-----Original Message-----
From: Roderick Smith [mailto:rodsmith@werple.net.au]
Sent: Tuesday, 20 February 2018 10:12 AM
To: 'transportdownunder@yahoogroups.com'
Subject: Daily Digest, Mon.19.2.18

I got to the new-train display last week. Nobody could announce the
capacity; a sign proclaimed: 'More seats than any other train on the
system'. That is because PTV scrapped the higher-capacity double-deck
train, and no longer runs ten-car Taits on Melbourne Cup Day.
Nobody could announce the capacity of the equally spin-named new signalling.
I didn't ask about running times to Dandenong.

On Thursday (ARE at Hawthorn), train & tram connections were on time.

Attached:

180219M Melbourne 'Age' - Racecourse Rd.

Roderick.

Metro Twitter, Mon.19.2.18
7.06 Route 57 trams in both directions are diverting via Mt Alexander Rd &
Ascot Vale Rd along Route 59/82 (a power fault in Racecourse Rd & Boundary
Rd, near Citylink). This delay may take some time to clear.
Route 57 Passengers can consider trains along the Upfield & Craigieburn Line
from Newmarket & Flemington Bridge Stations. Or Route 59 trams along Mt
Alexander Rd.
Union Rd Passengers: Can consider Bus 472 (Williamstown - Moonee Ponds) to
connect with diverting Route 57 and Route 59 trams. [At what frequency,
capacity and connectivity?]
- 7.53 Route 57 trams in both directions are diverting via Mt Alexander Rd &
Ascot Vale Rd along Route 59/82 (overhead wires struck by truck on
Racecourse Rd & Boundary Rd, near Citylink). This delay may take some time
to clear. Passengers can consider trains on the Upfield/Craigieburn Lines
from Flemington Bridge & Newmarket Station. Bus 404 from Ascot Vale Rd to
Moonee Ponds Junction. Bus 472 from Francis St/Union Rd to Moonee Ponds
Junction to connect with diverting Route 57 & Route 59 trams. (2/2)
- 8.47 A limited Route 57 tram-replacement bus service is in operation from
Stop 20 Melrose St to Stop 37 Maribyrnong Rd. The bus will travel down
Boundary Rd, Macaulay Rd, Stubbs St, Racecourse Rd & Epson Rd to Union
Rd(Stop 37).

Melbourne Express, Mon.19.2.18.
A wrap on the roads and the major delays around North Melbourne after a
truck took out overhead tram wires on Racecourse Road.
North Melbourne is in gridlock , with a five-kilometre traffic jam from
Carlton to Flemington.
Gridlock on Racecourse Road.
A Mondayitis-inducing scene on Racecourse Road, where a truck has brought
down overhead tram wires. Photo: Jason South.
8.21 It's bumper-to-bumper in both directions between Royal Parade and Ascot
Vale Road in Flemington thanks to the truck that took out overhead tram
lines on Racecourse Road.
That's a four-kilometre traffic jam. Expect delays of about 20 minutes.
The scene at Racecourse Road. Photo: Jason South.
8.16 Looks like a growing number of people are suffering some heavy delays.
Traffic is at a standstill in North Melbourne after a truck took out
overhead tram wires.
8.09 Here's some vision of Racecourse Road from Channel Seven:.
~8.00 Union Rd Passengers: Can consider Bus 472 (Williamstown - Moonee
Ponds) to connect with diverting Route 57 and Route 59 trams. Racecourse Rd
(near Ascot Vale Rd) passengers: Can consider Bus 404 (Footscray - Moonee
Ponds) to connect with diverting Route 57 & Route 59 trams at Moonee Ponds
Junction.
8.03 Traffic is quickly building in both directions on Racecourse Road with
delays now extending through Parkville.
7.46 The ensuing traffic nightmare it has caused.
7.40 More advice for commuters in the North Melbourne area.
7.38 Route 57 trams in both directions are diverting via Mt Alexander Rd &
Ascot Vale Rd along Route 59/82 (a power fault in Racecourse Rd & Boundary
Rd,near Citylink). Passenger are advised that this delay may take some
time to clear.
7.27 All westbound lanes heading towards Flemington Racecourse are closed.
The inbound on-ramp to Citylink has also been closed. Traffic is heavy
through the area. Police are on site directing traffic. Avoid the area.
7.26 RACECOURSE RD at CityLink - Truck has brought down overhead tram
lines. Outbound closed. Inbound on-ramp to Citylink also closed. Avoid.
7.24 Traffic is quickly building in both directions on Racecourse Road with
delays now extending through Parkville, Ebony Bowden reports. Police are on
the scene and have closed all outbound lanes at Boundary Road.
A VicRoads camera shows closed lanes on Racecourse Road.
7.15 Tram passengers have been advised to seek alternative transport.
7.14 Those tram problems in North Melbourne are caused by a truck which took
out overhead wires in Racecourse Road, near the entry to Tullamarine
Freeway.
7.09 Truck takes out overhead tram wires in North Melbourne. Route 57 trams
in both directions are diverting via Mt Alexander Rd & Ascot Vale Rd along
Route 59/82- Due to a power fault on Racecourse Rd & Boundary Rd (near
Citylink). Passenger are advised that this delay may take some time to
clear. Route 57 Passengers can consider trains along the Upfield &
Craigieburn Line from Newmarket & Flemington Bridge Stations. Or Route 59
trams along Mt Alexander Rd.
7.07 Minor delays now on the Hurstbridge line. The 7.20am Eltham to Flinders
Street service has been reinstated and will now originate at Macleod.
~7.00 Route 57 Passengers can consider trains along the Upfield &
Craigieburn Line from Newmarket & Flemington Bridge Stations. Or Route 59
trams along Mt Alexander Rd.
Racecourse Rd (near Ascot Vale Rd) passengers: Can consider Bus 404
(Footscray - Moonee Ponds) to connect with diverting Route 57 & Route 59
trams at Moonee Ponds Junction.
<www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/melbourne-express-monday-february-19-20
18-20180219-h0w9yy.html>

February 17 2018 ACT government eyes electric buses for 2018-19 bulk-buy .
[photos were up yesterday].
Canberra's new electric buses may be edging out their hybrid competitor as
the ACT looks to buy another 40 buses next financial year.
The ACT government just signed a contract for 40 new Scania Euro VI diesel
buses, bringing the bus fleet to a total of 474 and steadily phasing out the
old orange ACTION buses.
The ACT Government and Transport Canberra have trialed electric and hybrid
buses. Photo: Rohan Thomson But Transport Minister Meegan Fitzharris said
the next batch they buy may not run on fossil fuels.
"The government is also looking closely at using emerging electric bus
technologies for the provision of the next 40 buses in 2018-19," Ms
Fitzharris said.
One of the ACT's electric buses. Photo: Rohan Thomson .
"We have been trialling the use of two electric buses and one hybrid bus
since August last year to enable the government to assess the viability of
using these new types of buses in the network.
"The ACT government is committed to looking at new and innovative ways to
improve our public transport system to manage Canberra's growth, reduce
congestion and protect our liveability."
The electric and hybrid diesel/electric bus trial began last August, after
being pushed back due to the first contract falling through.
A spokeswoman for Ms Fitzharris said the government was "not yet in a
position" to compare the performance of the electric buses to that of the
rest of the fleet.
However they appear to be planning for an electrification of the fleet with
upgrades to the territory's transport infrastructure.
"The new bus depot at Woden for example will be electric bus capable from
when it opens in 2019," the spokeswoman said.
Between August 1 and January 1, the electric bus has recorded 643 trips,
used 12 000 kwH of electricity and had one breakdown.
The hybrid bus has been on 487 trips, used 3966 litres of diesel (the
control buses used about four times as much diesel) and broken down twice.
Neither type of bus has run out of power while on the road, however the
electric bus has had six days of unscheduled maintenance while the hybrid
bus has had nine days of unscheduled maintenance.
"With any new technology, there will always be challenges, operational and
technical. We have a dedicated team supporting this service," the
spokeswoman said.
"We are also committed to investigating new bus technologies with the aim of
lowering greenhouse emissions and improving public transport in Canberra."
www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/act-government-eyes-electric-buses-for-201
819-bulkbuy-20180206-h0uewm.html

Plan for state control of Victoria's electricity sector in limbo. with tdu.
Herald Sun Mon.19.2.18.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/plan-for-state-control-of-victorias-elec
tricity-sector-in-limbo/news-story/17938781923ff6aba687bf0893ca7928>

Traffic chaos finally cleared after truck brought down tram lines 19
February 2018.
Traffic chaos in North Melbourne has been cleared after a truck earlier
brought down tram lines during the peak-hour rush, closing roads and causing
major delays for drivers and commuters.
All lanes were reopened just before 3pm on Monday, with VicRoads also
confirming the inbound on-ramp to Citylink had also been reopened.
Truck brings down power lines
Traffic delays expected after a truck brought down power lines while turning
onto the freeway on Racecourse Road. Vision courtesy of Seven Network.
Traffic in North Melbourne was earlier gridlocked with a five-kilometre
traffic jam from Carlton to Flemington after the truck tore down the
overhead lines on Racecourse Road about 7am.
All outbound lanes on Racecourse Road in North Melbourne and the CityLink
inbound on-ramp were closed for several hours while route 57 trams were
diverted.
Traffic is gridlock on Racecourse road in Flemington on Monday morning.
Photo: Jason South Outbound traffic was at a standstill on Racecourse Road
and Elliott Avenue until after 11am, with significant delays stretching all
the way back to the University of Melbourne.
Repair works and road closures continued at the scene until just before 3pm.
A car was also seriously damaged in the crash after the truck brought down a
steel beam before becoming stuck under the CityLink overpass. There are no
reports of injuries.
Route 57 trams were significantly delayed and diverted along Mount Alexander
Road.
Police had earlier closed all southbound lanes in Racecourse Road. Photo:
VicRoads A tram-replacement bus was also operating between Melrose Street
and Maribyrnong Road.
Traffic was also gridlocked between Royal Parade in Parkville and Ascot Vale
Road on Monday morning while Mount Alexander Road also ground to a halt.
Delays ballooned to more than 20 minutes.
Police remained on scene for several hours diverting traffic as Yarra Trams
and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade work to restore the lines.
Motorists were told to avoid the area and use Mount Alexander Road instead
<www.theage.com.au/melbourne-news/traffic-chaos-cleared-after-truck-brought-
down-power-lines-in-north-melbourne-20180219-p4z0sf.html>