are east and south
east. Do you want to win or not?
* Are you serious? ALP heartland? You people keep voting in the likes of Don
Nardella, Tim Pallas and Telmo Languiller! Dump at least 2 of these 3 at the
next election and we can talk, otherwise, just stay rusted on.
* So more standing from Seaford - Moorabbin great!
* at least i will get a seat in Baxter.
* No you won't bexause it won't happen, enjoy your frequent vline LMAO.
* no more Labor in this State... cya later.. enjoy your standing!
* I have flexible working hours (the envy of the parent) so I always get a
seat, not a labor voter anyways. Enjoy your current commute lol and keep
dreaming!
* At last a practical plan for our public transport chaos. Well done Mr Guy.

Meanwhile the ALP and their union mates continue to argue in the sandpit
refusing to grow up. It's embarassing.
* I think you must have been asleep for the past 3 1/2 years!
* A half baked plan, for which the business case is still be developed, by
the Federal Government if the story is correct. Clearly just a vote for us
announcement. I am not a Labor supporter.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/federal-and-state-liberals-join-forces-t
o-extend-frankston-train-line/news-story/0a88fc426f2688293c676c57c302400c>

Trains have resumed on the Glen Waverley line after an incident at
Jordanville station. Generic picture: Chris Eastman
Trains resume continue on Glen Waverley train line.
Herald Sun July 16, 2018.
TRAINS have resumed on the Glen Waverley line after an incident at
Jordanville station.
The line experienced major delays between Darling and Glen Waverley railway
stations after a person was hit by a train.
Buses replaced trains as passengers were stuck on a train at Jordanville
station while police investigated the incident.
MORE LAW AND ORDER NEWS
The passengers were evacuated and no further injuries have been reported.
For 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services, phone Lifeline on
13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au/gethelp
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/major-delays-on-glen-waverley-train-lin
e/news-story/ba55d2b434dc7f99300aff5b608cad5f>

How the Met Ticket stopped Melbourne's trams dead.
Herald Sun July 16, 2018.
video: A history of Melbourne.
MELBOURNE'S trams came to a complete stop almost 30 years ago when the
controversial Met ticket system was introduced in a bid to cut costs and
phase out conductors.
The scratchie-style tickets infuriated unions and prompted strikes with
drivers moving about 250 trams into the city centre from depots on January
1, 1990.
Up to 1100 conductor jobs were at risk with the introduction of the
easy-to-rort tickets.
RELATED: IS MYKI WORSE THAN TRAIN TICKET SCRATCHIES?
BUS STRIKE COULD CONTINUE, WARNS UNION
COULD CBD TRUCK BAN BE THE ANSWER?
For more than a month hundreds of trams lay idle in the city's streets after
the government shut down power to the grid in a failed bid to prevent
action.
Instead drivers and conductors occupied the stranded vehicles to prevent
them being moved by the government during tense negotiations between the
tramways union and the government.
Trams in Elizabeth St during the strike.
Tram conductor Gavin Wilkinson makes his stand with a placard in the Bourke
St Mall.
In the first few days of the protest three people were arrested after
clashing with police at the picket line in the city.
The arrests and shutting off the power were condemned by Trade Hall
Council's industrial officer at the time Peter Parkinson.
But the Cain Government refused to back down and in one heated meeting
unions walked out after just 30 minutes.
"The longer the (union) leadership fails to respond to what's on offer, the
longer they will suffer, and more importantly, the longer the public will
suffer," transport minister Jim Kennan told reporters.
A Tramways emergency truck tows a powerless tram from the Bourke St Mall at
the height of the tramway workers dispute against the new Met ticket system.
Trains banked up outside Flinders St Station as transport workers support
the striking tram workers and call a total shutdown of public transport.
The protracted dispute was one of the longest the state has ever seen and
saw retail sales and work attendance in the city drop.
The dispute escalated when two men were arrested after allegedly trying to
sabotage tram tracks.
The pair were allegedly caught welding iron bars to tram tracks and would
have derailed any moving trams, police said.
Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary John Halfpenny condemned the attempt
to destroy the tracks but said there was a reason for the action.
"For these people the actions of the government is just as violent and just
as dangerous," he said.
The bus and railways union also joined in the strikes for some time. Bus
routes didn't run for days, while the train attendants refused to validate
any Met tickets.
Tram conductor Jim Clarkson (left) and driver Robert Branson inspect one the
sabotaged tram tracks in Victoria St.
Unhappy with the proposed automatic Met ticket system, tram drivers park in
Elizabeth Street.
After 33 days the strike was called off when 1500 transport unionists voted
to accept driver-only trams and end the dispute.
Plans to get the trams up and running were short-circuited when the
electrical union refused to restore power to the overhead cable network.
The Public Transport Corporation was forced to tow away the trams an the
maintenance workers did return to work.
But the PTC had to agree to claims of a $100 fee for starting the trams,
replace stolen tools and provide a wristwatch for each worker.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/how-the-met-ticket-stopped-melbournes-tr
ams-dead/news-story/e196afce542a8adca4a011456fc09037>
* How time flies. I remember this and fortunately the city wasn't as busy as
it is today. The trams gave the homeless a place to sleep.
* And then we got Myki. What a disaster. It was cheaper to keep the Connies.
* I remember John Halfpenny saying if a tram was moved you could put it in a
museum because it will never-ever be driven again.
* John Halfpenny would know - he belonged in a museum himself. He even had
a surname which had been superceded by decimal currency quarter of a decade
earlier. Typical dinosaur union leader, stuck forever in the past.
* Union members did weld trams wheels to the tracks and parked buses at the
end of each tram convoy and let their tyres down to prevent the trams from
being moved.
I saw them do it.
* Typical of the unions. They think they run the place. The sad things is
there is a place for them, but are just completely unreasonable and out of
control.