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Sent: Monday, 23 November 2020, 05:27:47 pm AEDT
Subject: Mon.17.8.20 daily digest

Roderick

180110W-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-PuffingBilly-c.jpg with ATN and v-n

"181126-Melbourne'Age'-InkermanRd-stuck.truck-a-ss.jpg"
 "181126-Melbourne'Age'-InkermanRd-stuck.truck-b-ss.jpg" 
"181126-Melbourne'Age'-InkermanRd-stuck.truck-c-a-sss.jpg"

"181126M-'SMH'-Sydney-Opal.barrier-ss.jpg" 

"200816Su-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-fat.controller.jpg"  [the photo was posted yesterday]

 "200817M-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-CollinsSt-empty.jpg"
 "200817M-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-tram.street-empty.jpg" 

Fat controller: <www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDdjzj2FRvw>

Mon.17.8.20 Metro Twitter
Buses replace trains on sections of the Upfield line until the last train of Sun 15 Nov (level-crossing works at Coburg and Moreland).
8.02 Frankston line: Major delays (an equipment fault near Kananook). Trains may run direct Richmond to Flinders St.
- 9.28 Now minor and clearing.  Trains may still run direct to Flinders St.
16.23 Lilydale/Belgrave lines: Major delays after a police action near Blackburn.
Buses replace trains Newport - Werribee from 19.25 until the last train (works).
Buses replace trains Dandenong - Pakenham from 20.30 until the last train (works).
Sandringham line: Buses replace trains South Yarra - Elsternwick from 21.00 until the last train (maintenance works).

Truck stuck under Inkerman Street bridge in St Kilda East 26 November 2018.
The stuck truck in Inkerman Street.Credit:Erin McFadden
A truck became wedged under a low hanging bridge in Melbourne on Monday afternoon, but it was not the usual suspect, the Montague Street bridge.
BagTrans tells its customers it’s ‘on time…every time’ but that was not the case today, when one of its trucks became stuck under the Inkerman Street rail bridge in Balaclava.
Missed the sign?Credit:Erin McFadden
Despite 3.6 metre low clearance signs on approach, the low hanging bridge claimed the truck as its victim before just midday.
The incident caused about five minute delays to the Sandringham train line from when it was reported at 11.57am until about 12.15pm, according to Metro.
The truck's tyres had to be let down for it to be moved.Credit:Erin McFadden
Erin McFadden, who was driving past, was shocked to see the stuck truck.
"As I approached the bridge, I couldn’t believe there was a truck wedged under there because the bridge is quite high, nothing like the Montague Street bridge," she said.
"Emergency services were there pretty quick and were managing the traffic. They had to deflate the tyres of the truck and reverse out slowly."
<www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/truck-stuck-under-inkerman-street-bridge-in-st-kilda-east-20181126-p50igv.html>

Credit card payments extended to Sydney's trains, but users miss out on Opal benefits 26 November 2018.  23 comments.
The use of credit and debit cards to pay for public transport trips has been expanded to NSW's rail network following a trial on ferry and light rail services.
Passengers who opt for their credit cards will pay the equivalent of standard distance-based fares, unlike in previous trials when they were slugged a more expensive single-trip ticket.
However, the use of credit cards will not offer commuters the same benefits as those using Opal cards, which includes half-price travel after eight trips in a week, or a $2 transfer discount when switching modes of transport such as
from a bus to a train.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance says contactless payments will make travel easier for tourists.  Credit: AAP.
Commuters will also be charged a peak fare if they use their credit cards, even if they are travelling on trains during off-peak periods when an Opal card would entitle them to a ticket 30 per cent cheaper.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance said contactless payments would make purchasing higher one-off fares a thing of the past for tourists and other occasional public transport users.
"It will be wonderful for tourists. It is absolute convenience and, of course, anyone visiting the city now can just pull out the credit card instead of chasing down an Opal card," he said.
Mobile wallets on smartphones, tablets and wearable devices linked to an American Express, Mastercard or Visa card can also be used to pay for trips on Sydney Trains or NSW Train Link.
Mr Constance reiterated that the expansion of contactless payments did not signal the end of the Opal ticketing system, which offered frequent public transport users the most savings, and serviced students, concession and senior card holders.
The expansion of contactless payments to the bus network has been slated for mid next year, and the state's transport agency is also in talks with EFTPOS to include it in the ticketing system.
The roll outcomes as new figures show the T8 Airport and South Line has experienced the highest growth in patronage on Sydney's rail network. Almost 9 per cent more weekday passengers used the line this year than last.
The T8 Airport and South and T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra lines will be the next focus of investment aimed at boosting services to ease surging passenger demand.
More than 400 million trips a year are now taken on the rail network, compared with about 300 million five years ago.
Underscoring the growing pressures from a booming population, an updated forecast based on recent growth predicts about 650 million passengers will be travelling on the rail network annually by 2030.
A report by Transport for NSW showed that a targeted increase in services on some of the city's rail lines as a result of timetable changes last year had resulted in a reduction in crowding.
Related Article Labor vows to lower ticket fares for airport trains.
Related Article Proposal for $10 Opal card fee to push contactless payments ruled out.
<www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/credit-card-payments-extended-to-sydney-s-trains-but-users-miss-out-on-opal-benefits-20181126-p50idm.html>

Victoria records 282 cases, 25 deaths, making it Australia’s deadliest day
August 17, 2020 Herald Sun. 738 comments
After a testing blitz sparked by mounting case numbers, coronavirus infections in Victoria’s regional cities are beginning to fall — but the state’s death toll is still yet to reach its peak. Here’s why.
video: Record high 25 deaths and 282 new cases in Victoria (7 News) Victoria has recorded 25 deaths making it the highest single-day total with 282 new coronavirus cases
Australia has recorded its deadliest day with 25 Victorian lives lost to coronavirus over the past 24 hours and 282 new cases recorded.
Premier Andrews said all of the deaths were people aged 60 and over, with 22 of the 25 linked to aged care facilities.
Empty scenes around Melbourne CBD on Monday. Picture: Jason Edwards
Collins St was a ghost town on Monday. Picture: Jason Edwards
MOVEMENT ‘BUBBLES’ COULD CHANGE BORDER CLOSURE
Movement “bubbles” for essential workers could be part of a deal being finalised by the NSW and Victorian governments amid growing pain for farmers in border communities.
A solution for farm workers stuck on either side of the border was on Sunday being finetuned after Scott Morrison wrote to Daniel Andrews and his NSW counterpart Gladys Berejiklian.
The Prime Minister offered to work with them, along with other state premiers, to enable movement of “essential economic workforce”, including agricultural workers.
Without a solution, all Australians risked soaring grocery prices and farmers along the border faced financial ruin, according to federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud.
Farrier Mitch Fox services both sides of the NSW-Victoria border. Picture: David Caird
“We drew lines on the map of Australia 100 years ago around states and they become arbitrary lines but people in ­regional areas don’t worry about state borders — they ­operate businesses in a geographical area,” Mr Littleproud told the Herald Sun.
“A lot of those communities grew around those borders but rely on a lot from the other side. That’s why you can create localised bubbles in regional areas if health officials would sit down with these communities, look at the science and work through it.”
Victorians did not need to worry about going without food but prolonged supply chain disruptions would lead to increased prices on some items, Mr Littleproud added.
Victorian Farmers Federation President David Jochinke said hard border closures were “another kick in the guts” for farmers who had already suffered through drought, fire and floods.
“If we don’t get sorted in the immediate future we are once again jeopardising a whole ­season’s worth of production for those farmers,” Mr Jochinke said.
NSW police and army personnel at the Albury NSW border crossing. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Simon Dallinger
Mr Andrews on Sunday said a solution was imminent for farmers near the NSW border.
“That’s what I am working towards”, Mr Andrews said.
“That’s what Gladys and I have talked about on a number of occasions and I am very grateful for that. We all help each other because a problem in one jurisdiction is ultimately a problem for all of us.” After dismissing the prospect of an agricultural permit on Thursday, Mr Andrews on Sunday said it was a live idea.
“Completely free movement is probably unlikely ­because the border is closed for good reasons and we don’t want this spreading, but I am actually quite positive we will get a positive outcome on this … but there is a little bit more work to do,” Mr Andrews said.
The agreement between NSW and Victoria could be announced as soon as Monday.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/movement-bubbles-for-essential-workers-could-change-victorian-border-closure-pains/news-story/a6d514d18d5e0a90527d9889b7776b70>

200817M Melbourne 'Herald Sun' Letters:
* WHY try to get out of Melbourne to Gippsland by car when you can get on the train, no questions asked?