----- Forwarded message -----

From: Roderick Smith rnveditor@...>
To:australiantransportnews@... australiantransportnews@...>
Sent: Thursday, 15 October 2020, 08:03:42 am AEDT
Subject: Thurs.9.7.20 daily digest

Covid19 items have gone viral this week.

Roderick

"170928-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-bikes.rights-tram-ss.jpg" 

 "200709Th-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-ElizabethSt-empty-ss.jpg"

 "200709Th-'SMH'-Sydney.tram-a-ss.jpg" 
"200709Th-'SMH'-Sydney.tram-b.jpg" 

Thurs.9.7.20 Metro Twitter
Buses replace trains Dandenong - Cranbourne from until the last train of Sun 12 Jul (levelcrossing works).
Buses replace trains on sections of the Frankston line and to Stony Point until the last train of Sun 26 Jul (level-crossing works).
It’s one of the world’s most iconic railway stations, and everyone has a story to tell from under the clocks. Be sure to tune into SBS at 19.30 for the Flinders Street episode of the 'World’s busiest stations’.
19.57 Major delays to all lines due to a  VictoriaPolice request near Flinders St. Trains will hold at available platforms.
- 20.01 Delays clearing after a police action near Flinders St. Sone trains will run direct to/from Flinders St.
Buses replace trains Newport - Werribee from 20.15 until the last train (works).
Buses replace trains Dandenong - Pakenham from 20.30 until the last train (works).
23.07 Frankston line: Major delays (police near Carrum).
- 23.10 clearing.

Metro Twitter, Sun.8.10.17.
- 2.00 Pakenham line: Major delays (police attending to a vandalised train near Hallam).

Melbourne Express: Monday, October 9, 2017 
8.37 Hurstbridge commuters say they have been stuck on replacement buses for hours this morning.
8.37 I've just heard from an Express reader on the Hurstbridge line. It's taken them two hours to get from Eltham to Ivanhoe. How awful. 
Lightning caused big delays this morning and buses are replacing trains for track upgrades.
"Caught 6:48am train from Eltham to city. Buses from Macleod. Almost two hours later we're only just past Ivanhoe in near-gridlock."
"The bus is packed, people are struggling to breathe and pleading with the driver to turn up air-con or leave doors open."
We've written a lot about anti-terror bollards at The Age, particularly vigilante artists giving them a makeover.
I snapped this picture on Bourke Street yesterday of an incredible bollard cover with dozens of children's stuffed toys. Amazing, huh?
I imagine those bears would be pretty soaked by this morning though.
7.40 We've got delays on the Belgrave, Cranbourne, Frankston, Lilydale and Pakenham lines.
7.16 A lightning strike is causing havoc on the Hurstbridge line.
Expect delays of up to 20 minutes between Eltham and Diamond Creek with signalling equipment on the fritz after apparently being struck by lightning.
Buses are also replacing trains between Macleod and Clifton Hill due to upgrade works.
<www.theage.com.au/victoria/melbourne-express-monday-october-9-2017-20171008-gywrdj.html>

Jewell Station precinct
We are partnering with developer Neometro to redevelop the Jewell station precinct in Brunswick, to make the best use of underutilised transport land at the station only five kilometres from Melbourne’s CBD.
Under the plans, existing derelict buildings on VicTrack-owned land will make way for two eight storey mixed-use buildings, containing ground floor retail and 122 one, two and three bedroom apartments. 
Part of the proceeds from the development will fund our improvements to the station forecourt and public realm.
The historic Jewell Station building will form the centrepiece of the revamped station forecourt, featuring a community garden area and artistic and cultural spaces for the community to enjoy.
A new ramp and stairs will improve access to the station, there will be increased bike parking, and the Upfield bike path will be upgraded within the precinct.
Construction starting soon - bike path diversion and car park closure
Construction is scheduled to start on the project in October 2017. 
This requires the diversion of the Upfield shared user path from Thursday 12 October, and the permanent closure of the commuter car park from Thursday 26 October. For more information, see the 'updates' section below.
Toxic pollution in West Gate Tunnel vastly under-estimated: scientist
<www.victrack.com.au/projects/key-projects/jewell-station-precinct>

'Tram tracks are for trams': Caution urged around CBD light rail after near-misses July 9, 2020. 19 comments
Cars driving into light rail tunnels, cyclists speeding through intersections and pedestrians stepping in front of moving trams are among hundreds of near-miss accidents along the new light rail in recent months.
Sydneysiders have been urged to pay extra attention when travelling around the light rail, as people return to Sydney's CBD after the coronavirus lockdown and tram journeys become faster and more regular.
There have been hundreds of near-miss accidents along Sydney's new light rail in recent months.
But while South Dowling Street and Anzac Parade have been identified as main sites of concern by transport authorities, new video footage released by the government on Thursday shows incidents happening across the network, which stretches from the CBD to south-east Sydney.
"A few weeks ago the CBD was very quiet, now we are seeing people come back to the city," Transport for NSW chief operations officer Howard Collins said. "[There have been] dozens of incidents and hundreds of near misses as people are not paying attention."
In one video from early June, a car turns right onto tram tracks and proceeds to drive into the exclusive light rail tunnel at Moore Park, soon passing a tram coming in the other direction.
Another video from Town Hall shows a car that becomes stuck after driving into the light rail lane. Bystanders try to help lift the car off the tracks.
video CBD light rail near misses Cars, cyclist and pedestrians are putting themselves in harms way with hundreds of near miss accidents occuring along the new light rail in recent months.
Footage from early May shows a person on a bicycle riding in front of a moving tram in the city. The tram was forced to a quick stop in the middle of an intersection to avoid the rider.
There is also footage of an incident last weekend on Anzac Parade, where a car crashed into a passing tram while attempting to turn right.
NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the behaviour was "unacceptable" and that he hoped video footage would remind people about the dangers of risky behaviour or split-second misjudgments around the trams, which take 15 metres to stop when travelling at speed.
"Tram tracks are for trams, not for riding pushbikes on, not for cars to drive on, not for pedestrians to walk on," Mr Constance said. "They’re big machines. You will come off second best."
NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance, flanked by Transport for NSW chief operations officer Howard Collins, asks for Sydneysiders to be cautious around trams.CREDIT:RENEE NOWYTARGER
He said the government would consider additional mitigation measures around South Dowling Street in Surry Hills, which was an "area that's of enormous concern", as well as two locations on Anzac Parade.
Mr Collins said the light rail was now regularly completing journeys within 40 minutes and trams were travelling every four minutes in each direction on George Street, meaning trams could pass pedestrians every two minutes.
"Take your eyes off your mobile phone. Look up, pay attention," he said. But while pedestrians are the transport authority's first priority, Mr Collins said that "motorists [also] seem to do some crazy things that you wouldn’t believe they could do".
He said some appeared to have "a bit of a panic attack" when they were around trams. "That yellow light, as you’re approaching it, means stop," he said.
Mr Constance has also pleaded for general road safety after 12 people died on NSW roads since Friday. He said authorities had seen more speeding during the coronavirus pandemic, when fewer cars were on the road.
"I know everybody’s got a lot on their minds, there’s a lot of pressure on everybody," he said. "But it’s really important that everybody slows down, and the same goes with light rail. Take your time."
“ everybody slows down, and the same goes with light rail.”
RELATED ARTICLE A car has crashed into a tram on South Dowling Street, Surry Hills. Light rail tram and car collide in inner Sydney
<www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/tram-tracks-are-for-trams-caution-urged-around-cbd-light-rail-after-near-misses-20200709-p55ai2.html>
* Yes the light rail is slow.
* Light Rail/Trams was a stupid, out-of -date idea. Trolleybuses would have been much better, or better yet, they should have extended the now-removed overhead rail. They claimed it was an eyesore, but all the tracks look better? Taking up more ground space? And more dangerous?
* Trolleybuses are no better than diesel buses in service, and have restrictions where they can run. Getting power from overhead wires does not give them magical powers.
* Running trains on roads was never a good idea.
* It was always going to be like this. But Gladys and Constance wanted to make it a State Significant piece of infrastructure. Imagine how much better a heavy rail would have been.
* Yes, all underground with dingy stations about 1-2km apart. A great improvement for inner suburban commuters.
* Trams are certainly dangerous. The problem is that the tram tracks beside Paddy's Markets along Hay St are actually the recommended City of Sydney cycle route to link up with the Darling Drive separated cycleway. Which means that we need more safe cycling paths, rather than just criticism of those that cycle on tram tracks. <www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/314643/5650-FA1-Cyling-Base-Map-June-2020-Update.pdf>
* Watched an almost empty tram hold up the traffic as it slowly trundled across a very busy South Dowling Street again today ... I wonder when the NSW Government will finally admit that this particular piece of infrastructure was just about as slow and antiquated as a horse drawn carriage ... but not nearly as pretty.
* What about all the almost empty cars that trundle along Dowling St all day causing congestion and holding up buses and cars on Cleveland St??
* Just today I saw three people on bikes riding along the tram tracks on George St, weaving back and forth over the rail grooves in the ground, and dodging the light rail cars. Utter insanity; thinner wheels get caught in those grooves, and the cyclist is inevitably thrown.
* Is it possible the signage for the new tracks isn't up to snuff? (serious question)
* It is a problem that drivers aren't up to snuff and can't read the signs. There is a section of one way traffic near my home; there are FOUR signs saying NO ENTRY at the start of it, but cars just sail through, then claim they didn't see any signs.
* This is supposed to be a surprise? Who thought that jamming a tram line into already busy streets would have any other result?
* Texting while walking is akin to driving under the influence of alcohol. The danger it poses is real and compromises public road or pedestrian safety. What is keeping public policy shy from implementing a street sweeping or pedestrian sweeping fines or penalty for distracted mobile-glued pedestrians? It's always good to read your article Natassia. You're my favourite SMH writer.
* Having lived around trams for many years, the most important warning for pedestrians is to NOT cross behind trams. Two of the near-misses in the video are from someone doing precisely that. Impressed by the guy on the bike though. I've had wheels caught in tram tracks often enough, and it's almost guaranteed you'll end up on the floor. How he stayed on the bike I don't know.
* What's the problem with South Dowling Street? There is a traffic light where it cuts the tram tracks. What could be clearer?

Facebook has 'devastating' civil rights record, audit says July 9, 2020
<www.brisbanetimes.com.au/technology/facebook-has-devastating-civil-rights-record-audit-says-20200709-p55ais.html>

165 new COVID cases in Victoria on day one of Melbourne lockdown
Herald Sun July 9, 2020
...
MASKS RECOMMENDED TO PREVENT COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION
Victorians trapped in the lockdown zone and unable to socially distance have been advised to wear masks.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth said mask use was not being recommended for all Australians at all times, just those in areas where community transmission is on the rise.
“In Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire area, surgical masks or cloth masks is recommended if you find yourself in a situation where you cannot socially distance,” Dr Coatsworth said.
“This means if you have to leave your home for any of those reasons for which it is permissible, and you are likely to find yourself in a situation where you cannot maintain 1.5m distance, it is advisable to be covering your face with a mask.
“That, of course, does not change our advice on social distancing.”
Dr Coatsworth insisted maintaining distance from others was still the most important measure people could be taking.
There were 182 new cases of COVID-19 detected across Australia in the 24 hours to noon Thursday.
Of the 45 people in hospital, 10 were in intensive care units.
...METRO TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION HALTED
Construction of the Town Hall train station has been halted after two workers tested positive to coronavirus.
The station, which is part of the Metro Tunnel project, was undergoing a deep clean between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, with no work occurring during that time.
A Metro Tunnel spokesman said two project team members received their positive result in recent days.
They were isolating at home and had mild symptoms, the spokesman said.
“As a precautionary measure, all Town Hall site team members have been offered a COVID-19 test,” he said.
“The health and safety of the community and our team is the number one priority of the Metro Tunnel Project. There are comprehensive health and safety procedures in place for COVID-19.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/coronavirus/businesses-have-backs-to-the-wall-as-steel-trap-locks-city/news-story/c853703e735aea9ad6d95295d5f1a045>

Anger grows at Premier over Melbourne’s new lockdown [with ATN]
Herald Sun July 9, 2020
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/anger-grows-at-premier-over-melbournes-new-lockdown/news-story/b1ca05854a450f6719c498501f4bcd7c>

Coronavirus NSW: The Golden Sheaf investigated over COVID breach
Sydney 'Daily Telegraph' July 9, 2020
NSW ON ‘HIGH ALERT’ FOR BORDER OUTBREAK
QLD CLOSES BORDERS TO VICTORIANS
<www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/extra-security-measures-are-being-taken-at-sydney-airport-to-prevent-covid19-spread/news-story/a710f36629b1547c073e8dbf2792ab02>