-----Original Message-----
From: Roderick Smith [mailto:rodsmith@werple.net.au]
Sent: Friday, 18 May 2018 11:07 AM
To: 'transportdownunder@yahoogroups.com'
Subject: Mon.7.5.18 daily digest

Attached:

180507M Melbourne 'Herald Sun':
- letters (road & rail).
- federal budget.
- electricity costs. with tdu/flickr

180507M 'WA Today' - gas field. with tdu/flickr

Roderick

Mon.7.5.18 Metro Twitter
7.16 Another new Xtrapolis (262M).
- Run it on the Ballarat Line since that line has constant train fault
issues. Don't worry that it's not electrified. I'm sure it is more reliable
than the current services offered.
- is Metro ever going to run any Siemens trains on the Belgrave and Lilydale
lines?
- Any reason why these trains are not on the Craigieburn Line? I sometimes
catch them to Greensborough and they are [good] to travel in.
- Under previous franchises, these trains were built in the early 2000s to
run only on the NE and E suburban lines, while the Siemens Nexas trains were
built about the same time for the NW, SW and SE lines.
- Is it a capacity issue? Be great to have them in the Craigieburn line in
replacement of those sweetboxes.
- It's not capacity related, Xtrapolis trains aren't currently certified to
carry passengers on the NW lines (Craigieburn, Upfield or Sunbury). They
have been cleared to run on some other lines in recent years, but those
lines
required major modification before certification.
17.14 Pakenham/Cranbourne/Frankston line: Minor delays for some outbound
services through Hawksburn (an equipment fault).
- 17.17 Nothing new for a Monday. Extremely frustrating.
- 17.19 Normal story for peak services.
- 17.41 How pathetic will your services get before it gets any better?
- 17.47 Monday peak hour...Quite standard.
- 17.51 It's NOT a minor delay! Can't even get on a train at Westall!
- 17.57 Delays have increased and our website, metroNotify and Twitter have
all been updated.
- 18.10 Not again please, seems like a routine, only tweet when everything
is running well, because most of the time there are some faults.
22.18 Frankston line: Major delays Caulfield - Carrum (equipment fault at
Carrum). [bustituted beyond Carrum anyhow].

Melbourne Express, Monday, May 7, 2018
9.05 Minor delays on the Craigieburn line and works alerts for Frankston and
Stony point. Pretty clear on the roads after some earlier bingles.
Premier Dan Andrews and Roads Minister Luke Donnellan will open new Monahs
lanes at Dandenong North this morning.
Rosanna Station opens today after weeks of works on the Hurstbridge line.
Voters will be promised billions of dollars in new spending on road and rail
projects as part of a budget pledge to tackle the growing urban congestion
blamed for sapping the Australian economy.
Remember The Ghan, SBS's first foray into the slow TV format that screened
for a very long time last November?
This is almost as good. One minute of sunrise between Caulfield and Malvern
this morning. Watching someone else's commute is weirdly relaxing.
With the federal budget due to be handed down on Tuesday, Fairfax economics
editor Ross Gittins takes us through what we can expect to hear and whether
it's good news or bad news.
Voters will be promised billions of dollars in new spending on road and rail
projects as part of a budget pledge to tackle the growing urban congestion
blamed for sapping the Australian economy.
Buses are replacing trains on the Frankston and Stony Point lines between
Carrum and Stony Point until June 17. It's because of level crossing
removals. There's also major delays on the Hurstbridge line.
<www.theage.com.au/melbourne-news/melbourne-express-monday-may-7-2018-201805
07-p4zdql.html>

Victoria to get $8b for new roads and rail 7 May 2018. 43 comments.
Victoria will get almost $8 billion for new roads and railway lines from
Tuesday's federal budget, with nearly a third of the nation's infrastructure
pie to be spent on addressing the state's escalating congestion problems.
Given Melbourne's dramatic population growth and the burden that's placing
on the city's transport network, nearly a third of the government's $24.5
billion infrastructure budget will be handed to Victoria.
Budget money is being thrown at Melbourne's clogged transport network.
Photo: Paul Rovere.
About $1.75 billion will be set aside to help build North East Link and for
new tunnels and extra lanes on the Eastern Freeway.
The deal, which comes after years of stagnation, details two new railway
lines for the south-east, including $475 million to link Monash University's
Caulfield and Clayton campuses and $225 million to electrify the Frankston
line to
Baxter.
In the past, the state government has expressed a desire for Caulfield and
Clayton to be linked by a tram, rather than a new rail line.
Other details of the $75 billion infrastructure package over the next 10
years includes $5 billion for an Airport Rail Link.
Under the budget package, $140 million will also be set aside to ease
suburban bottlenecks.
video: Federal budget 2018: What can we expect?
With the federal budget due to be handed down on Tuesday, Fairfax economics
editor Ross Gittins takes us through what we can expect to hear and whether
its good news or bad news.
It also includes completion of the Princes Highway East duplication between
Traralgon and Sale, with $132 million to be be set aside for separation from
Melbourne.
About $50 million will go to duplicating the railway line between South
Geelong and Waurn Ponds.
Tuesday's federal budget will also unveil a new Urban Congestion Fund, an
expansion of an existing fund to spur investment in new projects and help
commuters.
In the past, the fund was an important promise from Prime Minister Malcolm
Turnbull at a time when he was battling perceptions that Victoria was
missing out on infrastructure funding.
Mr Turnbull set up the fund as part of negotiations with Premier Daniel
Andrews but the model will now be replicated elsewhere to respond to traffic
congestion concerns.
''We've never seen so much work going on,'' Premier Daniel Andrews told 3AW
radio on Monday morning.
''Which is great for jobs, it is really important in terms of managing
growth and setting us up for the future, if you have the federal government
as a partner ... well, you can get more done.''
<www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/federal-budget-2018-victoria-to-get-8b-f
or-new-roads-and-rail-20180507-p4zdqw.html?loginAction=[object%20Object]>
* I wonder if $50 in the 100,000 will make it to the roads.
* So skyrail from Rowville to Caulfield? Should be quite easy engineering
wise to build.
* 2 years ago the Federal government promised $10mil to upgrade the Mt
Dandenong Tourist Rd.
Nothing happened to date, and nothing planned. I don't trust them to deliver
anything.
* It's nonsensical that the wealthy south east can easily get extra rail
lines so close to duplicating ones nearby whilst the rest such as the west/
northeast usually get only roads/ buses. This is notwithstanding the cost of

repossessions over the relatively expensive southeast properties.
As some suggests shorter rail lines connecting the existing radial rail
branches may well be more value for money.
* ''Which is great for jobs..." which is great for backpackers,
international students and 457 via holders.
* The populist line - to blame everything on immigration etc etc - doesn't
fix the root cause of why we - not only - cannot get infrastructure that
benefits us built - but also why it costs more than it has too.
We allow politicians of all stripes to get away with - not only - playing
politics with our scarce infrastructure dollars - but also - shifting the
costs 'off the books' by entering expensive public private partnerships.
Change these two things - and we will see more necessary infrastructure
built cheaper.
* It is too late to save Turnbull. Tim Pallas can rightly claim credit for
forcing the inert LNP to get off its bottom and do the right thing by
Victoria.
* How about elevated rail lines down the centres of freeways or some major
roads? These new lines could be circumferential to the CBD rather than add
to the congestion of our present CBD=centred network
* I don't see why the airport rail couldn't be structured to be elevated
over parts of the Tullamarine freeway.
* too much fine print and penalties in contracts with tollroad owners to
allow that.
* Just because the money has been allocated doesn't mean the State will see
any new transport infrastructure over what we already have. The money was
there for the East West link too, but a billion plus of that was flushed
down the
toilet if you remember. When I can drive on it or ride on it call me,
because until then it's all blah blah blah.
* This $8 billion in infrastructure expenditure will last until the Andrews
government is re-elected. The there will be another confected 'debt and
deficit' scare from Morrison and the money will vanish as magically as it
has appeared.
* It's sad to be so cynical, but it just means it's good to see everyone
waking up to our "Politicians"
* federal election in august, state election in November, surprise surprise
$$$ has been found.
* Throw as much money as you like at us Turnbull - still not voting for you.
We in Victoria are going great guns despite you.
* What about a new signalling system for the trains. Is this in the
programme?
* coloured lights
* Politicians can't get pretty photos standing in front of a signalling
system now, can they?
* I am concerned about the health of our politicians. It seems that the
rarefied air that exists in the ivory towers in Spring St and in the
Australian Parliament House in Canberra affects the brain cells of people
who go there. The
damage is caused to areas where logic and common sense are meant to
function. Swollen heads and a distorted sense of their own importance are
outcomes. It is endemic to these places and builds up over time. The cure is
as yet unknown
but the best management of these conditions is for politicians to serve only
one term and then be returned back to normal society.
* we are blessed with plenty of stupid politicians.
* Thought bubbles from leaders from parties prior to election seem to
dictate the infrastructure planning process at State and Federal levels.
Infrastructure, education and health should be insulated from party
politics.
* Discovered Victoria on a map, has he?
* Better to have a ring rail line that avoids having to go through Melbourne
I would have thought.
* Can just see a new season of Utopia coming from this budget. A golden
shovel and some grandiose plans for the airport rail just before the next
election. We will find that the shovel has just a thin coat of cheap gold
paint and
underneath it is rusting. The plans will have yellowed before anything
happens after the first sod is turned.
* Be like the electrification of the rail line to Warragul.
* It used to be electrified to Moe - then they ran rail into the ground and
dismantled it.
* So the Federal LNP Government are promising infrastructure money
again..... sigh, ho hum . In a couple of months I expect to be hearing that
we're on highest of high alerts for terrorist attacks and that a humungous
number of refugee boats have been turned back. Meanwhile the population
ponzi rolls on.
* A real train line is needed to Rowville, not a tram.
* It would take FOREVER to get to Rowville by tram. They're barely better
than walking pace in town.
* Article says it is rail vs previously proposed tram.
* 10 years... airport rail. Riiigghhtt... think I've seen this script
before. Let me guess: the plan is to make plan to form a sub-committee to
draft a roadmap toward producing a blueprint for making a plan for rail that
can be quietly added to collection and forgotten about when the public is
distracted next? Same old, same old, I'll believe it when they start
building and not a moment before.
Oh, and note the blue haze in the (stock?) picture? That's nature giving us
a hint. Unless we want more of that tasty blue stuff we need less population
growth, more rail, more public transport in general, better cycling
infrastructure, and less locked-in car dependency. There are better ways to
spend your time than sitting in a metal cage in a traffic jam, and more
productive ways to spend our money to achieve our goals than ever expanding
roads to lock us in to said dreary future.
* I'm wondering how all these announcements fit into some sort
evidence-based plan.
We have the state Coalition promising to reprise the East-West link - and
scrap Labor's North-East link.
What a pointless waste of resources this conflict between the Coalition and
Labor has been - on road infrastructure - has been.
The Coalition - recklessly signed agreements for the East-West link - to
wedge Labor and Labor went ahead with junking the proposal - even though -
doing so - has cost nearly the same amount - that it would have been to
build.
Victoria has a 30 year Transport Plan - it is on Infrastructure Victoria's
website - for those interested.
The likelihood that we get any of it built - seems remote - given the way
the majors feel entitled to play politics with citizens' infrastructure
budget.
* gets knocked on the head by the opposition when re-elected.
* We allow both sides to play politics with our scarce infrastructure
dollars.
If voters want it to stop - we need to insist - that they are selecting
projects from the top of the independent authorities lists.
That and no more pork barreling or increasing costs through expensive public
private partnerships - should do the trick!
* We already have a perfectly good hub at Spencer St Station... there is
nothing to be gained, either with suburban or regional rail in multi-use of
existing tracks. Most of them are pretty-well loaded already.
Build a new terminal there for the airport link, probably underground,
complete with airline check-in desks and baggage handling (just like they do
in Hong Kong).
Run a tunnel through to Flemmington Rd then 'skyrail' along Flemmington &
Tulla to the airport. This should be a high-speed dedicated connection... no
more that 10 - 15 mins each way.
There's also a lot to be said for a loop rail to include Essendon and Avalon
airports, but that discussion is for another day.
* Bravo Myopia! You have just espoused a blueprint that will successfully
soak up ALL rail infrastructure spending in Melbourne for the next 20 years!
There is only so much money to go round - and you can't spend it twice.
There are
many other competing demands for rail infrastructure upgrade, arguably more
pressing than a precious link to the airport!
* Must be an election year. Last thing the LNP want is an angry Victorian
electorate.
* True. But Victoria is not really a "swing state" like Queensland can be.
They can afford to keep us waiting for funding.
* Victoria was once the electoral jewel in the crown for the Liberal Party
and the leader of the COALition is spending $8B to try to reclaim it.
Nearly 1 in every $3 to entice Victorians to re-elect him in the next
election timed probably in February 2019.
Voters are beginning to notice his absence in the Southern State.
Does he think that Queensland and Western Australia are both lost course?
The truth is the water down south is just as turbulent for HMAS Turncoat
like all round the Country and there is no safe harbour for his sinking
bark.
* While at the same time continue with Australia's insane immigration
programme. to undermine the billions spent, therefore, requiring further
billions to be spent to address to address the circular insanity?
* Absolutely...Why don't the government take the most obvious step and
halt/slash population growth ?
* It is an insane "dog chasing its tail" situation.
What's next? How will they address the water shortage which will inevitably
arise once we get to that magical 8 million inhabitant mark? The lovely
NIMBY Greenies won't let them build more dams.
Zero net immigration, NOW!

May 7 2018 Hit the gas: $1.6b project to open up WA's stranded gas fields .
<www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/hit-the-gas-1-6b-project-to-open-up-wa-s-strande
d-gas-fields-20180507-p4zdu5.html>

The 12 types of train commuters you need to avoid.
Herald Sun May 7, 2018.
video: Tap-and-go transport cards could be phased out.
Best of Melbourne.
THE human challenge of sitting in a confined metal tube early in the morning
with a group of strangers is a daily reality for commuters.
Here are 12 Melbourne train-going types you need to spot a mile away so you
can avoid sitting near them and, most importantly, avoid becoming them.
THE KNEE-BREAKER. If you thought you were already packed in tight enough,
meet the commuter who is now sitting down opposite.
Seven-feet tall with shins of cast iron and no sense of personal space, your
legs are now being guillotined against the edge of the seat as the
knee-breaker uses his height as an excuse to make your life hell.
BIKE GUY. Make way, everyone. It's bike guy. While you gas-guzzling
capitalists are driving to the station, this guy's pedal power is saving the
planet.
And to thank him for it, the whole carriage has to sacrifice two square
metres of space and have pedals jab their shins near the door. What a hero.
This commuter needs to take a shower in Glen 20.
OL' SMELLY. A strange combination of odours - cigarettes, fast food, body
odour and mothballs - makes you wish this commuter had taken a shower in
Glen 20 before embarking on the trip.
Depending on whether or not their own sense of smell has been completely
eradicated, this might be a cunning plan to make sure they always have
plenty of leg room.
'CAN YOU MOVE DOWN, PLEASE' LADY. Despite dozens of people being in exactly
the same predicament in a packed carriage, the 'can you move down, please'
lady believes her struggle is unique. Why is this happening to her?
I tell you why. It's those people in the middle of the carriage. They're not
making enough room.
They're not making enough room and they're making her life hell and they're
doing it on purpose. Can you move down, please?
METH HEAD. Strange tatts, open wounds, overly cheery demeanour and bum bag.
These are the traits of the meth head.
Often talking loudly to another of his kind and often disappearing as soon
as the ticket inspectors board the next carriage, God knows what this fellow
is doing riding the rails in the middle of the day. Of course, he's doing
meth.
INFURIATING SCHOOL KIDS. Such cunning you have ducking out of work early and
avoiding peak-hour. But wait. Something's wrong. You glance at your watch.
It's just before 4pm. Oh no.
Like the final scene from the film Deep Impact the train is inundated with
school kids with ear-bursting screams, scooters and loud phones.
Before long you're stuck in a corner involuntarily listening to their
nonsensical conversations and shallow friendships.
Oversharing on a Melbourne train.
THE MEGAPHONE. No matter how sensitive the conversation or how packed the
train, it doesn't matter - this person just yells it as loud as they can
down the phone.
Their best friend is going through divorce? You now know every detail. Their
sister's infectious illness is back? You know the prognosis and treatment
intimately.
But as soon as their mate on the other end of the phone asks a stinging
question like: "how are you going with the job search?" things change.
"Yeah, I'm on the train," they say.
EVASION SHAMER. Ready with their topped-up Myki as soon as the ticket
inspectors are within three kilometres, this commuter takes delight in
seeing fare evaders get busted.
Rolling their eyes as the ESL tourist mumbles excuses, scoffing as the
underprivileged teen says he's lost his concession card, the evasion shamer
turns back to a crisp copy of the Financial Review with a wry smile when the
action is
over.
CLOSE SITTER. There are plenty of seats in the carriage, but there is only
one seat the close sitter wants: the one next to you.
They want to face the direction of travel so it doesn't matter that empty
seats facing backwards are plentiful.
Like penguins huddling for warmth, you are now doomed to make this entire
journey as a pair.
You don't need a mobile office on the train.
MOBILE OFFICE. Not only does this workaholic often take their work home,
they also take it on their commute.
What an ace. Juggling a laptop and loose paper on their knees, whipping red
pen over those reports, cocking an eyebrow so other commuters know they're a
real high-altitude flyer.
Yet, hiding Candy Crush in their lap.
CARRIAGE HOPPER. To the untrained eye, all the carriages on the train look
exactly the same.
But not to the carriage hopper.
They alight in a rear carriage, and after plying their sixth sense, can tell
this carriage is not quite right.
Better change carriages between stations. And if the next carriage isn't
right, do it again.
Closely related to the 'meth head' and the 'infuriating school kid'.
Don't Hulk-out over train delays.
THE INCREDIBLE DELAY HULK. This person seems completely calm for the whole
journey. But then the train stops just outside Flinders St and the driver
makes an announcement: "We'll be here for about two minutes while another
train clears the platform." That's when things change. The commuter slowly
turns pale. Then bright green. Anger bubbles up their throat and then spills
out their mouth. They increase to four times their natural size.
They yell, bang their fists, threaten legal action against Metro, swear,
tear off their tattered clothes, rip a hole in the side of the train and
exit.
video: World's most liveable city is Melbourne
MORE MITCHELL TOY: MELBOURNE SECRET SOCIETIES.
VICTORIA'S BEST CONSPIRACY THEORIES.
GRAND BUILDING PLANS THAT NEVER HAPPENED.
WHY YOUR COMMUTE'S ABOUT TO GET BETTER
Comments 54.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/melbourne/mitchell-toy-the-12-types-of-train
-commuters-you-need-to-avoid/news-story/da7a9fc85eb9be91a5ed2c78f485be9d>

Free tram zone extension in Melbourne for major events during June.
Herald Sun May 7, 2018.
video: Protests end council meeting over Melbourne level crossing removal.
MELBOURNE's free tram zone will be extended to include transport to major
events amid another round of infrastructure disruptions next month.
Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said people will now be able to ride
to the MCG for free from the city to 'Dreamtime at the G', the NRL State of
Origin and other major events.
"The Free Tram Zone extension will help people get to major events while
this vital construction blitz is underway,'' Ms Allan said.
"We're building tracks, removing level crossings and upgrading signalling to
get Victorians home safer and sooner."
Minister Jacinta Allan MP Picture: James Ross.
Hurstbridge train line: Rosanna level crossing removal in March.
On weekends from June 2 to 17 the zone will be extended to tram stops 9, 10
and 11 on Wellington Parade near the MCG.
On June 6 the same will apply for the NRL State of Origin and events on the
Queen's Birthday clash at the MCG.
It comes as rail and road works ramp up across Melbourne.
There will be major construction blitz on the Cranbourne/Pakenham line from
29 May to 17 June to remove the final four level crossings between Caulfield
and Dandenong.
Buses will replace trains between Caulfield and Westall and coaches will
also replace trains for part or the entire journey on the Gippsland line.
Buses replace trains from Flinders Street to Westall and Moorabbin on the
first two weekends in June.
Level crossing works will continue at Carrum, Skye/Overton Road and
Frankston Station after kicking off last week with buses to replace trains
between Carrum, Frankston and Stony Point until 17 June.
The Belgrave, Hurstbridge and Lilydale lines will be hit with short
shutdowns during the month.
V/Line will also complete major track, signal and station maintenance work
on the Geelong line from June 8 to 12 and on the Warrnambool line from June
8 to 14.
Work on the Ballarat Line Upgrade will also continue on June 16 to 20.
The public transport impacts comes as ongoing road improvement works
continue on the West Gate Freeway, Hoddle Street, CityLink and Monash
Freeway.
Visit bigbuild.vic.gov.au for more information.
RISK OF COST BLOWOUTS FOR LEVEL CROSSING PROGRAM.
FREE TRAM ZONE FOR BIG BASH.
LORD MAYORAL CANDIDATE PLEDGES TO EXTEND FREE TRAMS.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/free-tram-zone-extension-in-melbourne-fo
r-major-events-during-june/news-story/24c3b43ed328f6c217c9b730f7ee02a7>