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

To:australiantransportnews@... australiantransportnews@...>
Sent: Thursday, 15 October 2020, 10:52:35 pm AEDT
Subject: Fri.10.7.20 daily digest

Roderick

"170827-Burnley-Comeng-Roster.jpg"
"170823W-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-transportpatronagesoars.jpg"

 "171006-Fairfax-Domain-Docklands-d-ss.jpg" 
"171006-Fairfax-Domain-immigration-a.jpg"
 "171006-Fairfax-Domain-immigration-b.jpg"

 "171006-PTUA-new.trains-a-ss.jpg" 

 "200710F-'BrisbaneTimes'-restored.bus-a-ss.jpg"  with ATN
"200710F-'BrisbaneTimes'-restored.bus-b-ss.jpg" with ATN

 "200710F-Hobart'Mercury'-new.ferry.routes.jpg"  with ATN

"200710F-Melbourne'Age'-FlindersSt-ss.jpg"

 "200710F-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-cartoon.jpg"
 "200710F-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-Cranbourne-a-ss.jpg"
 "200710F-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-Cranbourne-b-ss.jpg"
"200710F-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-empty.transport-a-ss.jpg"
 "200710F-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-empty.transport-b-ss.jpg"
 "200710F-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-FlindersSt-empty.jpg"

 "200710F-'SMH'-Carriageworks-ss.jpg"  with ATN

Fri.6.10.17 Metro Twitter
Rosanna closed from 20.30 until March 2018 (level-crossing work). Buses Heidelberg-Rosanna-Macleod.

Hurstbridge line: Buses replace trains Greensborough - Clifton Hill from 20.00 until Sun.8.10 (works).

Fri.10.7.20 Metro Twitter
Buses replace trains Dandenong - Cranbourne from 8:40pm Tue 7 Jul to last train Sun 12 Jul, while levelcrossings works take place.
Buses replace trains on sections of the Frankston line from 10pm Sat 23 May to last train Sun 26 Jul, while levelcrossings works take place.
Buses replace trains Frankston - Stony Point from 10pm Sat 23 May to last train Sun 26 Jul, while levelcrossings works take place.
Moreland Road, Coburg is closed in both directions at the Upfield line level crossing until 6am Friday, as part of the levelcrossings work. Please all extra time for the detours using Reynard or Albion streets. #victraffic
7.14 tramTRACKER is experiencing technical issues. We're investigating the problem now. Please refer to timetables at stop for time arrival times.
- 9.04 The earlier tramTRACKER technical issue has been resolved.
- Timetable at Miller st stop says next tram isn’t until tomorrow, 1.15am ?
- tramTRACKER is currently experiencing technical issues. We're investigating the problem now. Please refer to timetables at stop for time arrival times. We apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.
12.14 Major delays due to an equipment fault between Upwey and Belgrave.
- 12.22  Belgrave line: Major delays due to an equipment fault between Upwey and Belgrave. Oncoming busOur repair crews are on their way. Please consider local alternative transport bus routes 693 & 901.
- 12.44 Buses to replace trains between Upper F'tree Gully & Belgrave.  Buses have been ordered but may take over 45 minutes to arrive. Consider alternative transport bus routes 693 & 901.
- 13.05 Two buses in operation between Upper Ferntree Gully & Belgrave, extended time of 20 minutes.
- 13.05 Trains are resuming. The first services will be the  3:17pm Belgrave–Flinders St & 2:12pm Flinders St–Belgrave.
13.21 Werribee/Williamstown lines: Minor delays due to police attending to a trespasser in the Yarraville area. All trains have been stopped at platforms.
- 13.32 Now major.
- 13.40 Trains are on the move, with major delays.
- 14.04 delays are reducing.
15.28 Glen Waverley line: Buses to replace trains Burnley-Darling due to a person hit by a train. Buses have been ordered but may take over 60 minutes to arrive, consider alternative transport.
- 16.45 we've been waiting 45mns at the Toronga st, when are the buses supposed to come?
- 16.56 Three replacement buses have passed Tooronga in the last 15min, two heading towards Darling, and one towards Burnley. Replacement buses depart from Tooronga Road, near Milton Parade.
- Trains resuming, with major delays. First trains: 18:14 Flinders St - Glen Waverley. 18:30 Glen Waverley - Flinders St.
Buses replace trains Dandenong - Pakenham from 8:10pm Fri 10 Jul to 6:45am Sat 11 Jul, while project works take place.
Buses replace trains Clifton Hill - Mernda from 7:45pm Fri 10 Jul to last train Sun 12 July, while maintenance works take place.
Buses replace trains on sections of the Werribee line from 8:15pm Fri 10 Jul to last train Sun 12 Jul, while project works take place.

Why Australia’s population growth tells only half the story Oct 6, 2017    
Australia’s population is closing in on 24.7 million following its biggest quarterly jump in nine years, but the counters presenting that impressive figure have a hefty blind spot.
In fact, it’s really only half the story.
The Bureau of Statistics reports population growth at a three-year high of 1.6 per cent per year, but that headline measurement only registers permanent residents, which means a huge number of the people living in Australian major cities are left out during the national headcount.
Australia’s population may be growing at 1.6 per cent per year, but “people growth” is soaring at a record high 3.5 per cent. Photo: Ben Rushton
UBS’ “people growth” figure, on the other hand, adds net short-term arrivals for education and employment to population growth. On that measure, Australia’s “people growth” is striding ahead at an annual rate of 3.5 per cent – a record high.
Simply put, “population” is what most economists and politicians talk about, but “people” is what residents weave through when sitting in traffic or a crowded bus on the way to work.
“This continued people boom is likely to offer more support than expected for housing and vacancy rates.”
George Tharenou & Carlos Cacho, UBS
 The bigger of the two numbers represents a more complete picture of the pressure on major city infrastructure, and should be brought to the centre of the conversation around Australia’s growth.
Melbourne is seeing 100,000 people added to its population per year. The equivalent of Ballarat. Photo: Vince Caligiuri
Open homes:  
UBS economists are particularly interested in short-term arrivals for employment and education because they’re the groups most likely to use their full 12-month visa allowance, and possibly return to Australia with an extension or different type of visa.
The analysts are not talking about tourists. Workers and students are the people who seek longer-term accommodation, rather than hotels, and will be commuting, rather than touring.
So, why is the people growth figure hitting record highs? We can take a hint from a brand new global study into expat behaviours from HSBC, but the simple answer is … Australia is fantastic place to live.
This year’s HSBC Expat Explorer report ranks Australia as 7th favourite place in the world for expats, up from 11th last year, and while this report is in no way connected with the UBS figures,  HSBC defines expat as “an adult over the age of 18 years old who is currently living away from their country of origin/home country”. The students and workers UBS is using in its people growth figure fit the bill, and are worth listening to.
Along with Australia’s strong overall rating, three points stand out to Aussie readers from the report.
1. As a place to raise children, Australia ranked 3rd overall … out of 159 countries.
2. Seventy-nine per cent of respondents said their family’s quality of life is higher in Australia.
3. Sixty per cent say their earnings potential is stronger in Australia than in their home country.
Those don’t sound like the comments of people with short-term plans in Australia. Could we then infer that those who visit Australia for a while fall in love with it, and start to see their future being here?
Open homes:  
“I think that’s a very valid hypothesis,” Graham Heunis, head of HSBC retail banking and wealth management told Domain.
“If you look at the main reasons [why Australia ranks highly], they are longevity reasons – quality of life, climate etc. – things that don’t change. And what was particularly interesting to me was that 31 per cent of expats have found love with a long-term partner here in Australia.”
The survey covers more than 27,500 expats and pegs Singapore as the No.1 country, mostly for perceived short-term financial gain.
UBS analysts, meanwhile, note Australian people growth is strengthening despite a recently rising Australian dollar, which would usually make Australia a less attractive destination, and sees upside for housing demand.
“This continued people boom is likely to offer more support than expected for housing and vacancy rates, particularly in Melbourne which is experiencing record high population growth,” economists George Tharenou and Carlos Cacho wrote in their report.
Of course difficulties can arise when cities can’t keep up with the growth, according to demographer Mark McCrindle, who notes Melbourne is seeing the equivalent of an entire Ballarat added to it each year through overseas and interstate migration.
“You can become a victim of your own success,” Mr McCrindle told Domain.
“And when the public transport does start to groan, when the infrastructure doesn’t keep up with that massive growth … you start to get the pain points. You start to get people feeling a bit of a loss of lifestyle and a decline in liveability.”
“A great strength can become a weakness over time.”
Australia’s soaring headcount should be seen as a huge opportunity for the economy to expand, but demand for housing and public infrastructure should be viewed under the scope of “people growth”, not “population growth”.
<www.domain.com.au/news/why-australias-population-growth-only-tells-half-the-story-20171006-gyulxw>

Inside Melbourne’s new trains. October 6, 2017. 
Last week we took a look at the mock-up of Melbourne’s new train design, to give feedback to the project team.
The mock-up is one and a half carriages, designed to show stakeholder groups the layout, including the inter-carriage connections.
The platform alongside the mock-up has different heights, to simulate actual conditions around Melbourne’s rail network. This model of train will initially run between Sunbury and Cranbourne/Pakenham, but eventually will run on other lines too. (We think the front destination sign is very clear, but not so readable from an angle as the train approaches the platform.)
Ramps are also in use for testing with accessibility groups. They are testing different highlights around the doorways to assist people with vision difficulties.
A “gap filler” is being tested, attached to the doorway of the train. We’re a bit concerned that this is rubbery, and may move under-foot – it’s also incompatible with similar devices on some station platforms. The external passenger assistance button is also only a test, and may not be on the final trains built.
Inside, there is open space near the ends of the carriages, providing allocated spots for wheelchairs. Happily, the hand straps in the standing areas are soft, and don’t squeak like on the Siemens trains.
The middle sections of the carriages have a lot more seats. The total number of seats in the 7-car train will be about the same as the trains in the current fleet. The mock-up has more places to hold (rails and hand straps) on than on the Comeng and Siemens train, but we think there could be even more provided.
Above each doorway is a “Passenger Information Display” screen showing the next station and other information. They’re trying out different designs, including colour, and white on black (which isn’t as “pretty”, but is much more readable).
The inside walls have a “dynamic route map” showing the route the train is taking, and its current location. Of course these will have to be more reliable than the current fleet.
A display on the outside of the train also shows the destination. This is more readable than similar displays on the X’Trapolis trains.
Overall the mock-up looks pretty good to us, but we’ve provided some feedback on areas where we hope to see improvements in the design, as have other groups.
Anything you see here may have changed by the time the real trains start service.
Here are some more details of the mock-up, provided by the government:
The High Capacity Metro Trains Project is currently two weeks into the final train design consultation phase, which has been running all year.
14 accessibility groups, 3 passenger groups and technical experts are all now evaluating the mock-up train.
The High Capacity Metro Trains Project ran a passenger simulation exercise a few days ago, where almost 100 members of the public were brought in to experience the mock-up.
On 3 October, Guide Dogs Victoria were evaluating the mock-up – including their suggested change for more flip down priority seating as guide dogs are trained to sit beneath their owner’s seats.
Passengers, accessibility and transport user groups have already provided feedback on features such as the doors, seats, lighting, electronic signage, straps, and handrails.
More than 600,000 Australians currently use mobility aids and the design of the High Capacity Metro Trains has factored in their need for more space for mobility devices, including scooters and wheelchairs.
The final number of seats is yet to be determined and will be decided once the extensive stakeholder consultation that is underway concludes – however, the new trains will have more seats than the current fleets, which have between 420 to 432.
The feedback from stakeholder groups will be consolidated at the end of this evaluation phase, with the train design to then be finalised over coming months.
What do you think? Leave a comment on Facebook.
Help us represent passengers – join PTUA!
<www.ptua.org.au/2017/10/06/inside-melb-new-trains> with several photos.

July 10, 2020 As the day unfolded: NSW pub patrons test positive as Victoria records 288 new COVID-19 cases; Scott Morrison announces slash on international arrivals
21.35 Summary
- Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced 288 new coronavirus cases overnight, the biggest daily spike since the beginning of the pandemic. It brings the state's total to 3397.
- NSW has recorded 14 new coronavirus cases, 13 of which are travellers in hotel quarantine. The other case is an Albury resident mentioned yesterday, linked to two previous positive tests in the town. The border between NSW and - Queensland has now re-opened, ahead of schedule.
- Australia will cut the number of international arrivals it accepts by just over half, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced following today’s national cabinet meeting. The PM also flagged that all states would move towards charging returning travellers for hotel quarantine.
- Western Australia will delay softening its social distancing restrictions by two weeks because of the explosion in Victorian COVID-19 cases and jump in the number of people in hotel quarantine.
- There have been more than 12.2 million cases of coronavirus recorded since the start of the pandemic, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally. The global death toll has passed 554,000.
- Crossroads Hotel in Casula, in Sydney's south-west, has been ordered to close after two people who visited the venue on Friday, July 3, tested positive for COVID-19.
- Coronavirus infections in the City of Melbourne have surpassed the hotspot of Hume, with the CBD recording the highest ever number of active cases in a single Victorian municipality.
- The global death toll passed 555,000, and cases have passed the 12.3 million mark.
- Australia had 307 new cases today, - Victoria has recorded 288 new coronavirus cases, the biggest daily increase in infections since the pandemic began and the fifth consecutive day of triple-digit rises.
- Relieved residents from eight public housing towers in Flemington and North Melbourne emerged on Friday.
- The Australian death toll remained at 106.
<www.theage.com.au/national/coronavirus-updates-live-further-covid-19-case-spike-expected-in-victoria-as-nsw-remains-on-high-alert-australian-death-toll-at-106-20200709-p55an4.html>

NSW Health investigates two COVID-19 cases in Sydney, one linked to Victoria July 10, 2020
<www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/troubling-nsw-health-investigate-two-separate-cases-in-south-west-sydney-one-linked-to-victoria-20200710-p55ayr.html>

Carriageworks set to be saved as lease and funding guaranteed July 10, 2020
The Berejiklian government has backed a philanthropist-led lifeline for Carriageworks in a move that promises to lift the multi-arts venue out of voluntary administration.
Arts Minister Don Harwin announced he would grant Carriageworks Pty Ltd an initial 10-year lease over the Eveleigh railyards and five years guaranteed funding two months after its stunning collapse.
Creditors have yet to see the proposal but a long term lease and a commitment to future annual funding of $2.5 million were two conditions that the KPMG administrator, Phil Quinlan, said needed to be met for the organisation to avoid liquidation.
Carriageworks looks set to be lifted out of voluntary administration.CREDIT:RHETT WYMAN
Carriageworks entered voluntary administration on May 4, the board citing an irreparable loss of income caused by the coronavirus lockdowns.
Amid a push for Sydney Opera House to take over Carriageworks, philanthropists led by Kerr Neilson and daughter Paris, pledged support for an independent Carriageworks.
The Neilson Foundation committed $500,000 and the Gonski family foundation $200,000, most of the latter to kick in over four years once Carriageworks has resumed trading.
Geoff Ainsworth and wife Johanna Featherstone pledged $2 million through their philanthropic Oranges and Sardines Foundation, of which $200,000 is upfront cash and $1.8 million is to be given as a low-interest five-plus-year loan, upon which Carriageworks can drawdown for working capital.
The Packer Family Foundation/Crown Foundation promised Carriageworks $240,000 for the continuation of the Solid Ground Project. All money is conditional on an independent future of Carriageworks.
The government's offer is for a 10-year lease, with the option of another two five year terms, important because Carriageworks has been operating on a month-by-month lease since 2018.
The organisation owes more than $2 million to 225 creditors, company records to the market regulator shows. With agreement, Carriageworks' employees would be guaranteed their entitlements and unsecured creditors would receive between 20 and 30 per cent and this position seems likely to win support.
Late yesterday Carriageworks chief executive Blair French notified Carriageworks' staff and key stakeholders of the "good news". Chairman Cass O'Connor advised KPMG it could begin the process of calling the second meeting of creditors.
Mr French said the NSW Government had verbally confirmed its support of the terms attached to the Deed of Company Arrangement for the return of Carriageworks to its management. While there were still a number of steps to go through before the matter was finalised the commitment was "welcome news and critical to our future".
"Most importantly, the final decision on the Deed of Company Arrangement rests with the creditors," Mr French said. "The meeting of creditors where this will be voted on should now be able to be held sometime during the week beginning July 20."
Once out of voluntary administration, Mr French acknowledged the testing economic environment in which Carriageworks would reopen.
"We are delighted with this outcome," Mr Harwin said.
"We would like to thank the wonderful donors Geoff Ainsworth and wife Johanna Featherstone, Kerr Neilson, Michael Gonski and The Packer Family Foundation who have so generously contributed to the continuing future of Carriageworks.
"At the heart of it, we are excited for the resident companies of Carriageworks who will also greatly benefit from this announcement."
<www.smh.com.au/culture/art-and-design/carriageworks-saved-as-lease-and-funding-guaranteed-20200710-p55b1m.html>

One of Brisbane's oldest buses back on the streets with new silver lining July 10, 2020
It has no airconditioning, no power steering, and rumbles from zero to 100km/h in a leisurely 12 minutes - but "Bus 80" is a heritage treasure with a new lease of life.
More than 43 years since it was mothballed at a museum, one of the oldest remaining Brisbane council buses has been restored, taking a spin around the CBD on Friday morning.
The 1948 "Bus 80" is fully restored and ready for new life.CREDIT:LUCY STONE
"Bus 80" is a 1948 AEC Regal III bus that was first owned by Brisbane City Council, transporting residents around the city until it was formally retired in 1971, and handed over to the Brisbane Tramway Museum five years later.
The museum's collection was later inherited by the Queensland Omnibus and Coach Society, which last year decided it was time the 72-year-old had a makeover.
A $19,000 state government grant ensured the society had the funds to restore the bus, and a Brisbane bus maintenance company, Coachworks, found the COVID-19 downturn gave them the time they needed to get the restoration rolling.
Two-and-a-half months later, on Friday "Bus 80" was returned to the roads, celebrated by society members at a ceremony attended by Transport Minister Mark Bailey and council's public and active transport committee chairman, Ryan Murphy.
QOCS president Nick Wilson said the big old bus would be towed out to Gatton on Sunday, where it would take pride of place undercover in the Queensland Transport Museum for a one-year loan.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey, councillor Ryan Murphy and Queensland Omnibus and Coach Society president Nick Wilson celebrated the bus's restoration on Friday.CREDIT:LUCY STONE
Mr Wilson said "Bus 80" was a particularly rare example of a British chassis put together at a Sydney-based company with a locally manufactured body.
"It's actually one of only 12 of this combination, they built 12 ... of these buses in 1948," he said.
"In 1948 the council acquired a number of private bus operators. There was 20 in total, so they used to run to all Brisbane suburbs like Tarragindi, Moorooka, Doomben, East Brisbane, Indooroopilly.
"[Council] decided they were going to modernise Brisbane's transport and to do that they needed to bring it under one operation."
"Bus 80" was one of the first buses purchased by the council to replace buses that had run throughout WWII.
Mr Wilson said having the bus out at Gatton would be the first time it would be stored undercover, gleaming in new silver paint.
The society hopes to secure a space for its collection of 16 heritage public transport vehicles, dating from 1948 to 1989, with its eye on a council-owned former hangar at Eagle Farm.
Mr Wilson said the society wanted to found the Brisbane Transport Museum at that location if possible, to showcase the city's transport heritage.
<www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/one-of-brisbane-s-oldest-buses-back-on-the-streets-with-new-silver-lining-20200710-p55awi.html>

JULY 10 2020 Lockdown Victorians advised to wear masks
<www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6827050/vic-residents-told-to-wear-make-masks>

New $1b upgrade set to transform Cranbourne line amid construction blitz
Herald Sun July 10, 2020
A mammoth $1 billion upgrade to the Cranbourne line is finally underway, with buses to replace trains during a five-day construction blitz. Here’s how it will change commuters’ trips.
Level Crossing Removal Works at Evans Rd. Part of the Cranbourne Line upgrade.
Level Crossing Removal Works at Evans Rd. Part of the Cranbourne Line upgrade.
A massive $1 billion upgrade to Melbourne’s Cranbourne line is now underway, with buses to replace trains during a five-day construction blitz.
It comes as major work on two level crossings in Melbourne’s west are now due to start sooner than expected.
Commuters travelling along the Cranbourne line this weekend will be ferried on replacement buses until the last train on Sunday as work ramps up on a duplication of the railway.
Crews will build new power, signalling and drainage along one of Melbourne’s busiest rail corridors from Cranbourne through to Greens Rd.
Over the next month, a huge piling rig will also drill foundations for a 400m rail bridge over Abbotts Rd.
Once finished, the line will be able to handle capacity for trains to run every 10 minutes as intended once the Metro Tunnel is completed.
Its expected this will add room for 121,000 extra peak hour passengers every week.
Merinda Park station will also be totally rebuilt as part of the project.
“These projects are vital to get people home sooner and safer in one of the fastest growing communities – and busiest train lines – in Victoria,” Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards said.
Level Crossing Removal Works on the Cranbourne Line upgrade have began
After months of assessment, authorities will also announce on Saturday that crossings at Fitzgerald Rd, Ardeer and Robinsons Road, Deer Park have been fast tracked for removal by 2023.
Boom gates at both sides can be down for 45 per cent of the morning peak despite up to 52,000 vehicles passing through these areas every day.
There have been 18 misses between trains and cars at the two locations since 2012.
The Ardeer crossing will be replaced with a road overpass while crews will dig a road underpass to improve traffic in Deer Park.
Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said Cranbourne line would also be the state’s first train line to be free of level crossings.
“We’re delivering the projects that will keep Victorians moving and keep local people in jobs as our state moves through and beyond the pandemic,” she said.
“The Deer Park and Ardeer level crossing removals are just part of a huge suite of major road and rail projects easing congestion, improving safety and making journeys more reliable in our booming western suburbs.”
MORE
LEVEL CROSSING REMOVAL’S ‘DISGRACEFUL’ WORK CONDITIONS
TOORAK RD LEVEL CROSSING TO OPEN EARLY
MOTORISTS RISKING LIVES WITH DODGY MOVES ON LEVEL CROSSINGS
Metro Tunnel budget blowout turns costly for taxpayers
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/new-1b-upgrade-set-to-transform-cranbourne-line-amid-construction-blitz/news-story/60111c454649ac5ebb2e50b7cb921b96>
* On one hand, stay at home, isolate, distance, but we will take advantage of the quieter times by having lots more workers out on a construction blitz
* This was upgraded in 2008, the usual labor way needing yet another upgrade at a massive cost, should have been done with dual line as this was always known as a growth area.
* I could have sworn the Thompson’s rd upgrade didn’t happen in 2008.
* Yet still, in the safe labor seats of Moonee ponds and Pascoe vale, no works for there. But it’s ok to have the traffic snake out onto Pascoe vale road, causing traffic delays cause dan knows he’s safe in that area 
* And still the trains stop at Cranbourne. Desperate need for the railway line to be extended to Wonthaggi.  The land is there - use it.
* It's funny how the government has 1b dollars to upgrade the Cranbourne line yet they can't seems to find the money needed to finish the Murray Basin Rail Project.
* Spin, propaganda and outright lies.  The line is not being duplicated. Trains are still restricted to 20 min headways.  Removing level crossings does great things for motor cars, and nothing for trains or rail commuters. Trains will not be getting commuters home sooner or safer: how does that phrase keep being regurgitated?  The spin term 'blitz' simply means that modern engineers can't do anything unless buses replace trains.  40 years ago, engineers could cope.
* This is the first time I've heard anything about the Cranbourne line upgrade costing $1 billion. Where did that figure come from?
* Extend the train line to Clyde while your at. The traffic is ridiculous. Fastest growing suburbs in Australia.
* Spend money on at least one more track from Dandenong to Caulfield. Amazing how when the line went under Springvale Rd there was capacity on the Melbourne side for three lines, however, only two lines were placed under the road.
* VLine customers on this line face horrendous delays every trip due to a faltering metro network without passing loops between the City and Pakenham.
* How the heck is that money going to be recouped? I would imagine fare evasion would rife on that line?
* I would be asking where in the hell is the money coming from, especially during a pandemic with so many businesses closed and therefore employees of work too.

New off-peak train, tram servcies to help social distancing on public transport network
Herald Sun July 10, 2020 12:00am
Scores of extra services will be added to Melbourne’s public transport timetable to allow the network to facilitate social distancing as the coronavirus crisis continues.
video: How the Coronavirus Pandemic Is Changing the Way We Commute
Traveling on trains and buses means potential exposure to the coronavirus, so cities are racing to make their public transit systems safe. WSJ explores how things like sanitizing robots, working from home and expanded bike lanes are changing our commutes. Video/Illustration: Jaden Urbi and Zoë Soriano
Scores of extra services will be added to the public transport timetable to cater for social distancing, with 95 weekly train trips to be added to the network.
From Monday, an extra 10 weekly services will be added each to the Sunbury, Craigieburn, Werribee, Mernda, Dandenong, Ringwood and Glen Waverley lines.
Another five trips will be also added to Hurstbridge Line.
The new services will be scheduled in the hours before and after Melbourne’s peak periods in a bid to encourage commuters to spread their travel throughout the day.
Another 10 weekly train services will be added to both the Frankston and Sandringham lines from July 27 when level crossing works are finished.
A woman wears a mask on a tram in Swanston Street. Picture: Ian Currie
Scores of extra services will be added to the public transport timetable. Picture: Jason Edwards
Yarra Trams will provide two additional shuttle routes along Collins St in Melbourne’s CBD to reduce the risk of overcrowding along the busy corridor.
To allow for this, Route 30 will be replace with Route 12 and diverted to La Trobe St.
Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll said the changes would add hundreds of services to the weekly timetable.
“Giving Victorians the options to travel outside of the traditional peak hours and practice better physical distancing, keeping us all safer,” he said.
“We’re grateful to our frontline public transport staff for keeping Victoria moving during the pandemic – these changes will keep them safer as they do their essential work.”
Department of Transport will also ensure cash payments are permanently removed from buses on July 13, with Myki the only method available.
Over the next 18 months, upgrades will be rolled out to ensure that Victorians can choose to board buses from both front and rear doors rather than being restricted to those closest to the driver.
MORE IN NEWS
Metro Tunnel budget blowout turns costly for taxpayers
Shrine to Sea: Melbourne’s new boulevard
Why government could be sued as trams fail targets
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/new-offpeak-train-tram-servcies-to-help-social-distancing-on-public-transport-network/news-story/eb8c532492246949e77b848013517963>

Extra trains to help mind the gap
Fri.10.7.20 Melbourne 'Herald Sun'
SCORES of extra train and tram services will be added to the public transport timetable to allow commuters to practice social distancing, with 95 weekly train trips to be added to the network.
From Monday, an extra 10 weekly services will each be added to the Sunbury, Craigieburn, Werribee, Mernda, Dandenong, Ringwood and Glen Waverley lines.
Commuters on the Hurstbridge line will benefit from another five trips to their service.
The new services will be scheduled in the hours before and after Melbourne’s peak travel periods in a bid to encourage commuters to spread their journeys throughout the day.
Another 10 weekly train services will be added to both the Frankston and Sandringham lines from July 27 after level crossing works are finished.
Yarra Trams will provide two additional shuttle routes along Collins St to reduce the risk of overcrowding along the busy CBD corridor.
To allow for this, Route 30 will be replaced with Route 12 and diverted to La Trobe St.
Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll said the changes would add hundreds of services to the weekly timetable.
“(We’re) giving Victorians the options to travel outside of the traditional peak hours and practice better physical distancing, keeping us all safer,” Mr Carroll said.
“We’re grateful to our frontline public transport staff for keeping Victoria moving during the pandemic — these changes will keep them safer as they do their essential work.”
Department of Transport will also ensure cash payments are permanently removed from buses on July 13, with myki the only method available.
During the next 18 months, upgrades will be rolled out to ensure that Victorians can board buses from both front and rear doors rather than being restricted to those closest to the driver.