----- Forwarded message ----- To: Tdu Transportdownunder transportdownunder@...>
Sent: Tuesday, 9 July 2019, 12:05:07 pm AESTSubject: Sat.6.7.19 daily digest.
Roderick.
There is still no improvement at yahell.Five photos herewith.
190706Sa Melbourne 'Herald Sun' - Mad magazine. with tdu.
190706Sa Melbourne 'Age':- energy (hydrogen & gas), with tdu.- Docklands tower.- letters (infrastructure, energy, water).
- Mad magazine. with tdu.- transport misery.

190706Sa Metro Twitter:- Mernda steam shuttles.- bustitution.

Sat.6.7.19 Metro Twitter.Pakenham/Cranbourne lines: Buses replace trains between Flinders St & Caulfield St until the last train of Sun 14 Jul (works)..- 17.43 Where is the 17.34 Southland towards the city?Carrum: Station closed from 1.15 Sat 6 Jul until early 2020 while level-crossing removal takes place. Shuttle buses will run Seaford - Carrum - Bonbeach.Werribee/Williamstown lines: All trains will run direct to/from Flinders St all day (works).Buses replace trains between Flinders St & Sandringham until the last train of  Sun 7 Jul (works).Until the last train of Sunday 14 July, buses are replacing trains across multiple lines. Increased demand and delays are expected to affect St Kilda Rd trams. Weekday service changes will also be in place on Route 3, 67 & 72 trams.Buses replace trains Frankston - Stony Point until the last train of Sun 14 Jul (works).Reminder: until last train Sunday 14 July, buses are replacing trains across multiple @metrotrains lines. Increased demand and delays are expected to affect St Kilda Rd trams. Weekday service changes will also be in place on Route 3, 67 & 72 trams.The are extra trains to Flemington Racecourse today, also route 57 trams.10.21 Mernda/Hurstbridge lines: Citybound delays (police at Clifton Hill). Trains may depart from altered platforms there.- 10.31 clearingPakenham/Cranbourne/Frankston lines: For MCG football this afternoon catch an express bus Caulfield - Flinders St, and then walk or catch a 70a or 75a shuttle tram.  Allow plenty of extra travel time for your journey [because we can't cope, and won't run express buses Caulfield - Richmond].- Are the trams free to MCG today?- Normal ticketing arrangements are in place for trams to/from MCG; you are required to have a valid ticket.- A valid ticket is required for all trams outside the Free Tram Zone today, including to the MCG.For first time in 60 years, steam trains will travel from Flinders Street to Mernda today. The last was before the former Whittlesea line was closed, in 1959.  Steamrail will run shuttles Mernda back to Bell, returning to city 5pm.  You mightn't hear the Bell out on the Mernda line, but you'll definitely hear the whistle!  You can join the train at Mernda, with next trips due out at 13.30, and at 14.50.  [IIRC R707 has been already, or was that a diesel outing?].- I heard the whistle as it went through Richmond.  Everyone at the Gleadel St Market was talking about it.  Sounded awesome.- I heard that beautiful whistle from near Northland shopping centre; wonderful to see steam back on the rails.
Sure, there are downsides to public transport, but lots is right on track July 6, 2019I've had a recent change in lifestyle that is both utterly common and profoundly significant. I have – get ready, it's pretty big news – recently returned to public transport as my most commonly used A-to-B.I know, big whoop, right? Millions of people use public transport every day, either by choice or necessity, and they don't carry on like they've earned a Bravery Award. I agree, but I've had enough friends react in a "why would you do that?" way that I'm led to believe I'm doing something a bit weird.I love connecting with people. I love the camaraderie of a packed train after the footy, and I’ll never forget the pre-teen buzz of the train ride with my daughter to the Taylor Swift concert.Credit:StocksyOne mate has bet me I can't last a year; another assumed I'd lost my licence!The truth is my car died over summer, at a time when I was happy to take advantage of living within walking distance of train, bus, tram, school, shops, coffee and wine – all the essentials – and I got used to the slower pace. I should mention we only have one child. We're not juggling three kids and 3000 weekend sporting activities, so it's easy to be nicer to the planet and just get on a train.I admit it's about as newsworthy as a reality TV star's new haircut, but it's been a big enough shift in lifestyle for me to make some observations.First, catching public transport really can stink. Especially that last tram I was on. Also, some days arriving on time is about as likely as arriving in another dimension. And for some reason, all the worst manners are on trains: there are the Pusher Inner-ers, the Leg Spreaders, and the Loud Talkers (I'm talking to you, woman at the end of the carriage who doesn't want to be her sister's matron of honour. Do you want me to tell her for you? Otherwise, shoosh!) 
The Nose Sniffers really grind my gears. I mean, carry a tissue – and USE IT!
Then there are the Random Yellers, randomly yelling random things to random targets. Most of the time I find them non-threatening – just a dude, trying to get rid of the voice in his head. Some days I can relate. But the energy in that confined shared space is unmistakable: what if random turns truly scary? We sit on the edge, waiting, tense and alert, the result of the collective frightening experiences most women have had.I've been travelling by train since I was 12. I've lost count of the times I've sat rigid with fear. This is the dark side of public transport that can't and shouldn't be ignored. All commuters must be safe. End of story.Thankfully, though, in this current version of Life on the Rails I've had nothing but positive experiences, and I'm growing to love it. It's so much more relaxing, not driving through traffic. I love sitting idle, in my own thoughts, staring out the window at tiny snippets of other people's lives. It's amazing how much you can see as you speed by. Couples in love, or breaking up. Laughing mums, a cranky toddler. A driver picking their nose at the traffic lights. It really does lift your soul.Mostly I love connecting with people. I love the camaraderie of a packed train after the footy, and I'll never forget the pre-teen buzz of the train ride with my daughter to the Taylor Swift concert. All the little girls, dressed like slightly older versions of themselves, giggling and chirruping with bursting excitement. Best part of the concert, to be honest.I wish I could explain that joy of connection to all the screen addicts on our trains. "LOOK UP! LOOK OUT!" I want to Random Yell.I want them to know I have friends today that I made on the train in high school. Twenty years ago, I fell in love with my husband while catching the tram to work together. And the other day a woman tucked in the tag on the back of my top, thereby becoming the nicest person on the planet and the latest addition to my will.PT isn't easy. Some days you hate it. But at its best, public becomes community. And you don't get that in your car.<www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/sure-there-are-downsides-to-public-transport-but-lots-is-right-on-track-20190704-p5242o.html>* Public transport doesn't have to be as bad as it is, but PTV/TfV is more concerned with cosmetics than substance.  That then gets overlaid with infuriating spin and propaganda.In today's world, there is no justification for needlessly-infrequent service.Even on today's infrastructure, no electrified station need have a wait longer than 20 min at any time of day.  Most of the system could have waits of no more than 10 min for much of the day.  There are lines which have 15 and 20 min gaps in peak period.  Metro hates VLine and vv, so VLine leaves Southern Cross at times when Metro doesn't connect; likewise Skybus to the airport.  Reliability is a different issue.  The operator may have no control over trespassers, but overreacts.  Equipment failure is the operator's responsibility, and far to frequent (trackside equipment and trains).  Melbourne is the only system in the world where ill passengers cause so much disruption.  Better management of that issue beats better excuses.
<www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/could-hydrogen-energy-be-australia-s-future-this-village-might-show-us-how-20190705-p524h8.html>

Walking and cycling to work makes commuters happier and more productive Jul 5, 2019 In Australia, full-time workers spend 5.75 hours a week on average travelling to and from work. Photo: Brendan EspositoIn Australia, more than nine million people commute to work every weekday. The distance they travel and how they get there – car, public transport, cycling or walking – can influence their wellbeing and performance at work.Our study, involving 1121 full-time workers who commute daily to work, made several important findings:– Those who commute longer distances tend to have more days off work– Among middle-aged workers, those who walk or cycle performed better in the workplace– Those who commute short distances, walk or cycle to work, are more likely to be happy commuters, which makes them more productive.In Australia, full-time workers spend 5.75 hours a week on average travelling to and from work. Among them, nearly a quarter of commutes can be classed as lengthy (travel for 45 minutes or more one way).Long commutes not only cause physical and mental strains on workers, but may also affect their work participation, engagement and productivity..And Australia’s pervasive urban sprawl means most workers commute by car. But driving has been found to be the most stressful way to commute.Driving to work is associated with a series of health problems and lower social capital (smaller social networks with less social participation), which all affect work performance and productivity.What did the study look at?Our research investigated how and to what extent our daily commuting can influence workplace productivity. We surveyed 1,121 employees from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. These employees are all employed full-time, have a fixed place of employment, make regular commuting trips and work in different industries and occupations.We found that workers with a long-distance commute have more absent days, as the graph below shows.Predicted number of days absent from work with increasing commuting distance.Author providedTwo reasons can explain this result. First, workers with long commutes are more likely to become ill and be absent. Second, workers with long commutes receive less net income (after deducting travel costs) and less leisure time. Therefore, they are more likely to be absent to avoid the commuting cost and time.The average commuting distance for Australian capital cities is about 15km. Workers with a commuting distance of 1km have 36 per cent fewer absent days than those commuting 15km. Workers who commute 50km have 22 per cent more absent days.This study also finds that middle-aged (35-54) commuters who walk or cycle – known as active travel – have better self‐reported work performance than public transport and car commuters. This result may reflect the health and cognitive benefits of active travel modes.Finally, this study finds the short-distance and active travel commuters reported they were relaxed, calm, enthusiastic, and satisfied with their commuting trips, and were more productive.How does commuting affect productivity?Urban economic theory provides one explanation of the link between commuting and productivity. It argues that workers make trade-offs between leisure time at home and effort in work. Therefore, workers with long commutes put in less effort or shirk work as their leisure time is reduced.Commuting can also affect work productivity through poorer physical and mental health. Low physical activity can lead to obesity as well as related chronic diseases, significantly reducing workforce participation and increasing absenteeism. The mental stress associated with commuting can further affect work performance.A growing number of studies have found active commuting by walking and cycling is perceived to be more “relaxing and exciting”. By contrast, commuting by car and public transport is more “stressful and boring”. These positive or negative emotions during the commute influence moods and emotions during the work day, affecting work performance.Finally, commuting choice could influence work productivity through cognitive ability. Physical activity improves brain function and cognition, which are closely related to performance. So it’s possible that active travel commuters might have better cognitive ability at work, at least in the several hours after the intense physical activity of cycling or walking to work.The pathways through which walking and cycling to work might influence productivity.What are the policy implications?Employers should consider types of commuting as part of their overall strategies for improving job performance. They should aim to promote active commuting and, if possible, to shorten commuting time. For example, providing safe bike parking and showers at work could significantly increase cycling to work.As for governments, in most states of Australia, only a tiny portion (less than 2 per cent) of transport funding is devoted to bicycling infrastructure.By contrast, in the Netherlands most municipalities have specific budget allocations to implement cycling policies. Australia should allocate more transport infrastructure funding to active travel, given the economic benefits of walking and cycling to work.Liang Ma, Vice-Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research Fellow, RMIT University and Runing Ye, Research Fellow, Melbourne School of Design, University of MelbourneRelated: Shorter and cheaper Sydney commutesRelated: Over two hours getting to workRelated: Australia’s only true world city<www.domain.com.au/news/walking-and-cycling-to-work-makes-commuters-happier-and-more-productive-856191>