-----Original Message-----
From: Roderick Smith [mailto:rodsmith@werple.net.au]
Sent: Friday, 20 July 2018 1:16 PM
To: 'transportdownunder@yahoogroups.com'
Subject: Wed.18.7.18 daily digest

Attached:

180716M 'SMH' - Sydney bus punctuality.

180718W Melbourne 'Herald Sun':
- 7.17 Ringwood (James Copsey).
- crowded bus.
- letters (road, rail, energy).
- fare evasion.

180718W Melbourne 'Age' - trams.

Roderick.

Wed.18.5.18 Metro Twitter.
5.56 Lilydale line: Delays up to 20 minutes (police in the Ringwood –
Ringwood East area).
- 6.09 Just announced that there will be no trains running from Lilydale! Is
it a delay or a cancellation?
- 6.13 30 min delay at the minute; all getting on a bus to Ringwood.
- 6.24 Have direct buses been organised or have you decided to just push all
train users to the local bus network instead?
- 6.25 Delays over 20 minutes.
- 6.29 We are working with police to get trains moving, but police are still
in the area dealing with an issue.
- 6.32 We are getting replacement buses into position as a precaution, but
it will take up to an hour for bus companies to get drivers and buses.
- 6.59 Trains have resumed.
6.27 Delays over 20 minutes (an equipment fault in the Box Hill area).
- 6.30 Why don’t the notifications you send to twitter match with what
information appears in the metroNotify app?
- 6.30 Metro has multiple major delays on the Lilydale line this morning.
- 6.34 Currently stuck between Laburnum and Box Hill.
- 6.38 Just been told to get on bus at Mitcham station, seems trains halted?
- 6.42 Any news? Sat still for over 25 mins so far.
- 6.46 We're moving!
- 6.49 The issues are ongoing.
- 6.49 Sweet, now I get to PAY to be late to work! Thanks Metro.
- 6.50 We update as information becomes available, our team is located in
the Train Control Centre and the info is the latest available.
- 6.51 So late for work, and will have to pay for being delayed as I’ll not
clear station pre 7.15. Not happy.
- 6.51 Trains are not running, seek alternative transport.
- 6.53 Where are they buying their equipment from, ebay?
- 6.53 So does this mean when we get off bus from Lilydale to Ringwood that
we then need another bus to Box Hill?
- 6.53 Are the trains running at all? Can't get clear information on the
website. Going Upwey to Mitcham.
- 6.55 Yes, the only reason I catch this train. What are the chances of a
refund?
- 7.01 Highly doubting it!
- 7.02 Is there any update on the Box Hill issue? Nothing mentioned in the
app.
- 7.02 All the way into the city? Please.
- 7.04 Let me guess you're still going to charge us to be late for work
aren't you?
- 7.10 The platform announcer at Ringwood East just told people to arrange
other transport from Ringwood to the city as it will be buses but none have
been arranged. Can you kindly clarify?
- 7.11 Suspended between Ringwood - Camberwell (euipment fault). [and the
useless layout at Blackburn was designed not to allow up trains to terminate
and go back].
- 7.13 Because of limited bus availability, passengers are advised to defer
travel plans or seek alternate transport.
- 7.15 Buses are on the way, 20 buses have departed from depots; we are
trying to get more buses.
- 7.16 Around half a Melbourne's population is here in Ringwood station
waiting for a bus.
- 7.16 Absolutely trash. Thanks for the no replacement bus service. Don't
renew your contract when it's up. Almost as bad as Connex. Saying almost
doesn't mean you're better either.
- 7.17 What a joke. If as driver said it’s been happening for two hours, why
are there still no buses?
- 7.17 Alternative?
- 7.19 Yeah, nah.
- 7.20 Route 109 trams may experience higher than usual demand because of a
Metro equipment fault in the Box Hill area.
- 7.21 Take the 901 to Mitcham and change to 907 to City. Or 364 to
Warrandyte then 906 to city. There are alternative options.
- 7.22 Issue started at 6.20, 1 hour ago, buses ordered immediately the
issue started, bus companies need to get drivers in and buses started, we
anticipate first bus onsite soon.
- 7.22 Get in the bin Metro!
- 7.22 Be resourceful and use aviksnkr alternatives.
- 7.23 It is not your fault, but this is beyond acceptable to have hundreds
of people in the freezing cold, with no services and with inconsistent
messages from station staff / drivers etc.
- 7.23 Packed to the brim from what I've seen.
- 7.24 Plenty of alternative slower options. Try 901 to Mitcham (hotel) walk
to station and take 907 to city.
- 7.24 There is a city bus running from the bus lanes in Box Hill that was
practically empty.
- 7.25 Quite poor on metro to say: "defer travel plans or seek alternate
transport". Will you refund the days ticket to all? Every day we have
issues on the Belgrave /Lilydale lines.
- True.
- 7.26 Why didn't you tweet this an hour ago? Also, please refund me if my
bus touch on this morning charged me. Also, where are these buses? Also, I'm
cold. Also, WOW,
- 7.28 No one's fault but gee there needs to be better communication at the
stations and buses.
- 7.29 Passenger may find alternate bus/tram routes useful, see link to
alternate transport options available to impacted passengers.
- 7.34 Are there trams running from Camberwell?
- 7.35 Please tell your Boronia station staff that trains are terminating at
Ringwood, not Blackburn as they are announcing.
- 7.35 daily dose of signal faults...on the system somewhere.
- 7.37 Awesome. Stuck at Ringwood.
- 7.37 Are the two incidents in the Ringwood area this morning related?
- 7.37 Can't Yarra trams be reactive and deploy some E class trams to cope
with the higher demand rather then telling us something we can't control
- 7.39 Not related, first issue at Ringwood was a trespasser issue, Current
issue is an equipment fault at Box Hill.
- 7.39 You just spent the weekend doing maintenance and now your
announcements are telling me to seek alternative transport. Get it
together.
- 7.39 Dear Metro, how do we get compensated for the days travel?
- 7.39 How do I find out when they’re running again?
- 7.41 count yourself lucky.
- 7.43 Take alternative options already available.
- 7.43 The day after paying for a monthly myki I'll be paying for a cab to
get to work. I'm sure you would be annoyed too.
- 7.45 agree, you comms at all stations really sucks when things don't work..
it happens often enough that you should have this down pat.
- 7.46 That’s incorrect info, the Belgrave line is not suspended, there are
trains running to Ringwood. But really that’s the best you can do?
- 7.49 Cheers. Easier to get the car.
- 7.49 Can you tell us your line/location?
- 7.52 Box Hill station. Being told 120-150 min delays. Buses on their way
but limited numbers available. Smoothly handled by staff so far, just
annoying.
- 7.53 Because of limited bus availability, passengers are advised to defer
travel plans or seek alternate transport.
- 7.53 I walked to Camberwell and managed to catch a running city loop
train. Now just waiting for them to make us change at Richmond because of
congestion in the loop.
- 7.55 More buses expected on-site soon.
- 7.55 Great I'm running late due to your crappy service.
- 7.57 Can't you give an ETA? Is it defer travel for 30 minutes or until
Thursday?
- 7.57 Any word on when services might resume? My wife has a school
excursion with 100+ kids leaving from Mitcham shortly after 9am, would be
good to know if they should start making alternate plans and contacting
parents?
- 7.58 They should foresee unforeseen equipment faults?
- 7.58 When is issue expected to be resolved?
- 8.03 Currently issue is being investigated/fixed. ETA is unavailable.
- 8.05 Yes. It's called contingency planning and maintaining equipment and
there are many larger scale train networks that successfully do it.
- 8.06 No bus replacement during peak hour?
- 8.08 What a week.
- 8.09 Oh my.
- 8.11 Trains running normally from Camberwell?
- 8.12 People left high and dry yet again. The impact on people's working
day, those they work with etc. is massive. It really is not acceptable. It's
not that it happens once in a blue moon it's every other week. Factor in the
routine delays it is a picture of daily misery on Metro.
- 8.13 But I still had to pay for a bus to get me to another train station.
You guys aren’t penalised like we are.
- 8.15 Trains just started again. Delays up to 20 minutes.
- 8.16 How do you know it’s fault due to lack of upkeep? I’m sure Metro love
getting smashed paying for unexpected buses etc instead of servicing their
equipment!
- 8.19 So I should just expect most of my team not to come to work because
they were advised by you to ‘defer travel plans’? The world doesn’t stop for
you metro. You are costing this city on productivity, and forcing people to
drive
and pollute. Shame on you. You have a duty. Do it.
- 8.21 So all those nights you force us into buses at 8pm for so called
maintenance mean nothing when you still can't actually maintain the network..
Pathetic effort.
- 8.23 Camberwell really busy city bound and no one can give an ETA other
then there have been delays. Abysmal effort.
- 8.24 They've been shutting down this line regularly and forcing people
onto buses on weekends and from 8pm for so called maintenance. Not seeing
the benefits of this so far.
- 8.25 Trains have resumed between Ringwood - Camberwell, train just arrived
Camberwell platform 2, another train is at Canterbury.
- 8.26 Yep that train is so packed no one can get on. As the next one will
be I'm sure.
- 8.27 Thanks! Will have to try our luck - fingers crossed.
- 8.28 First world transportation system.
- 8.31 What was the point of shutting the line down for a week earlier the
year the did the signalling again?
- 8.31 Bloody amateur hour. Again.
- 8.32 How do I apply for a refund as I had already touched on?
- 8.32 At least make the "express" train express again.
- 8.33 The issue appears to be a power outage causing damage to equipment.
- 8.34 Absolute chaos here at Camberwell.
- 8.34 Trains have resumed. Route 109 trams may continue to experience
higher than usual demand.
- 8.36 I feel sorry for the people closer to the city who couldn't get on.
Smart idea would have been to roll out a couple from Kew Junction to at
least pick up the regulars.
- 8.44 Plenty of parking at Heathmont station if you "deferred your travel"..
Ringwood station looks to have cleared. Trains not crowded.
- 8.45 WORST public transport in World, for sure. Increasing fare every year
but we get shit!
- 8.48 Plenty of free car parks at Heatherdale. Empty station.
- 8.49 Only get worse if you still travel with Metro.
- 8.49 I took the replacement bus at Nunawading to Camberwell. After 50min,
we are still stuck in the traffic jam. We should have waited for the train
to resume. No one told us that the train was about to resume when We took
the
replacement bus . You make our journey even longer.
- 8.51 Judging by the empty carparks I’m guessing Eastern Fwy will be chaos
this evening.
- 8.52 Seems to be parking available at Mitcham station (east car park at
least). Train smashing through. Few passengers.
- 8.54 So have delays cleared? Previously, delays have been over 90 min, two
hours after "service resumption".
- 8.59 The situation changed fast: when you boarded the bus that was the
best current information; when the issue was fixed we resumed trains as
quickly as we could.
- 9.05 Delays up to 20 minutes.
- 9.06 when will the line resume?
- 9.08 Trains have resumed, see our website; we also sent a message to
twitter earlier.
- 9.08 Can we apply one day compensation if we have myki pass?
- contact PTV on 1800 800 007.
- 9.08 For people who decided to have another coffee at home and wait for
this to blow over, there are car parks available at Heathmont, Heatherdale,
Mitcham and Surrey Hills (wunderbar!) Stations. Trains moving quickly when
they come. Step away from the bus.
- 9.12 What I did as well to get to another train line and almost an hour
late for work. Hope I can apply for a refund for my Myki fare.
- 9.12 And Alamein/Blackburn line cancellations as well. Straight train
changes on the screen from Flinders St without notifying customers - I'm
sure that there's many who are on the wrong train FIX YOUR COMMUNICATION AND
UPDATES SYSTEM.
- 9.13 I feel like this is one of those days where you will refund everyone
who touched on this morning.
- 9.13 Well, at least that's the right thing to do beause you stuffed up
everyone's morning.
- 9.17 Maybe you should go the way of the BOM, and communicate to us using
the % chance that our trains will run on time, because, you know, you are as
reliable as the Melbourne weather.
- 9.19 Agree with you the council does.
- 9.28 Meanwhile I am still waiting for my reimbursement from the city loop
shutdown last year. Metro claims no knowledge. Don’t hold your breath.
- 9.30 But they haven’t resumed. Been waiting for over 20 min and no trains
even though two were scheduled.
- 9.30 So half hour delays on Belgrave/Lilydale means refund of tickets
right?
- 9.31 delays up to 15 minutes.
- 9.37 It’s all well and good saying there are delays ‘of up to 20 mins’ but
we’ve already been at Chatham for 30 min - so that’s materially not true is
it. Any danger - instead of 20 annoucements of delays - telling us when a
train might actually arrive?
- 9.38 Closer to 40 minutes, have five trains cancelled on the app.
- 9.41 I trust recompense will be swift for those commuters affected by this
morning's debacle.
- 9.45 Thanks for sending us to a webpage that has a little orange circle
saying minor delays. Wonderfully helpful. Maybe you might be able to tell us
though when a train is going to arrive at Chatham - I and many others - have
been
here since 9am.
- 9.52 You are the single worst train service in any major developed city.
That is no overstatement. I assure you. You are a disaster. A pathetic and
utter disaster.
- 9.53 As the FIFTH empty express goes through. What is wrong with you? Are
you deranged? Are you expressly trying to torture people?
- 9.55 An hour, have been waiting since peak for an hour.
- 9.56 An hour - the trains are delayed by over an hour. This is a lie. And
what purpose does it serve? Only to cover your own arses. It doesn’t help
anyone. Cancelling four trains - means people are delayed by an hour. Not 15
min.
- 9.59 Box Hill to Richmond just done, 17 min.
- 10.07 “Public” transport in Melbourne is a frigging joke.
- 10.10 The issue is, for almost identical communication, results were VERY
DIFFERENT in Feb. Delays exceeding 90 min (estimate true delay of 360+ min)..
Still waiting sensible answer on this.
- 10.22 delays up to 15 minutes.
- 10.44 Everywhere I go I am delayed in life and on the train.
- 10.52 But I still don't know: was it just RWD-CAM, or more - eg
cancellations at LIL or HAW, or Sunshine, or Eketahuna? In Feb, declared
suspension BOX-RMD, but cancellations at LIL, NWG, and others.
- 10.58 The line was suspended Ringwood-Camberwell, we also had an earlier
issue near Ringwood East with a trespasser. The equipment fault at Box Hill
caused delays/cancellations to other lines as well with drivers out of
position.
- 12.16 What a terrible service! I was billed to attend an important exam,
because of you terrible service, and it is expensive and can not be
refunded.
7.51 What's happening at Sunbury line? Why no communications?
- 8.10 Sunbury line metro what is happening?
- 8.22 What’s happening on the Sunbury line? There are no announcements
explaining the lack of services and packed trains.
8.12 No mention online regarding delays on the craigieburn line. Found out
at the station. How can commuters prepare and leave earlier if you can't
let us know!
8.20 8:17 south morang delayed 7 minutes, 3 days in a row with problems in
this line. Its unacceptable how often this line is buggered.
- 8.23 Is that the 8.17 from Ruthven? The train left Southern Cross 6
minutes late.
- 8.27 Yes that's the one, packed to the brim no seats available. Its going
to be even worse when Mernda starts. Will their be more services to
compensate?
- 8.29 A new timetable will operate with more services when the Mernda
extension starts.
- 8.35 Good to hear. Any news about express from Clifton Hill to Flinders.
Express on this line is years overdue.
- 9.02 The South Morang line commuters consistently get fucked by Metro, to
put it mildly.
8.52 Anything on the 8.44 from Kooyong to the city?
10.43 Joseph won a $50 gift voucher for Lavender Thai Massage just for
giving the bus a go!
15.23 Werribee line: Minor Delays (a car blocking tracks at Cherry Street
level crossing, Werribee).
- 15.33 now major.
- 16.00 clearing. Trains may terminate/originate at Laverton.
19.21 Williamstown line: Minor Delays (an ill passenger requiring medical
assistance at Meloburne Southern Cross).
- 19.28 clearing.
Melbourne Express, Wednesday, July 18, 2018
London's Southgate tube station has been temporarily renamed in honour of
England's team manager Gareth Southgate. Southgate steered the English side
to a semi-final place in the World Cup, the team's best performance since
1990.
If England had won, perhaps the station would have been permanently renamed!

Here is what was in The Age on this day in 1962. A cracked girder was found
on the King Street Bridge, near where a section of the bridge had collapsed
the previous week. (Here's the story of the bridge's opening the previous
year)
Ross and John have been chatting this morning about the Monash University
research on the four different types of fare evaders.
The research posits the types of evaders range from the accidental evaders
(people who don't realise they are out of myki credit) to the hardened fare
dodgers who probably have never owned a myki.
7.16 Belgrave/Lilydale line suspended. It's been a horror morning on these
lines. First there were some major delays because of a signal fault at Box
Hill.
Some Monash University research has posited that there are four types of
public transport fare evaders. In increasing levels of dastardliness they
are:
•The "accidental fare evader". They rarely won't pay their way on public
transport. They don't mean to evade at all and feel guilt or embarrassment
toward their actions. They might be people who forget to touch on, for
example.
•The "it's not my fault" evader. They also have no intention to evade, but
do so due to "barriers" like not having the means to pay for a ticket on
public transport, or they don't understand how.
•The "calculated risk-taker" fare evades often and does so when they
perceive there to be a low risk of being caught. They are "dispassionate,
vigilant" and display no guilt for their actions. They might think there
won't be a ticket
inspector on a train and are prepared to run the gauntlet on their
particular journey.
•The "career evaders". The worst of the worst. They always fare evade, an
"entirely intentional" decision that the study found made them "proud".
I should point out this research isn't exactly exhaustive - it's only based
on a focus group of 67 people. But are there any types missing here? Let me
know if you've identified another tribe of fare evader.
6.42 Woman "repeatedly" sexually assaulted on Thornbury train.
6.35 There has been a signal fault at Box Hill, causing delays of about 20
minutes on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines.
Victorians are being warned that water costs will rise in future due to a
failure to use more rainwater and stormwater to ease the pressure on
Melbourne's overburdened mains supplies. [Read the full article]
Transurban is making millions of dollars each year charging motorists fees
that are only meant to cover the toll road operator’s costs, leaked
documents from the company show. [Read the full article]
6.01 Woman "repeatedly" sexually assaulted on Thornbury train. Police will
set up an information caravan at Thornbury Station this morning in the hopes
of catching a man who repeatedly sexually assulated a woman on a morning
train.
Police said the man targeted a 49-year-old woman when she got on a 9.35
citybound train at Thornbury station on May 16 and followed her through the
train as she attempted to move away from him. The man police believe could
assist with their inquiries.
<www.theage.com.au/melbourne-news/melbourne-express-wednesday-july-18-2018-2
0180717-p4zs0q.html>

Trains resume on Belgrave, Lilydale line after suspension
Herald Sun July 18, 2018, 8.58.
video: Teens risking their lives train surfing.
TRAINS are back up and running on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines but
passengers still face delays caused by an earlier equipment fault.
Services were suspended during peak hour between Ringwood and Camberwell
with only limited replacement buses made available for stranded commuters.
“Rail services between Ringwood — Camberwell are running after an equipment
fault at Box Hill has been fixed,” Metro Trains advised passengers.
“Trains may still be delayed by up to 20 minutes as we start to recover the
timetable,” it said on the Metro website.
People queuing for buses at Ringwood after massive train delays. Picture:
James Thomas Copsey (Twitter).
Customers had been warned the delays were likely to continue until 9am and
were told to defer travel plans or seek alternative transport options.
Replacement buses had been arranged but other buses were full as commuters
tried to get into the city.
There are also major delays on the Cranbourne line after an earlier police
request.
Nathaniel Bane‏: Mitcham trains stuffed / choose your own adventure begins
(with a photo).
Box Hill signal panel failed, but eventually restored. Signals took longer
to fix: occurred only in the last few min. Metro says 'delays up to 20 min'
at 8.30. Jacinta Allan loves to be silent about this and last night's VLine
Geelong chaos.
REVEALED: THE THREE TYPES OF FARE EVADERS.
DEATH OF TROUBLE-PLAGUED MYKI SYSTEM.
BID TO COMBINE PTV AND MYKI WEBSITES LATE.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/equipment-fault-behind-widespread-train-
delays/news-story/87c77ebbe56365f9117b7399ffa3be0d>

Power price hikes not inevitable, regulator insists 18 July 2018. 334
comments.
<www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/power-price-hikes-not-inevitable-regulator-
insists-20180717-p4zs0w.html>

Suncorp Stadium parking restrictions eased for struggling businesses 18 July
2018.
<www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/suncorp-stadium-parking-restri
ctions-eased-for-struggling-businesses-20180718-p4zs7n.html>

21% of Queensland's power to come from renewable energy by 2019 18 July
2018.
<www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/21-percent-of-queensland-s-pow
er-to-come-from-renewable-energy-by-2019-20180718-p4zs4d.html>

Go-slow enforced over “unsound” Eltham rail bridge while track maintenance
works underway
Diamond Valley Leader July 18, 2018.
video: Liberals are making infrastructure plans for next decade: Albanese.
A 116-year-old rail bridge under a section of the Hurstbridge line has been
declared structurally unsound, with train speeds slowed until repairs can be
done.
The speeds have been reduced on the line over the Eltham trestle bridge
because of the unsound “structural and track condition of the trestle
bridge”, documents seen by the Leader reveal.
The weekly operational notice report — starting April 12, 2018 — states
trains in both directions had to reduce speed by 15km/h.
Metro spokesman Marcus Williams said the speed limit in a 200m section would
be temporarily reduced until planned track maintenance works were completed
this month.
Mr Williams said the speed reduction was a precaution, posed no safety risks
and wasn’t causing delays to train services.
Eltham state Liberal candidate Nick McGowan previously vowed to duplicate
the line between Greensborough and Eltham, which left many questioning what
would happen to the historic trestle bridge.
Mr McGowan said he planned to build a second trestle bridge on the Eltham
Central Park site.
“This is an iconic structure and must be protected in addition to providing
safe passage for commuters,” Mr McGowan said.
But Eltham state Labor MP Vicki Ward said duplicating the line past
Greensborough doesn’t require another bridge.
“A duplication of the bridge either destroys the view of the trestle bridge
from Alistair Knox Park, or will impact the Eltham Football and Cricket Club
oval, practice nets and parking,” she said.
The Eltham District Historical Society has declared the bridge as
historically significant and should not be compromised, if and when, the
railway line was duplicated between Greensborough and Eltham.
Built in 1902, it is the only predominantly ­timber railway bridge still in
use as a vital part of Melbourne’s metro train network.
$1B FOR NEW MELBOURNE TRAINS, SIGNALS.
ELTHAM’S GROWTH FROM OPEN SPACE TO THRIVING SUBURB CAPTURED IN PHOTOS.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/north/goslow-enforced-over-unsound-eltham-rail-
bridge-while-track-maintenance-works-underway/news-story/13ee85106ff7c227c9f
6edc2aa1a0fc2>
Before the bridge gets funding for a replacement it needs to undergo a cost
benefit analysis.
Nothing can be built without this. And let's not forget an environmental
impact study with all the legal appeals processes and an exploration of
whether the existing bridge is worthy of heritage listing. Everyone can
see that these are far more important than commuter safety.
* There can't be a problem with the bridge and I can prove it. Dan
Andrews has plenty of money to spend. He can even afford to spend over a
thousand million to NOT build a road.
* 106 years old, WOW they knew how to BUILD things back in their day. Today
it would have fallen over after 20. or replaced by the Greenies and Co, Re
structure and fix it leave HISTORY alone
* If CFMEU had built the bridge, it would be half complete and then they
would have gone on strike demanding a quadrupling of pay to complete it.
* There is only one other solution if the Eltham trestle bridge is to be
retained. Call in 'Dan the Tunnel Man'..
* Skyrail it? Maybe instead with new concrete, etc.
* It's a classified historic construction.
* Well. if it's going to get worse. Why would you keep it up. Over
“unsound." I'm all for classified historic construction. But! Same for old
buildings, etc.
* I hope track duplication which benefits nearly everyone is not delayed due
to Vicki Ward’s comments.
* Duplicate it to the end of the line.
* The line could be duplicated to the Melbourne end of the bridge tomorrow,
and Eltham could have trains every 10 min (not really the minister's 'turn
up and go', but certainly better than today). However, PTV hates
cost-effective
solutions to maximise the benefits of existing infrastructure. Neither the
duplication from Clifton Hill to Westgarth nor Heidelberg to Rosanna was
warranted. In both cases, the double line could have come to the short
obstruction of a bridge or a tunnel. The work hasn't added any capacity to
the route; whereas duplication to the Melbourne end of Eltham would. The
bridge over Plenty River (Greensborough) was built for two tracks years ago..
The infrastructure
beyond Eltham allows trains to run to Hurstbridge every 20 min, which is
about as good as it gets in the outer suburbs, but PTV refuses, and then
there is panic about road congestion because people prefer to drive.
Even in the inner city, PTV won't perform essential maintenance on old
bridges. Four viaduct tracks between Melbourne Flinders St and Melbourne
Southern Cross have low speed limits at the Flinders St end, and locomotives
are banned
from running over them.

Andrew Bolt: We’re mining fresh seams of stupidity. with tdu.
Herald Sun July 18, 2018.
9 Comments
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/andrew-bolt/andrew-bolt-were-mining-fresh
-seams-of-stupidity/news-story/6837a79694a7d63d780b32393ddf9b87>