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Subject: Thurs.7.2.19 daily digest


No photos until further notice.
Roderick.
Thurs.7.2.19 Metro Twitter.
4.31 Buses will replace trains Pakenham - Dandenong (an equipment fault).  Consider use of alternatives, as buses may take up to an hour to arrive.
- 5.03 The first citybound train will be the 5.13 ex Pakenham. There may still be some delays.
- Nothing better than a packed train first thing in the morning. Get your act together.
4.36 Buses will replace trains Stony Point - Frankston (faulty trains).
11.34 Buses to replace trains Essendon - Craigieburn (an equipment fault near Roxburgh Park). Buses have been ordered but may take over 60 minutes arrive, consider alternative transport.
- 11.41 Ten buses have been ordered.
- 12.00 Buses have been dispatched.
- 12.16 Five buses are in operation, with a further five enroute. Extended journey time of approximately 45 minutes.
- 12.31 Trains are resuming.  The first will be the 12.12 Flinders Street - Craigieburn, and the 12.30 ex Craigieburn.
14.01 Mernda line: Minor delays (a level-crossing equipment fault between Regent and Preston).
- 15.54 clearing.
19.58 Lilydale & Belgrave lines: Delays up to 15 minutes (a trespasser on/near tracks near East Camberwell). Police are attending and trains are holding at available platforms until the situation is clear.
- 20.04 Delays are up to 10 minutes and starting to clear.
21.02 Hurstbridge line: Delays up to 20 minutes (police attending to a trespasser in the Watsonia area).  Trains are holding at available platforms until the situation is clear.
- 21.14 Delays up to 20 minutes, but clearing.
- They can attend trespassers, but can't or won't help some that are assaulted whilst minding their own business on a train! Taxpayers money at work.

Public transport sees 15th consecutive month of year-on-year growth February 7, 2019.
Public transport is in vogue in south-east Queensland, with increasing numbers of people hopping on board.
TransLink data, due to be released on Friday, reveals there was a 6.5 per cent increase in trips in December 2018 compared with the same month the previous year.
Patronage is up on public transport, according to the latest data from TransLinkCredit:Felicity Caldwell
That represents almost 1 million extra trips, with 15.26 million trips taken across the network in December 2018.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the December patronage data marked the 15th consecutive month of year-on-year growth.
"Since October 2017, monthly patronage figures on buses, trains, trams and ferries across the south-east have vastly improved when comparing with the same period the year prior," he said.
Mr Bailey attributed the figures to the popularity of Gold Coast light rail, the Redcliffe Peninsula train line and the roll-out of the New Generation Rollingstock.
"The data also speaks to the Palaszczuk government's action on fare prices through Fairer Fares, which has saved Queenslanders more than $138 million since it was introduced," he said.
There was also a boost in patronage from July to September 2018, with people taking 49.17 million trips, representing a 7 per cent increase, or about 3.3 million trips, compared with the same period in 2017.
Buses remained king in south-east Queensland, with almost two in three public transport trips taken by bus.
There was an increase in trips taken by bus, train and tram in quarter one 2018-19 compared with the same quarter the previous year, but there was a drop in ferry patronage.
That is despite CityCat passengers being the happiest public transport users.
A survey of public transport users found bus users rated overall satisfaction at 72 out of 100, train commuters gave a score of 71, while ferry passengers said 81.
Scores of 75 and above are considered "best practice", while 60 and above is "satisfactory".
The percentage of buses on time during the quarter was 93.98 per cent, while peak on-time running for trains was 95.52 per cent.
Overall customer complaints to TransLink were 2.06 per 10,000 trips.
Passengers used go cards on 87 per cent of all trips.
The average fare per trip paid by customers was $1.88 and the average Queensland government subsidy per trip was $6.75.
It follows a total of 182.83 million trips taken on south-east Queensland public transport in 2017-18, not including the more than five million trips taken during the Commonwealth Games.
Related Article Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the EMU trains were manufactured in Maryborough and part of Queensland's proud rail history. Government considers sinking old trains for a rollingstock reef.
Related Article Public transport fees are set to rise again in the new year.. Queensland public transport fares to increase by nearly 2 per cent.
<www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/public-transport-sees-15th-consecutive-month-of-year-on-year-growth-20190207-p50w9q.html>

Energy Market Commission overhauls emergency power reserve system to reduce prices.  paywalled, with tdu.
Herald Sun February 7, 2019.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/energy-market-commission-overhauls-emergency-power-reserve-system-to-reduce-prices/news-story/ba8d976c3001ff1856fd8ac6bf0f201e>

Croydon, Ringwood, Mitcham and Ferntree Gully stations to get $15 million carparks
Maroondah Leader February 7, 2019.
Croydon railway station is one of three outer east stations which will get a new multi-deck carpark. Picture: Kiel Egging.
Multi-level carparks will be built at four stations along the Belgrave and Lilydale lines under a $60 million Federal Government plan.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Deakin federal Liberal MP Michael Sukkar will this morning announce the new carparks to be built at Croydon, Ringwood, Ferntree Gully and Mitcham stations.
Each carpark will cost $15 million and have between 400 and 500 extra all-day parking spaces each across three levels.
The carparks will be paid for through the Federal Government’s urban congestion fund and planning is expected to begin immediately.
Three of the stations are in Mr Sukkar’s Deakin electorate, which he holds by 6.3 per cent and is shaping as a key battleground in this year’s federal election, tipped to be held in May.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Deakin Federal Liberal MP Michael Sukkar will announce a $45-million train station parking investment today. Picture: James Ross
Mr Sukkar said the carparks would be “congestion-busting” pieces of infrastructure.
“It’s not an election promise, it’s a delivered project,” he said.
“These are I think one of the most cost-effective and intelligent investments which will improve this area.
“It basically fulfils two important requirements, it facilitates more people to easily access public transport, and gets cars off the road.”
Parking fills up not long after 6am at Ringwood railway station. Picture: James Ross.
Mr Sukkar said the carparks would also ease early-morning parking woes for commuters at each of the stations.
He said parking at Ringwood station was full just after 6am and Croydon station by 7am.
“It’s a significant investment for commuters because they will now have a greater ability to access both stations, and in each case significantly increase capacity of those who drive to the station with all day free parking,” Mr Sukkar said.
Mitcham railway station is also getting a $15 million multi-deck carpark with almost 500 parking spaces. Picture: Richard Serong
Aston federal Liberal MP Alan Tudge said the new carpark would fix the problems at Ferntree Gully but also take pressure off the Upper Gully station carpark.
“I have secured $15 million, which will allow us to construct up to 500 carparks at Ferntree Gully station,” Mr Tudge said.
“The station carpark is often at capacity by 7am, which then pushes overflow into neighbouring streets. Upper Gully station has a similar problem.”
He said people from Rowville and Lysterfield also parked and got on the train Ferntree Gully.
MORE PARKING FOR RINGWOOD EAST STATION.
LOBBY GROUP WANTS REVAMPED CROYDON STATION.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/outer-east/croydon-ringwood-mitcham-and-ferntree-gully-train-stations-to-get-15-million-carparks/news-story/9313066e7ebaf9d1a9b7d95f20340b9b>

Maryvale paper mill to be powered by $600 million waste-to-energy plant paywalled, with tdu.
Herald Sun February 7, 2019.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/maryvale-paper-mill-to-be-powered-by-600-million-wastetoenergy-plant/news-story/851f049055c0ac487af64ce0130fc420>

Loy Yang A power station to get $25m upgrade paywalled, with tdu.
Herald Sun February 7, 2019.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/business/loy-yang-a-power-station-to-get-25m-upgrade/news-story/28446adadf99f5159e4b9eba3265ff6c>

Transperth bus drivers set to walk off over wage dispute with contract employer Transdev. paywalled, with tdu.
PerthNow  February 7, 2019.
<www.perthnow.com.au/news/transport/transperth-bus-drivers-set-to-walk-off-over-wage-dispute-with-contract-employer-transdev-ng-b881098501z>

Commuters to be hit by traffic delays around Olympic Park, and on train lines.
Herald Sun February 7, 2019.
Commuters will be hit by a week of disruptions from Friday when one of Melbourne’s major roads is shut down and a series of disruptions hit the city’s train network.
....RACV public policy manager Bryce Prosser said drivers should use real-time navigation apps to plan ahead for the disruptions.
....“We have long supported the required works on Punt Road to ease congestion in this major corridor and provide another accessible tram stop,” he said..
It comes as maintenance and upgrade works will see passengers put on replacement bus services across the city’s train network.
Buses will replace services on large sections of the Sandringham and Glen Waverley lines from Friday night until the last service on Sunday. Delays of up to 35 minutes are expected.
Over this period the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Frankston lines will also be cut out of the city loop for upgrade works.
CRIPPLING DELAYS TO HIT COMMUTERS.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/commuters-to-be-hit-by-traffic-delays-around-olympic-park-and-on-train-lines/news-story/d61be872c1c624a9dbb888f11724d5e1>

Melbourne train commuters tell man with loud music to ‘shut up’.
Herald Sun February 7, 2019.
video: Train rap battle.
An unapologetic commuter blasting expletive rap music aboard a suburban train has triggered an epic peak-hour exchange.
The commuter — caught on camera hurling expletives and rude gestures of his own — sparked a heated confrontation with fellow passengers aboard a city-bound Frankston train yesterday morning.
At first, nobody confronted the man about his music choice. Picture: Supplied.
Passengers eventually told the man to turn his music off. Picture: Supplied..
Challenged about the volume of his rap tunes, the aggressive youth told passengers: “You want me to turn the music off. Make me turn the music off.”
“It’s literally music to entertain me,’’ he said.
Irate passengers lashed out as their frustration built.
“Hey dude — shut the f--- up,’’ one shouted.. “It’s literally the worst music in the entire world.”
Demanded others: “Just turn it off.”
“People want to work in here,’’ one said.
The unapologetic commuter didn’t see the problem in blaring the offensive music. Picture: Supplied.
The man eventually said he would get off at the next stop. Picture: Supplied.
Even threats of phoning police weren’t enough to end the rap rampage.
“I’m getting off at the next station you d---head!’’ the rap lover said. “The police won’t do anything for me playing music on a train.”
One passenger told him: “Take a look at yourself kid.”
The rap player replied: “Take a look at yourself.”
“I don’t have headphones,’’ he said.
The drama finally ended with the troublesome traveller getting off at Caulfield, music blaring.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/melbourne-train-commuters-tell-man-with-loud-music-to-shut-up/news-story/771aac2b56a3a008e010c1b76a861ead>