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Sent: Friday, 22 January 2021, 10:39:56 pm AEDT
Subject: Wed.14.10.20 daily digest

Roderick.

"190329F-'SMH'-energy-resources-exports.jpg" with ATN

"190329F-MetroTwitter-tram.derailment-ss.jpg"  [larger than the earlier version]

 "201011Su-LXRA-NorthWilliamstown-a-ss.jpg"  [a classic PTV disaster, not fit for passengers and a garish clashing mismatch]
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Great St Trinians train robbery:
train excerpt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8M5_7KNZiA
train chase: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Vk77HRbYgQ&list=PL4hGoy-JevaEEryquKKlnqvQX2nHF7_tK

Wed.14.10.20 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).
18.48 Major delays and clearing after VictoriaPolice attended to a trespasser between Cardinia Road and Pakenham.
Buses replace trains Newport - Werribee/Williamstown from 7pm to last train tonight, while project works take place.
Hurstbridge line: Buses replace trains Clifton Hill - Macleod from 8:30pm to last train tonight, while maintenance works take place.
Buses replace trains Epping - Mernda from 8:50pm to last train tonight, while project works take place.
Buses replace trains Dandenong - Pakenham from 9:10pm to last train tonight, while project works take place.

North Williamstown Station designs are here 11 Oct 2020
See the new North Williamstown Station designs. We heard the community wanted the station to reflect the local area so the design has plenty of garden spaces, red brick and bluestone.
The wait is over for locals keen to cast their eyes over the new station precinct being created as part of the Ferguson Street Level Crossing Removal Project.
North Williamstown Station entry
Detailed artists impressions for North Williamstown Station are now available for viewing below.
Maintaining the village feel of Williamstown was a key part of the design process, shaped by three rounds of community feedback and more than 1800 submissions.
Well-lit for safety, the entire precinct will be surrounded by gardens and paths, including a currently unused area that will be converted into a grassed open space.
An original red brick building will be used for station operations on the station’s western side.
While the space needed for a rail trench means the existing eastern building can’t be retained, it will be replaced with a new building that is architecturally designed.
Secure bicycle parking will be incorporated into the station precinct.
Pedestrians will benefit from a new signalised crossing across Ferguson Street and a spacious station forecourt.
The new pedestrian lights will be synchronised with a nearby crossing to help traffic flow once the level crossing is removed.
Stairs, ramps and lifts will lead down to the station platforms, lowered below the ground in line with the level crossing removal’s rail under design.
Construction at Ferguson Street will begin in early 2021 and the level crossing will be removed in 2022.
NEW NORTH WILLIAMSTOWN STATION DESIGNS
New North Williamstown Station entry area, including retained western station building. Artist impression only. Subject to change.1 of 101 of 10
NEW NORTH WILLIAMSTOWN STATION DESIGNS
Artist impressions of the new North Williamstown Station.
<levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/media/news/north-williamstown-station-designs-are-here>

Taxpayers to fork out up to $2 billion to cover some of the Metro Tunnel budget blowout:
Matt Johnston October 14, 2020 Herald Sun 78 comments [most were just political sniping]
A deal has been struck between the state government and the consortium building the $11 billion Metro Rail Tunnel to share the eye-watering costs of the budget blowout. Here’s how much of the bill taxpayers will foot.
video: Metro reaches halfway mark Two massive diggers have broken through at underground sites on the Metro Tunnel, marking the halfway point of tunneling. The machines have…
Taxpayers are set to fork out between $1.5 billion and $2 billion for the Andrews Government’s signature rail project after a deal was struck to share the cost of blowouts.
Herald Sun understands that the consortium building the $11 billion Metro Rail Tunnel, which will create a new underground link from South Yarra to Kensington via the CBD, signed an agreement with the government earlier this year to cover some financial problems faced by the mega project.
As previously reported by the Herald Sun, mediators were called in last year to settle a dispute over early overruns between the builder and the state government, with fears longer-term blowouts would amount to $3 billion.
It is unclear what the government’s overall agreement with the builder is worth, but the Herald Sun has learnt that between $1.5 billion and $2 billion is likely to be the public bailout.
However, negotiations will continue as the builder – a consortium that includes Lendlease, John Holland, Bouygues Construction, John Laing and Capella Capital – can try to put in claims for further costs if they arise under the public-private partnership.
Work under Franklin St and Bowen St Melbourne for the construction of the Metro Tunnel. Picture: Andrew Henshaw
A government spokeswoman said that the team building the project was “making amazing progress in difficult circumstances” and that discussions with contractors were continuing.
“Mega infrastructure projects around the world face challenges that they have to work through with their contractors – this is no different,” she said.
“Discussions with the contractors are continuing, as we get on with this vital project that will deliver more trains, more often.”
The government has refused to outline the size of the taxpayer-funded bailout, and has previously said it was working with the builder to ensure it was delivered on time and on budget.
Members of the consortium have also declined to comment.
It is understood that as part of the deal on costs, a commitment to deliver the massive new rail loop by 2025 has been secured.
Industry sources had long argued the contract for five underground stations and twin 9km tunnels under the heart of Melbourne was undervalued at $6 billion.
While the biggest chunk of the $11 billion project, the scope of the works was altered when the early design of the station boxes was unable to be met.
One source told the Herald Sun last year that scoping had been a “f--k up of global significance”.
The project is aimed at creating more capacity on Melbourne’s rail network, with the 9km underground route including two new CBD stations, a station near the Shrine, and stations at Parkville’s university precinct and North Melbourne’s Arden precinct.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/another-costly-blow-to-the-budget-of-victorias-metro-tunnel/news-story/ce361089bfc8ece1aee8e6086f738f28>
* Who is behind the consortium?   I have checked out London's Crossrail.  Far more scrutiny in London. 
* About time we had legislation forcing the party, not the taxpayer, to share costs of these blowouts.  Of course allowances should be made for inflation and circumstances that could not be foreseen. That does not include contaminated soil which should have been known about or tested for. Maybe then we will get the correct cost of the project up front instead of the fairy tales we are told, followed by demands for more as the project proceeds.
* Public, Private Partnership - where the private sector takes the risks for construction, protecting the public from cost overruns. Except in Victoria. What a joke.
* Not sure why anyone would be surprised. As soon as Lend Lease are awarded a job you can be guaranteed a budget blowout and late delivery is on the way. $1B is actually good for them. Just look at recent history: Skyrail - billions over budget, Tulla fwy - hundreds of millions over budget and late on delivery, Southern Program Alliance - behind and over budget and getting worse by the day.  they cannot run a project to save themselves, they over staff every job and end up with offices full of high paid engineers that cannot make a decision. Subbies take the P15S, because they can, making huge variation claims and then you have the UNION factor - high wages, numerous stop work meetings and a ‘go slow’ mentality. 
* any project would always go a bit over budget, but andrews projects the amount over budget is nearly as much as the original cost. how can he and his government still be allowed to be in control of anything
* And the Labor trail of destruction keeps on. What happened to all those comments about the public not wearing any of the cost of this massive blunder? Labor couldn’t deliver a pizza let alone a major project on budget
* PTV waited only 2 days to sell its pet scheme to the gullible incoming transport minister (in the first Andrews Government). It isn't really a Labor scheme at all.  However, it has been sold with all of the usual spin and propaganda: written at PTV/DoT and spouted dutifully by the minister.  It is in no sense a Metro: that is simply a marketing term to sell it to a gullible public. Utopia could make a whole series out of the history.
* What a disgrace.  Three projects alone are now $10 billion over budget.   Where is the oversight ? Where is the financial management ? Labor, as usual, can’t manage money. 
* Andrews has not delivered one major project on budget or on time in his six years. Typical inept Labor.
* But Minister for Project Blow Outs Ms Jacinta Allan said a contract has been signed. Therefore, hold them to their tendered price. Absolute joke
* Another Desal Dan blowout. Oh hang on and Myki! Please feel free to add to the list Labor's blowout and dud projects.
* John Holland is a Chinese company.
* Andrews will blame the blow out on the virus even though the blow out existed before the virus
* Labor and capital works projects, Never Ever can they deliver on budget!
* I have never understood why these stations have to have these enormous 5 storey high forecourts and grand entrances which add goodness knows how much to the cost, have they not seen London, Paris and New York where in many places a staircase in the footpath is all that's needed?
* When are people going to realise that Labor can not even manage a chook raffle , not one project they have overseen has been on time or come in on budget , just mind boggling. 
* So relieved. At least we can be assured that we do "know" the cost. John Holland and fellow travelers are great guys. Just ask Dan and his mates.
"However, negotiations will continue as the builder – a consortium that includes Lendlease, John Holland, Bouygues Construction, John Laing and Capella Capital – can try to put in claims for further costs if they arise under the public-private partnership."  Who is the "builder"? It is singular,or plural,the former it seems, not capitalised? And "public" partnerships? (My CBUS Super) Nice work guys. You have adopted a scenario that when an enquiry is launched down the track (after the pollies Super is paid in full), that with all participants engaged, separately, together with your Silks,Government funded, you just say, "I cannot recall".
* Win the project by intentionally offering a cheaper price than you know you can build it for, then go back to the government and say you can't build it for that price. Government always caves, and dresses it up as a change in scope. Time-honoured strategy.