----- Forwarded message ----- To: Tdu Transportdownunder transportdownunder@...>
Sent: Saturday, 13 July 2019, 06:14:28 pm AESTSubject: Fri.12.7.11 daily digest
No improvement in yahell as at yesterday, or as at today (11/20 to tdu got through).  Three photos herewith.

190626 Domain - Parramatta Rd at Broadway. 1957.

190712F Melbourne 'Herald Sun':- letters (rail, road, energy, water, drones).- energy (pumped hydro). with tdu.
- Sydney tram.

190712F Melbourne 'Age': - letters (tunnel, water, flying).

Fri.12.7.19 Metro Twitter.
Pakenham/Cranbourne lines: Buses replace trains Caulfield - Flinders St until the last train of Sun 14 Jul.  Buses extend Westall - Flinders St from 0.20 Sat 13 Jul.- Are you planning on doing works on the Pakenham line between Caulfield to Pakenham?- I'm alright with the bus replacements, but no free train travel between Cranbourne and Caulfield? And I'm charged the same as I would be if I got off at Flinders St? That doesn't sit right.- That would equate to getting a tooth pulled.Frankston line: Buses replace trains Caulfield - Flinders St until the last train of Sun 14 Jul.  Buses extend Moorabbin - Flinders St from 0.45 Sat 13 Jul.- Is a Caulfield express running from Arts Centre or ACMI?  Seem to have made changes to the route this morning and I can not find any information.- Express buses depart from both Arts Centre and Federation Square/ACMI. Passengers for the Frankston line beyond Caulfield are advised to take buses from Arts Centre, as they will drop off closer to Platform 1 at Caulfield. Passengers for the Pakenham/Cranbourne line beyond Caulfield are advised to take buses from Federation Square, as they will drop off closer to Platform 3 and 4 at Caulfield. If you're solely travelling to Caulfield, then take any bus from either terminal.Carrum station: closed until early 2020.Buses replace trains Frankston - Stony Point until the last train of Sun 14 Jul.Sandringham line: Trains will run to an altered weekday timetable until tonight.9.02 Cranbourne/Pakenham lines: Major delays in both directions (an equipment fault between Dandenong and Yarraman).- The smoke truck got a flat.- 11.55 delays are reducing.14.35 Pakenham line: Minor delays (police near Berwick).18.00 Please take extra care alighting and boarding at Edithvale (a part loss of platform lighting).  Technicians are working to rectify the fault.- 19.49 Lighting is restored.20.49 Pakenham/Cranbourne lines: Minor delays (an equipment fault near Dandenong). Trains may depart from altered platforms at Dandenong.- 23.00 rectified, with some delays.
Melbourne Express, Friday, July 12, 2019* Another mum and baby were reportedly separated by closing doors on a Melbourne train last night.  While passengers reportedly tried to keep the door open for the mother, the baby in the pram continued on the train until mum and bub could be reunited at the next station.8.51 An accident involving a tram in Lygon Street is blocking outbound lanes in Carlton North.  Emergency services are on scene after the collision near Mary Street. Cars and routes 1 and 6 trams are delayed in both directions. VicRoads suggests that motorists use Royal Parade or Nicholson Street instead. Passengers consider route 19 trams along Sydney Rd or Route 96 trams along Nicholson St.- 9.04: 1 & 6 trams have resumed, with delays.* Here's how you can see Melbourne's hidden gems Apparently this underground vault is filled with more than 600,000 pieces – and includes Kylie's gold hot pants! The Performing Arts Collection at the Arts Centre will be open for free tours during Open House Melbourne. Bookings are now open and more information is available here.* Naked on a train? No thanks, says Metro Authorities have condemned the behaviour of a man who was filmed sliding naked down the centre of a Melbourne train.* 'We all hit the roof': Severe turbulence forces diversion of Australia-bound plane. An Air Canada flight travelling from Vancouver to Sydney has been diverted to Honolulu after experiencing severe turbulence. An Air Canada flight from Vancouver to Sydney has been diverted to Hawaii after severe turbulence left 35 customers with minor injuries, the carrier said in a statement. Flight AC33, carrying 269 passengers and 15 crew, was flying from Vancouver to Sydney when the Boeing 777 aircraft encountered sudden turbulence approximately two hours past Hawaii. The plane was diverted to Honolulu and landed at 1.45 Melbourne time.Play video Thirty-seven injured on flight to Sydney.* 5.47 - buses are ferrying passengers to and from the city along the Cranbourne,  Frankston, Pakenham and Stony Point lines.<www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/melbourne-express-friday-july-12-2019-20190711-p5269l.html>
<www.domain.com.au/news/a-tale-of-two-cities-the-story-of-one-of-sydneys-oldest-roads-852745>
Moonee Valley Council supports petition to make Maribyrnong Rd saferThere are fears someone will be injured or killed along a major arterial road in Melbourne’s northwest unless the speed limit is drastically reduced. But commuters say speed is not the problem.Moonee Valley Leader July 9, 2019The Maribyrnong Rd intersection that some people want to be a 50km/h or 40km/h zone.Speed, poor traffic lights and distraction is to blame for a slew of near misses along Maribyrnong Rd, residents say.A 22-signature petition was tabled at a Moonee Valley Council meeting in May demanding the speed limit along Maribyrnong Rd, between the Maribyrnong River and Epsom Rd, be dropped from 60km/h to 50km/h or 40km/h.Petitioners are also calling for pedestrian lights to turn green before traffic turning arrows, to give people a chance to start crossing the road, and better signage at the four tram stops and two bus stops along the road.Residents feared if the changes were not made someone would be seriously injured or killed.Councillor Nicole Marshall moved a successful motion last week to write to VicRoads, Public Transport Victoria, and Yarra Trams and request the safety and public transport concerns in the petition be addressed.Maribyrnong Rd is a major arterial road and safety issues do not fall under the council’s jurisdiction.But while councillors agreed on the safety issues, some commuters say dropping the speed limit would lead to more congestion along the already jam-packed road.Clinton Downing said Maribyrnong Rd was “already bad enough in heavy traffic where it’s a crawl”.Nicole Middelkoop agreed and said the road had two lanes each way and should not be dropped to 40km/h.Vanessa Bianchi Noulas said “driver distraction not speed” was the problem.Eleesa Jewell said she had witnessed near misses along Maribyrnong Rd and “aggressive” drivers running red lights was the issue, rather than speed.“Drivers constantly enter the intersection without a way out and block traffic when lights change. I fear crossing the roads despite having pedestrian right of way at any of the lights in these sections,” she said.Rich Rutter said he saw a pedestrian hit by a car in a 40km/h zone last week.VicRoads did not respond for a request for comment.<www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/north-west/moonee-valley-council-support-petition-make-maribyrnong-rd-safer/news-story/ab0a6dccd8a5518906fdf1c8ebe5465d>

July 12 2019 Man with a tram: Why Chris Steel's been given the keys to Canberra's transport network 
It was a burden which came to weigh heavily on Meegan Fitzharris, a ministerial portfolio in which challenges arrived quickly and frequently. But for Chris Steel, Ms Fitzharris' successor as the ACT's Transport Minister, the role and responsibility appears to sits comfortably. ACT Transport Minister Chris Steel speaks to The Canberra Times about stage two of the light rail at his favourite café in Curtin. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong
At least for now. "I think it makes natural sense for me to have this portfolio," says Mr Steel, speaking with The Canberra Times as he sips on a coffee inside Curtin's Red Brick café. That's not an insignificant claim. Mr Steel is 33. He would blend in comfortably with the café's hipster coffee crowd, was he not dressed in a suit befitting a senior politician. He's a first-term parliamentarian. His rise from the backbench to Cabinet was an accomplishment in itself. As far as political careers go, he might still be considered a P-plater. Yet, following Ms Fitzharris' shock resignation late last month, he's been handed the keys to the shiniest vehicle in the Barr government's garage. He knows that challenges await - bumps on the road, if you will - but is confident he can safely steer the government's transport agenda. That confidence, he insists, won't translate into stubbornness. He's a strong advocate for the government's controversial new bus network, but is open to making further tweaks where necessary. His assuredness that he's the man to drive Canberra forward sprouts, in part, from his roots. ACT Transport Minister Chris Steel, who says he's the right man to fix Canberra's transport network. Picture: Sitthixay DitthavongBorn in the steel city of Newcastle, but raised in Torrens and elected in the seat of Murrumbidgee, Mr Steel refers to Woden as his "home town". Just as Ms Fitzharris, a Gungahlin local, was considered the right woman to deliver light rail to Canberra's north, Mr Steel firmly believes he is the right man to steer it over the lake, through the parliamentary triangle and down to Woden - and possibly beyond. Unlike Ms Fitzharris, he won't have to juggle the challenging health portfolio while attempting to bring light rail to his doorsteps of his constituents. "People are now clamouring for us to come to Tuggeranong and I think that shows a real change in the conversation since stage one, now that it's running and we're seeing huge numbers of people," Mr Steel says. "It's changed from 'should we do this?' to 'bring it closer to me', which is a great conversation to have."Mr Steel was seen as a logical appointment as Transport Minister, given he already held the roads portfolio. Chris Steel, who has become best known for his policies around animal welfare. Picture: SuppliedBut in his short parliamentary career, it is the policies he's helped develop and champion as City Services Minister for which he has become best known. Under his watch, the government has started consultation on banning single-use plastics - including straws and disposable coffee cups - in the ACT. Earlier this year, he introduced laws to recognise pets as "sentient beings with intrinsic value", as part of a major overhaul of animal welfare legislation. The laws, which included measures to fine owners if they failed to "appropriately" exercise their pets, attracted some criticism, with the opposition labelling them a "massive overreach". But whatever scrutiny or adverse publicity he has received thus far, it's likely to pale in comparison to what he can expect to face in the pressure-cooker transport portfolio. Save for a few minor technical glitches and instances of heavy-handed treatment of minors by ticket inspectors, the launch of light rail has gone smoothly. But it has been a far bumpier ride for the territory's redrawn bus network. The new streamlined network has removed routes and stops, sparking anger and confusion among commuters and school children. The government has already agreed to some concessions, and Mr Steel says he is willing to make further adjustments - so long as they don't compromise the wider network.ACT Transport Minister Chris Steel (right) at his favourite café in Curtin. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong"I appreciate that [some commuters] are worse off and I understand that," he says. "If there are tweaks that can be made to accommodate them that benefit the system as a whole, then we will look at that. But the whole purpose of this transport system was to encourage more people to use it - and that is what we have been seeing." On the topic of buses, Mr Steel speaks enthusiastically about the opportunity to eventually phase out the government's diesel fleet in place of electric, or even hydrogen-powered vehicles. There is excitement, too, about the emergence of new transport options, such as share bikes and e-scooter services, although he is alert to the problems which have plagued similar schemes interstate. He's pro-public transport and active travel, but says cars will remain a "legitimate" options for Canberrans into the future. In the first few weeks of his tenure as the ACT's Transport Minister, Chris Steel is trying to keep everyone happy. It appears to be working. At least for now. <www..canberratimes.com.au/story/6267791/a-natural-fit-chris-steel-on-why-hes-the-man-to-drive-canberras-transport-agenda>

Mother and baby separated while boarding train July 12, 2019 34 comments.A mother has spent 15 minutes separated from her baby after the doors of a Metro train closed, leaving her infant alone in a pram on the carriage in yet another case of parent-child separation on Melbourne's public transport.The terrifying ordeal began at 6.09pm on Thursday when the mother tried to board a Glen Waverley-bound train from Burnley station with her baby.Baby travels between two stations after stroller makes it onto train without mothervideo Baby travels between two stations after stroller makes it onto train without motherA mum rushing to catch a departing train watched in horror as the stroller carrying her baby made it onto the train without her, leaving the station with her child.While the exact circumstances are still being reviewed, the doors have closed with the pram in the carriage and the mother left on the platform.Protective Services Officers took care of the baby when it arrived at Heyington station. The pair was reunited at 6.24pm after the mother boarded the next train at Burnley.It follows a similar incident at Southern Cross station in May, in which a mother and child spent four minutes separated as the baby travelled to Flagstaff station in the care of concerned and panicked passengers.It sparked a wave of public concern about safety on station platforms, which heightened when Metro Trains' safety boss Anthony Fewster revealed parent-child separations happened about once a fortnight on Melbourne's network.Metro later clarified the rate included separations within the stations, not just on trains."It's definitely too many," Mr Fewster said at the time. "We want to keep people as safe as we possibly can [and] we've seen the trend go down in relation to train doors, etc, in the last six months."Figures obtained by The Age last month showed Melbourne's separation rate was higher than in other states. On the Sydney metro system parents and children were separated just three times last financial year.In most other states, rail authorities say separations occur relatively rarely.Only Brisbane reports a figure closer to Melbourne's, with an average of one separation every 5½ weeks.Related Article Carrie McCluskey and her children Freddie, 2, and Esther, 4. It's every parent's nightmare, and it's more likely to happen on a Melbourne trainRelated Article Mum's horrific ordeal as peak-hour train leaves with baby inside<www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/mother-and-baby-separated-while-boarding-train-20190712-p526iz.html>* A few years ago at Flinders Street Station, I came down the escalators and as I started pushing my stroller onto the train, the sound which warns that the doors are closing came on and the doors closed without delay trapping my stroller with my child in it in the door, with me on the outside. I wasn’t trying to beat the doors or anything, the warning sound and the doors closing happened almost simultaneously. If it hadn’t been for a number of passengers on board the train jumping up to pry open the door I am not sure what would have happened.* Call me old-fashioned, by I never let go of the pram when boarding a train.* Doesn't happen on the Craigieburn line - the trains are too full for prams to fit so noone even tries.* I observe protective officers every time I leave my station at night. All they do is stand in a corner and chit chat. What a waste of tax payers' money. Good work ethics have gone down the drain long time ago.* Twice I've almost experienced body and arm separation. No last moment leaping onto a carriage, just stepping into the carriage with other passengers behind me and 'BAM!'. Nothing subtle about the doors - they're very fast.Richmond and Southern Cross* There should be a longer period for when the warning beeps come on before the door closes. Though I would imagine some people would ignore them.* In Sydney the trains have Guards and hence a safer system* The train drivers can see all the way down the train.They have cameras on the curved platforms .It's very nearly happened to myself with a pram.I confronted the driverI think he thought it funny until he thought he might get assaulted.The drivers can always see.* Apparently it was too expensive to keep guards on trains - so we scrapped them - but now we instead pay PSOs to stand around for $80+million a year. I understand PSOs make people feel safer, but their hasn't been any meaningful decline in crime since they were introduced and they're about as useful as any other random passenger when it comes to actual assistance with using the train network. Scrap (or at least strategically deploy) PSO's, bring back train guards and get more staff at more stations that can actually help people. The Government would save money, and improve service at the same time.* It’s the ‘sign of the times’ in our society these days.... PSO’s are more important than Train guards. I’m sure most of us would rather be SAFE when travelling on PT, than worry about ‘Guards’ looking out for stragglers.* Melbourne commuters have a bad habit of running towards trains as doors are closing. This often results in one family member making it on the train but too late to force the doors open. The driver will assume remaining people on train are late arrivals (not on platform when train arrives) and departs not to delay the train. The driver will know that late arrivals want on the train but don’t know another family member is already on the train. Metro rules for drivers is when doors are proved closed, do not re-release doors for late running passengers. It is impossible for a driver from 150m away to determine who is traveling with who.* Rubbish, they have cameras.* I see it every single day; people once the doors have closed or after the warning sound for the doors closing has started to ring; still try to climb aboard. IMPORTANT; the warning buzzer for the doors doesn't mean you continue to push your way on board, it means stop.. It doesn't mean you force the door open again or force it to stop closing; it means its closing. Trains are running to a time table; you break that door, you stop that entire train of 500 passengers from leaving...period.* how do they cameras show the family relationships between passengers?* Presumably drivers can determine that a person pushing a pram is travelling with the person in the pram?* Trains aren't 150m long.* Siemens trains are 144m long. XTraps (as likely would have been the train in this case) are 143m long. Comengs are 142 long. So, no, not 150m - but pretty close to!* 6 carriages x 25m each = 150m* Why did the mother let go of the pram? Did she just push the tram on to the carriage and stand back?* Melbourne train doors close rather forcefully. If they closed while pushing the pram into the train she may not have had a choice. Having said that, this article says they were separated for a grand total of 15 minutes, presumable reunited at the next stop.* A 5-10 second warning sound with flashing light at the train doors before they close might be useful. It works well in Singapore to warn people to hurry up or wait for the next train. A bit like flashing walk signals at pedestrian crossings.* I’m sure these are normal occurrences in countries like China and India... Though it’d be insightful to see what the rate is in OECD countries.* Fortunately my pram days are now behind me (only recently). I would always take the time to make it to the front carriage, even if it meant waiting for the next train. Usually the kids would waive to the driver as the train approached and almost every time would get a wave back. The train driver knew we were there and being at the front could see us getting on. On numerous occasions I have seen parents rushing to get onto train in middle carriages where much harder for the driver to see them.* The obvious reason this is happening is due to driver only operated trains. Both Sydney and Brisbane have guards in their trains, either in the middle or at the end of the train & can see that the platform is clear. Being back train guards and this won't happen.* A bit of attention from the parents as well I think. A beeper sounds when the doors are about to close, did the mother put the pram on the train before the beeper sounded?* The ONUS is on Train / Station personnel to make sure all passengers are SAFELY in or out of Train carriages before it departs. That is what abiding by OH&S regulations are about.* Some of our railway infrastructure is nearly a century old or older. There are many stations built around curves and even with cameras, they are hard for the drivers to see all the doors clearly.* All passengers were safely in or out of the train, just not together.* Bring back Conductors, situation solved.* Did we have many conductors on our metro trains back then? We still have them on our V/Line train, so now I'm curious about the statistics of parent-pram separations on the V/Line.

Compensation available after Metro Trains fails to hit targetFor the second time this year Metro Trains has failed to deliver its targets and now they owe you compensation for running late. Here’s how you can claim it..Herald Sun July 12, 2019Melbourne commuters will be able to cash in compensation from Metro Trains after more than one in ten trains were late last month.Metro Trains delivered just 88.3 per cent of its services on time in June, well below its 92 per cent target.More than 100 incidents involving ill passengers — the most in a month for three years — contributed to the poor punctuality performance.An overheard power issue at Aircraft station and a collision between a train and a car near Mentone station also affected numerous services.“Metro Trains’ contract with the state government includes tougher measures than ever before in relation to punctuality. We expect them to meet these targets and deliver a service that our passengers deserve,” Department of Transport acting deputy secretary Alan Fedda said.“These results are unacceptable and we will continue to work with Metro Trains to ensure its performance returns to the expected levels.”Melbourne commuters will be able to cash in compensation from Metro Trains after more than one in ten trains were late last month.The Herald Sun revealed earlier this month that just 7732 people claimed compensation totalling about $66,000 after Metro’s horror performance in March — the first time compensation was paid since the new contracts began.New figures show 88.2 per cent of regional V/Line services were on time in June, with particular improvements on the Geelong and Bendigo lines.“Additional staff at Footscray station played a more active role in platform management, helping passengers board and exit trains faster by providing additional announcements,” Mr Fedda said.“VLine are also trialling measures to help passengers board and exit trains more efficiently.”Yarra Trams recorded an 84.1 per cent punctuality mark — its best result in four months — which Mr Fedda said was a “pleasing” improvement.Affected commuters can apply for compensation via the Metro Trains website.<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/compensation-available-after-metro-trains-fails-to-hit-target/news-story/229b873a9fe9adf25f4b39521b54f783>* The situation is far worse.  Delays caused by planned works don't count.  Metro simply sits back smugly 'allow an extra hour for your journey', and fails to provide an effective substitute.  Metro should be charged for these delays, then it would discover that it is cheaper to maintain operations through works than to shut down.  That's how managers and engineers coped for 140 years before privatisation.  There have to be better protocols for coping with ill passengers (Melbourne leads the world on quantity) and police actions.