Fw: Mon.19.10.20 daily digest
  Roderick Smith

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

To:australiantransportnews@... australiantransportnews@...>
Sent: Wednesday, 27 January 2021, 06:34:27 pm AEDT
Subject: Mon.19.10.20 daily digest


Roderick


"190408M-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-trams-ss.jpg"

"190408M-Melbourne'Express'-bustitution-a.jpg"
 "190408M-Melbourne'Express'-bustitution-b.jpg" 
"190408M-Melbourne'Express'-bustitution-c.jpg"
 "190408M-Melbourne'Express'-bustitution-d-ss.jpg"
 "190408M-Melbourne'Express'-bustitution-e-ss.jpg"
 "190408M-Melbourne'Express'-bustitution-high.floor.jpg"
 "190408M-Melbourne'Express'-vegan.protest-ss.jpg" 


"201009F-LXRA-Moreland-station-b-ss.jpg" 
"201009F-LXRA-Coburg-station-a-ss.jpg"
 "201009F-LXRA-Coburg-station-b-ss.jpg"
 "201009F-LXRA-Moreland-station-a-ss.jpg" 


 "201019M-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-Mernda-e-station-ss.jpg" 
"201019M-MetroTwitter-SouthGippslandHwy.jpg"

 "201019M-MetroTwitter-WerribeeSt.jpg"

Mon.19.10.10 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).
Lilydale line: Manchester Road, Mooroolbark, is closed in both directions near the railway line (level-crossing work). Signed detours use Dorset Road, or Hull and Mooroolbark roads until 7am Monday. 
Traffic changes are in place on the Princes Highway, Dandenong near South Gippsland Highway (level-crossing works). Traffic is reduced to two lanes in both directions, with speed set at 60km/h. See http://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/disruptions/princes-highway-dandenong-south-changed-traffic-conditions
Greens Road, Dandenong South is closed in both directions between Frankston-Dandenong Road and the South Gippsland Highway until 6am Monday, for level-crossing-removal work. Detour using the Dandenong Bypass or Abbotts Road. See http://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/disruptions/greens-road-dandenong-south-road-closure-october18.30 Lilydale & Belgrave lines: Buses replace trains Parliament - Camberwell through to last service Sunday 18 October, while maintenance works take place.
Buses replace trains Newport - Werribee/Williamstown from 8pm to last train tonight, while project works take place.
Buses replace trains Heidelberg - Hurstbridge from 8:15pm to last train tonight, while project works take place.
Werribee Street, Werribee closes between the Princes Highway and Cottrell Street from 7pm to 7am Tuesday, while crews install new bridge structures over the road. Bus routes 153, 443 and 443 will be detoured.
Mernda line: Buses replace trains Epping - Mernda from 20.50 until the last (works).
21.41 Pakenham/Cranbourne lines: Major delays (an overhead-power 'issue' near Caulfield). Trains may [ie will]  be held/altered.
- 21.54 Buses will replace trains between Caulfield and Oakleigh.  Buses have been ordered; consider alternatives.
- 22.04 Buses have been dispatched, but may take over 60min to arrive.
- 22.14 Buses may take up to 45min to arrive.
- 22.24 Buses may take up to 35min to arrive.
- 22.38 Trains have resumed.  First trains: 22.13 ex Flinders Street; 21.37 ex Dandenong.
Both southbound lanes will be closed on South Gippsland Hwy, Dandenong South, between Princes Hwy and Fowler Rd, from 22.00 until 5.00 Tuesday 20 October (level-crossing work).  Detour via Frankston-Dandenong Road and Dandenong Bypass.


We're working to preserve and restore the heritage listed Moreland and Coburg station buildings, which will be incorporated in the station precincts. Elements of the old stations, such as colour and texture, can be seen in the new station designs.
* Maybe the colour, if viewed through tinted glasses.  Certainly not the texture.  Yet another grating and overpowering mismatch my modern architects who love making statements and talking in incomprehensible jargon.
* 'Elements of the old stations such as colour and texture can be seen in the new station designs'.  If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't have noticed. Architect-speak at its worst.  The more glaring the mismatch, the more they get awards from other architects.
* Colour and texture...do I have to squint? How is a white monolith anything like the former?
* there are many elements of the heritage stations the designers drew inspiration from. The colour around the windows, doors & eaves on the heritage station buildings are reflected in the colouring of the new building.
* You can also see the smooth edges around the heritage windows represented in the smooth edges on the new Coburg Station building.
* I don't think "preserve and restore" mean what you think. Seems like you believe it's equivocal to "bulldoze"? Disgusting
* we're restoring the buildings according to strict protection measures, and are working on items like the doors, windows, roofing, chimney, brick facades and building interiors. The buildings have not and will not be demolished. Thanks.
* "preserve and restore" is a stretch.  Just admit what you did, it is done there is no going back, we have lost history and heritage.
* the heritage station buildings have not and will not be demolished. We're restoring the buildings according to strict protection measures, and are working on items like the doors, windows, roofing, chimney, brick facades and building interiors.
* Both station buildings will be repurposed and incorporated in to the new station precinct.
* It's a box.
* It looks pretty good in person, it'll blend in better with some greenery and landscaping.  Be glad once it's done, no more cold stinking hovel. Also away with the great wall of Coburg!


Mon.8.4.19 Metro Twitter
Buses replace trains (major works) Flinders St / Parliament - Caulfield until the last train of Tue 23 Apr. Dandenong - Pakenham/Cranbourne from 20.00 until the last train tonight.  Arrangements as posted before, including Cranbourne passengers having to change at Dandenong.
Buses replace trains (major works) Flinders St - Caulfield and Frankston - Stony Point until the last train of Tue 23 Apr.  Arrangements as posted before.
Sandringham line: An altered  timetable applies until the last train of Tuesday 23 April.   Arrangements as posted before.
While major works are taking place, trams will experience a higher demand.  Allow extra travel time, especially during peak times.
- Put more trams in the line to meet demand... Wouldn't that be correct approach? This is what happens when it's a private business, profit driven.
- We work with a range of authorities to ensure minimum impact to passengers. There are some circumstances beyond our control which is why we advise to allow extra travel time. [damage-control spin, and throw management responsibility onto passengers].
6.58 Delays up to 10 minutes (equipment faults in the Beaconfield - Officer and Dandenong areas).
- 7.36 Already late and all I've done is go from Cranbourne to Dandenong.  Cranbourne train was 5 minutes late and Caufield train left right as we arrived at Dandenong.  Great planning and execution from Metro!
- The 7.40 Dandenong to Caulfield train was terminated at Oakleigh. I had to take Cranbourne - Dandenong then Oakleigh to Caufield then a third ride from Caulfield to the city on a bus. What a joke
- The old 'equipment fault at Beaconsfield'. Oldest trick in the book.
- If you are going to run a shuttle from Cranbourne, at least be considerate to run a shuttle from Dandenong too, not asking everyone to cram into trains from Pakenham.
- Nice to see that there were so many buses in preparation, however it seems odd that there are no express busses to South Yarra or Richmond. Everyone but three people on my bus got off at those stops, but we all had to do a 40 minute detour through the other stations.
- Why run a 7 min service from Dandenong when that just causes congestion at Caulfield! Just run a normal timetable, and have plenty of buses waiting!
- What's the point in running all replacement buses from Caulfield? There are a million people here. It is so much better to run replacement buses from multiple stations.
- Double trouble for Cranbourne line commuters: change at Dandenong. This wasn’t mentioned before anywhere.
- 8.08 Delays are now major.
- 8.24 Train terminated at Oakleigh, and we're still waiting for buses to Darling station for city. Still waiting.  Job well done.
- Our understanding is that the replacement buses have arrived, are you on a bus?
- 8.38 Our train is stuck in Carnegie for the last 15 minutes. Were you not aware that there will be increased traffic in Caulfield? What’s the equipment fault in Beaconsfield?  Is it in new equipment that was build a few months ago?
- Your train should be moving now, we needed to hold the train until a platform at Caulfield became available.  [ie, we can't cope in either planning or execution].
- 8.45 To get to South Yarra station there must be a quicker way.  Should we catch an express bus to the city and then a train back out from there? There has been no queue for express buses but for the all stations buses was a 25 minute wait?
- Only a few hundred people waiting for buses are Caulfield. Well done team. You manage to stuff it up again.
- Today just didn't work. Just too many bottlenecks; the congestion at Caulfield station, the long wait for buses at Caulfield and the traffic on Batman Ave. You are probably better off running the buses from Westall on the Cran/Pak line and from Caulfield on the Frankston line.
- Running buses from Westall was faster than this mess today; hundreds of people waiting for a bus after an extra slow train ride. Amazing organisation skills!
- Totally agree with this..Westall to Flinders was much faster..I'm still in a bus exiting Batman Ave for the past 2 minutes..overall more than 2 hours on the road travelling from Westall.
- Correction: 20 minutes..close to 3 hours on the road, yet to reach the office..guys you have got to come up with a better plan.
- Just had three trains cancelled in a row in the Pakenham area. Why am I paying for this service?
- Taking me minimum 3 hours just to get to work. This is poor management. Not looking forward to the travel home.
- Been stuck between CAULFIELD and Murrumbeena for 30 mins and counting, don’t even wanna think about what’s happening at CAULFIELD.
- Nicely done. Plenty of replacement buses.
- Another successful stuff up! Used up the extra hour and still in a bus at Caulfield. Keep up your stuff ups.
- No bloody extra Glen Waverley services you incompetent Desmond’s.
- Pakenham line... We are crawling...one station at a time and waiting 10-15 at each station... Great planning and effort metro.... How many of these plans have you made over the last 3-4 years... Is it you don't want to learn or are you cutting cost?
- No trains running from Oakleigh to Caulfield as of ten minutes back. Congestion at Caulfield. Trains backed up. Staff made us take buses to Darling and then on to trains to City.
- Can we get all MP s to take replacement buses at peak time for one day please? Given the residents on Cranbourne / Pakenham have been doing this since June 2017..
- Plus we have some vegans screwing us as if the metro isn't enough..
- Journey extended by 60 minutes? I wish.....more like 2 additional hours. Why has it taken me 3 hours and I am still on a bus? Day 1......15 or so to go....help me!
- 9.52 Cranbourne/Pakenham and Frankston lines: Major delays (congestion and platform unavailability for trains approaching Caulfield).
- You have four platforms at Caulfield.  When management was competent, Flemington Racecourse could handle more trains with just two platforms.
- There were two ill  passengers in my train this morning. Maybe people will get less ill from the train journey if you have trains from Cranbourne to Caulfield as well instead of packing so many people into Pakenham trains from Dandenong. It's nauseating.
- I just reached city. After 2 hours 30 min travel.
- This morning was the worst ever! We haven't caught the buses from Caulfield to Flindesr St. It was the worst! Took me 3 hours to get to work.  Not happy.
- It took me more than an hour from Clayton to Caulfield. Now standing in queue for 45 mins to catch express bus to city. Please refund myki money for today. It is total disaster and pain.
- This is terrible. I got on an 8.44 train from Frankston, and for 55 minutes I’ve been crawling between Moorabbin and Glen Huntly! I could’ve walked faster.
- And Metro not having enough buses.
- I hope Metro refunds today’s fare and does not charge for ANY travel on the affected lines. I had issues even getting to Caulfield station from Huntingdale before the bus replacement debacle.  2.5 hours both ways really isn’t good enough.
- please use high capacity bombardier trams as another alternative from Caulfield station and follow tram route 3 non-stop to st Kilda Rd for the morning rush.
- This is the service you provide for the  "most livable city in the world"?  That's a shame on multiple levels.
- Such a mess this morning on the Frankston line, especially between Moorabbin and Caulfield AND not one announcement from the driver or Metro Control. Left home at 7.20, and got to work at 10.45.
- Melbourne the most live able city it takes 3 hours to travel on 50 km from cranbourne to CBD.
- 3hrs to get from Parkdale to the CBD this morning. The buses from Caulfield to the city were a disaster. I thought with all the planning it should be better.
- Took my partner 3+hrs to get to the city. She's driving in tomorrow
- Almost been two hours and still not even at Caulfield, a refund would be great about now.
- Another debacle!
- Can you please do a better job to arrange poor commuters?
- You have a limited, known number of trains and the same number of platforms you've always had.. how can you have screwed this up so badly? Did you let the work experience kid plan this?
- Actually they had fewer trains arriving to Caulfield, as  Cranbourne trains were only a shuttle to Dandenong, and all the Cranbourne passengers had to take trains from Pakenham.
- And no extra services on the Glen Waverley line. You morons.
- Why is the bus route going through Sir John Monash drive aka the biggest bottleneck ever for outbound city , it's a terrible route.
- 10 mins stuck trying to turn into Sir John Monash Drive - this aint it chef
- 1/4 of the journey is this particular bottleneck and then we gotta catch a train? Come on mate, the bus replacements that went to Glenhuntly and Ormond in Jan were better than this schmozzle - alot of commuters don't need to stop at
Caulfield for no reason tbh.
- 30 mins spent on say 100/200 metres travel, classic.
- Awful bus route guys 1.45 hours flinders to Caulfield via Monash
- Agree why go thru Sir John Monash drive lol thru uni traffic and the roundabout off dande road turning traffic.  Why not Normanby road like all the other times?
- 1h45min and didn't even reach Caufield yet. Absolute joke this traffic. How are we supposed to pick up kids from childcare?
- Why don't you push people on the Frankston Line to take the Sandi line, add more trains in pick hours and provide replacement bus to Cheltenham or Moorabbin. You would have less of this headache at Caufield seriously.
- Additional trains are running on the Sandringham line, with a 6min service operating during peak times.
- Good but no replacement bus.
- Correct. There is a finite number of buses available across Victoria during the major works. Buses are operating Caulfield - Flinders St in order to maximise those limited resources, while also balancing the need to service both the
Dandenong and Frankston corridors.
- Yes, but you can move a number of buses over to get them from Frankston line to Sandringham, you've got about 600 of them.
- It took me exactly three hours to get to the city from Dandenong this morning. I just wonder why you are not running buses between Caulfield and East Malvern stations? Commuters can then catch the glen waverley line into the city.
- And once again you prove your complete inefficiency at bus planning and crowd control at Caulfield station.
- It has taken me 2 hours to get from Southern Cross to Carnegie tonight and I’m not even home yet. Perhaps you could be more realistic about how long the buses are taking... or perhaps send the bus to another train line instead of to Flinders St
- 1hr and 43mins later and I’m still not at Flinders Street... I’m nowhere near home.
- I left South Yarra 50 minutes ago, to just now pull into Caulfied. One, ONE person got off at any of the other stops between South Yarra and Caulfied.
For the love of god put express busses in - its peak hour and the detour for ONE passenger is insane!
- Last time this happened the bus connections were really good and we're as smooth as could be expected. Today though not the case. Staff appear to not be as well trained and the bus drivers are taking the long route to Caulfield making the worst choice considering the traffic.
- I think that the protest at Flinders/Swanston intersection added to the woes too.
- Agree the bus route from the city to Caulfield was mind boogling stupid added like 30 mins for no reason. Why was Sir John Monash drive off dande road used why not Normanby road aka the back way which is usually used for bus replacements.
- Jan bus replacements were more organised than this and these April works have been telegraphed for ages so it's not like they didn't know how to react to this - I feel some corners/costs had to be cut to prevent heads rolling at head office.
- The journey is taking not extra 60 minutes it’s taking 130-150 minutes.
- After a 2hr ride from city to Caulfield and then Dandenong. we are just sitting in a Cranbourne train which should have departed 10 mins ago. no announcements or anything.
Hopeless service.
- Any reason why it’s almost taken me an hour to get from Dandenong to Caulfield when the trip should just be half an hour long?
- It’s taken me 6 hours to get to and from work today. Usually it takes 45 minutes each way.. what a joke.
- What, why?
- They have decided to do an “autumn construction blitz” buses replacing trains but so much traffic.
- I almost burst into tears multiple times.
- Is it true next 5 years this disruption will go on for?
- Caulfield has to be the worst place for a changeover- 45 min from the city at 19.15.
- Look at all the buses going thru Sir John Monash drive seriously terrible route during peak hour.
- I can’t work why every time they disrupt the services it’s like a completely new experience - not enough buses, silly routes, ineffectual connections - surely the lessons learned from the past are applied.
- I stood 20 mins across Parliament waiting for a bus to Caulfield. Bus arrived & staff are discussed with the driver, he closes his door while a 2nd bus pulled behind him & people at the back of the queue go in. Commuters get angry & the staff has no idea what is going on.
- Any idea why replacement bus took 1h15mins from flinders street to Caulfield? Are you serious?
- They chose a longer route, running through congested M1 and SR17.
- Flinders Street, CBD closed westbound between Batman Avenue and Russell Street until 4am Wednesday 24 April, to make way for rail replacement bus services. Detour consider Collins Street.
- The 21.55 train delayed by 25 min. The amazing labor government in Vic .. 2 hour 45 min in the morning. 2 hours in the evening. And now there is a 25 min additional delay. And you give millions in bonus  to Metro.
7.11 Because of a protest in Swanston St:
- No Swanston St trams are running between Stop 14 Arts Precinct and Stop 11 Collins St.
- Some trams are diverting via William St/La Trobe St between Stop 22 Toorak Rd and Stop 7 RMIT University.
- Consider loop trains or Route 58 trams via Kings Way/Williams St.
- A limited shuttle service is running between Stop 7 RMIT University and Stop 11 Collins St.
- No Flinders St trams running between Stop 2 King St and Stop 6 Russell St.
- Some Route 75 trams are diverting via La Trobe St between Stop 9 Landsdowne St and Docklands.
- Consider loop trains or Collins St trams.
- 7.50: Route 1/6 trams are diverting via William St/La Trobe St between Stop 22 Dorcas St/Toorak Rd and Stop 7 RMIT University.
- 8.10 Route 1/6/64/72 trams are diverting via Kings Way/William St/La Trobe St between Stop 22 Dorcas St/Toorak Rd and Stop 7 RMIT University.
- 8.26:
- No Flinders St trams between Stop 4 Flinders St/Elizabeth St & Stop 6 Russell St.
- Route 75 trams are diverting via La Trobe St between Stop 9 Landsdowne St and Docklands.
- Isn't blocking trams illegal?  Have you called police to charge them?
- Route 70 passengers may walk between stops to connect.
- 10.14 Trams have resumed normal operation.


Melbourne Express, Monday, April 8, 2019
9.13 Tow trucks to move on vegans. The vans, which had been parked in the middle of the intersection, are being towed. Credit:Zach Hope
Tow trucks have arrived in Melbourne's CBD to remove the vans, which protesters have chained themselves to, blocking the Swanston and Flinders Street intersection.
Vegan activists have blockaded the intersection since about 7am this morning.
VicRoads is advising motorists to use Collins Street, Lonsdale Street or La Trobe Street.
Trams have also been diverted.
9.09 'My commute wasn't painful at all. It didn't happen'. Commuters are waiting for bus replacements at Caulfield Stations this morning.Credit:Simon Schluter
One reader has let us know she couldn't even start her commute.
"My commute was not painless at all - in fact, it didn’t even happen," Emma says.
"I arrived at Carnegie station at 7:20am to find that the next train to Caulfield wasn’t for 25 minutes. The Metro staff basically told that there’s no way I’d be able to get on this or the next few following trains, because of
overcrowding.
"They told me to turn around and go home because of overcrowding at Caulfield too. I usually don’t even leave the house until 8:20, but I wouldn’t have been able to get to work on time if I left at 7:15am. It’s unacceptable in my view.
I’m now working from home and will probably have to do so for the remainder of the week."
PTUA spokesperson Daniel Bowen said he had a 43 minute wait at Caulfield Station.
8.56 The TrainPain isn't over. One commuter said there weren't enough buses replacing trains.Credit:Simon Schluter
Reporter Timna Jacks says commuters at Hawksburn station have been left behind by the replacement bus, which is too packed, and have to wait for the next one to arrive.
About 8.30am she said buses were arriving every seven minutes at Malvern Station, which is closed for more than two weeks.
Our reporter Adam Cooper is stuck on a train on the Frankston line at Moorabbin.
8.45 Protesters have blocked off the Swanston and Flinders Street intersection.Credit:David Crosling
The protest is blocking 11 tram lines in the city. Police have told them they want to move them "soon".
Dianne Delbridge came out of an office on Flinders St to flashing lights and police road blocks.
8.34 Public Transport Users Association spokesperson Daniel Bowen said he had long delays getting off the platform and down the ramp at Caulfield Station.
"I am fast regretting coming to work," he wrote on Twitter.
Commuter Jessica Cross said the Caulfield train left passengers behind at Westall, and that Caulfield Station had overcrowding on the platforms.
"Poor people on this train still need to deal with the buses where I see queues. Glad I'm only going to #Caulfield. Also the middle platforms are not designed for moving this amount of people," she wrote on Twitter.
8.26 TrainPain at Richmond and South Yarra
Our transport reporter Timna Jacks has hopped on a replacement bus on Punt Road near Richmond Station.
"The replacement bus stop on Punt Road, near Richmond station is very quiet at 7:50am. Commuters are still able to catch some City Loop trains passing through the station," she writes.
Buses are replacing trains on four lines today. The Punt Road stop near Richmond Station had no queue.Credit:Timna Jacks
8.13 The Caulfield line seemed to cope with the Metro construction works on Monday.Credit:Paul Sakkal. "After a peak period between 7.30am-7.50am, the queues for buses have totally subsided," he writes.
"Buses are now idling, waiting to be filled by a trickle of commuters "It is difficult not to conclude that many commuters have decided to use alternate forms of transport this morning, avoiding the station altogether."
8.09 TrainPain on the Caulfield line.
It's all going pretty smoothly at Caulfield with not much fuss. Here's what I've seen so far:
At Caulfield Station, thousands of commuters are filing through queues in temporary tents in order to board one of the row of busses lined up on Normanby Road, adjacent to Caulfield Racecourse.
While commuters were able to quickly file onto buses before 7.30, they are now banked up in stubbornly slow queues.
Commuters at Caulfield Station this morning.Credit:Simon Schluter
7.52 There are 11 tram routes blocked by vegan protesters who have taken over the Swanston and Flinders Street intersection this morning. The protest is affecting tram lines and traffic. Credit:Zach Hope
7.34 Four train lines down
Has your commute been interrupted this morning?
The Cranbourne, Pakenham, Frankston and Gippsland train lines are all down today.
We'll have our reporters blogging their commutes shortly.
Send me your tips and pics torachel.eddie@... or tweet about it using the hashtag #TrainPain.
7.17 Here are some pictures of the vegan protest at the Swanston and Flinders Street intersection this morning.
Vans have completely blocked off traffic, and trams are diverting via William and La Trobe streets.
7.15 Vegan activists have blocked the Swanston and Flinders Street intersection this morning, which has caused more public transport delays.
No trams are running between the Arts Precinct and Collins Street and diversions are in place.
5.49 The Metro construction 'blitz' is shutting down the Cranbourne, Pakenham, Frankston and Gippsland train lines today.
We'll have our reporters blogging their commutes this morning from about 7.45am.
Let me know if your commute is interrupted or tweet us the details with the hashtag #TrainPain.
See if your train line is affected by Metro Tunnel works before you head out with our handy interactive calendar.
5.43 There's a day of TrainPain on the Cranbourne, Pakenham, Frankston and Gippsland lines. We've got more on that for you.
<www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/melbourne-express-monday-april-8-2019-20190405-p51b7l.html>


Vegan protesters dragged from CBD intersection after bringing city to a standstill
Mon.8.4.19 Herald Sun
video: Vegan activists cause peak hour chaos in Melbourne CBD
Vegan activists have been dragged from a major intersection in Melbourne’s CBD after spending hours chained to slogan-covered vans, causing havoc for morning commuters.
Protesters with signs and banners reading “vegan rising” and “this is a peaceful protest” began blocking cars and trams at the intersection of Flinders and Swanston streets from about 7am.
But hours into the protest, police started cutting the activists out of their chains before hauling them off the street.
Vegan protesters block the intersection of Flinders and Swanston Street Melbourne in support of animal rights. Picture: Andrew Henshaw
Vegan protesters are quite literally being hauled off. Lots of yelling and cheering from supporters. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/rGhPcEhUXM — Kieran Rooney (@KieranRooneyCM) April 7, 2019
Police now cutting chains protesters have used to attach themselves to vans. pic.twitter.com/xRY3VKdG3t — Kieran Rooney (@KieranRooneyCM) April 7, 2019
Vegan protesters have chained themselves to vans blocking the intersection. Picture: Andrew Henshaw
It came as one of the group said they planned to stay put for as long as possible.
“The main message is the dire straights the animals are in, the planet and humanity,” Sally, who did not want her last name published, said.
“We’d like a vegan world.”
- Consider City Loop trains or Route 1/6/58/64/72 trams on Kings Way/William St as an alternative. — Yarra Trams
INCIDENT: CBD - A protest currently underway in the CBD has the Flinders Street Swanston Street intersection blocked. Police are currently on-site. Allow extra time. #victraffic pic.twitter.com/fegQOalKX3 — VicTraffic
The protest disrupted trams running along Flinders and Swanston streets, with diversions put in place as commuters were directed to City Loop trains.
The protest is causing traffic chaos, with trams banking up on Swanston St.
Hundreds of protesters can be seen with signs. Picture: Andrew Henshaw
Drivers were also urged avoid the intersection before all protesters were removed by about 10.15am.
Some cyclists are not exactly loving the new traffic arrangements. pic.twitter.com/ro02HTeuDt — Kieran Rooney April 7, 2019
One commuter, Jerrie Bise, said the protest meant she was running 45 minutes late to work.
“I think people are entitled to their views but they shouldn’t affect other people’s lives,” she said.
“Because of them St Kilda Rd has been blocked all the way.”
Hours into the protest, police began forcibly removing activists who sat down in the middle of the intersection and refused to go, while trucks arrived to take away the vans.
Thrifty have now put their two cents in. (The activists used thrifty vans). Fast PR work by them. pic.twitter.com/R4Ht8g35AY — Kieran Rooney (@KieranRooneyCM) April 8, 2019
Car rental agency Thrifty Australia “condemned in the strongest possible terms” the activists’ use of the company’s vehicles.
“It is alleged that the vans have been chained, defaced and the tyres slashed,” Thrifty said in a statement.
“Obviously, the protesters are in clear breach of their terms and conditions and Thrifty will take all steps to recoup the costs and enforce our terms and conditions.”
A white van is parked in the middle of the Swanston St and Flinders St intersection. Picture: 3AW
The protest has caused major traffic and transport delays for morning commuters. Picture: Andrew Henshaw
Vegan activists said they were staging protests across Victoria, Tasmania, NSW and Queensland today.
Allison, who works at the Westside Meat abattoir at Bacchus Marsh, told the Herald Sun “they’ve got a truck and they’re just sitting there”.
Meanwhile, a dozen protesters and a van promoting an animal rights documentary blocked the entrance to an abattoir in Corio, near Geelong.
M.C Herd Meat Wholesales workers were forced to park their cars at the entrance of the site because of the protest, which also attracted a large police presence.
Protesters could be seen holding signs promoting the 2018 documentary Dominion, which includes hidden camera and aerial footage of animal agriculture processes.
A dozen protesters and a van promoting an animal rights documentary is blocking the entrance to an abattoir in Corio, near Geelong.
The G & K O’Connor abattoir at Pakenham also confirmed protesters and police were at the site.
It comes after the owners of a Gippsland goat farm cafe blamed “abusive vegan activists” for its closure.
The Gippy Goat cafe co-owner Penny Gandar said constant harassment since dozens of animal activists invaded the property just before Christmas led to the decision.
Over the weekend, vegan group Aussie Farms said hundreds of people would be staging protests today but the exact locations were being kept secret.
The protesters can be seen holding signs including “vegan rising”
“It is time for an informed national conversation about what we’re doing to animals,” Dominion director Chris Delforce said in a statement.
“Industry and government have been desperately trying to frame this as an issue of farmers vs. vegans, or farmers as victims, to keep the animals out of the conversation.”
Victoria Police earlier said it was aware of the protests and was monitoring the situation.
“It is understood protesters have blocked the intersection of Flinders and Swanston streets using vehicles, which a small number have chained themselves to,” it said.
“The safety of the community is our number one priority.
Vegan protesters block the intersection of Flinders and Swanston Street Melbourne in support of animal rights. Picture: Andrew Henshaw
“Victoria Police respects people’s right to protest peacefully but will not tolerate any anti-social behaviour.”
The president of the Victorian Farmers Federation Livestock Group, Leonard Vallance, blasted what he said was “a very small percentage of the population telling a very large percentage of the population what they can and can’t eat”.
“(Meat is) a legitimate business. People want to eat meat and it has to be slaughtered and processed somewhere,” he added.
It came after Prime Minister Scott Morrison labelled the protests “shameful” and “un-Australian” on 2GB radio.
“This is just another form of activism that I think runs against the national interest, and the national interest is being able to farm their own land,” he said.
RELATED CONTENT
MILITANT VEGANS BLAMED FOR GOAT CAFE CLOSURE
The Gippy Goat Cafe has been forced to close down. Picture: Instagram Militant vegans blamed for goat cafe closure
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/vegan-protesters-shut-down-city-intersection/news-story/ddf2443833098611fee8c3adf36afb5f>


After two hours of CBD chaos, police remove vegan protesters April 8, 2019
video Animal activists arrested on Flinders Street
About 9am police started to tell protesters to move on, cutting the chains and towing the vans.
Vegan protesters who brought a key Melbourne intersection to a standstill during peak hour as part of nationwide action targeting farms and abattoirs have been forcibly removed by police more than two hours after the disruption began.
Eleven tram lines were affected and traffic was blocked at the intersection of Flinders and Swanston streets in the CBD in one of several protests by vegans across the country.
The protesters are being led away one by one. Credit:Zach Hope
Animal activists invaded abattoirs and took three sheep from a Queensland farm in a wave of early-morning protests across four states.
The large protests in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania and Queensland are being held to mark the one-year anniversary of the release of the film Dominion, which documents factory farming in Australia.
In Melbourne protesters parked several vans in the middle of the busy junction about 7am on Monday morning, with some chaining themselves to the vehicles.
Protesters being moved by police about 9am. Credit:Zach Hope
More than 100 people then formed a ring around the intersection, blocking peak-hour traffic.
About 9am, police started to tell protesters to move on, cutting the chains and towing the vans. Several people were arrested, with officers leading people away one by one. The intersection reopened about 10.30am.
"The safety of the community is our number one priority," a police spokesman said.
"Victoria Police respects people's right to protest peacefully but will not tolerate any anti-social behaviour or violence."
The vans, which had been parked in the middle of the intersection, are being towed. Credit:Zach Hope
As the intersection cleared, about 50 protesters stationed themselves at the front of the Melbourne Aquarium, where they chained themselves to each other using piping.
They said they were from Justice for Captives, the group behind the protests at Sea World and Outback Spectacular last year.
Protesters connected outside the Melbourne Aquarium. Credit:Zach Hope
Piping and chains are being used at the protest outside the aquarium. Credit:Zach Hope
Earlier, one of the organisers, Kristin Leigh, told The Age that protesters intended to stay for "as long as possible".
"We don’t want to be causing disruption but this is a climate emergency and an environmental emergency," she said.
The activists' co-ordinated campaign has targeted nine sites in Victoria, Tasmania, NSW and Queensland.
Activists have also driven trucks and let down the tyres to block entrances and exits to three abattoirs across Victoria, including MC Herd in Geelong, Westside Meats in Bacchus Marsh, and O’Connors Abattoir in Pakenham.
Several activists filmed themselves blocking the entrance of the Australian Food Group’s pig slaughterhouse in Laverton.
The protest is affecting tram lines and traffic. Credit:Zach Hope
The documentary film Dominion is described as a look at the "legal, standard practices employed daily in Australian farms and slaughterhouses that remain unknown to most consumers".
Chris Delforce from Dominion said he expected members of the public would be frustrated that their day had been disrupted.
“At the end of the day, when people see what these animals are going through, a small delay in their day doesn’t really compare,” he said.
He said he thought most people usually ended up feeling angrier at animal rights abuses than the disruption protests caused.
Protestors in the middle of the Melbourne CBD. Credit:Zach Hope
Dianne Delbridge came out of an office on Flinders Street to flashing lights and police roadblocks.
She was in hospital with a broken ankle when victims were brought in from the Flinders Street attack in 2017.
“The first thing your head goes to is ‘has there been another terror attack'. I’m sure that’s where everyone’s head goes,” she said on Monday.
“I think it’s ridiculous. I understand why people want to protect animals – I do myself – but I don’t think it’s worth disrupting and frightening people.”
Protestors chained themselves to vans in the middle of the intersection. Credit:Zach Hope
The Melbourne protest took "months" of planning, one of the protesters said.
"We knew what our job role was and we had marshalls for each group. When the vans came we stepped out and said it was a peaceful protest so people didn’t get scared or that it was an attack. We said ‘no one is going to get harmed, you’re just not going to get through'," she told The Age.
A spokesman from Thrifty Australia said the NRMA-owned organisation condemned in the "strongest possible terms" the actions of protesters who used the company's vans to block traffic in the CBD and in Pakenham.
"It is alleged that the vans have been chained, defaced and the tyres slashed," he said.
"Obviously, the protesters are in clear breach of their terms and conditions and Thrifty will take all steps to recoup the costs and enforce our terms and conditions."
<www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/vegan-protest-causes-chaos-in-melbourne-cbd-20190408-p51bui.html>


9 Oct 2020 Incorporating heritage in the new Moreland and Coburg station designs As works are underway to build new stations at Moreland and Coburg, the construction team is also working hard to preserve and restore the heritage listed Moreland and Coburg station buildings.
Additionally, the project team has been able to reflect key elements of the old stations, such as colour and texture, in the new station designs.
Moreland's heritage station prior to construction starting.
Moreland Station heritage listed building
Moreland Station
The colour palette at the new Moreland Station façade reflects the charcoal colour of the original slate roof and the red brick of the station building.
Panelling works underway on the new Moreland Station.
If you look closely at the heritage building, you will see it has a Flemish bond brick work.
This long, short, long, short brick pattern is also represented in the new station’s façade.
Coburg Station
Coburg's heritage station.
Coburg Station heritage listed building
The new Coburg Station incorporates heritage design elements from the original station building as well as other heritage-listed items along the Upfield rail corridor.
The off-white coloured panels on the new station building reflect the paint colours traditionally used around the windows, doors, and eaves on Upfield line heritage stations (Coburg, Moreland, Brunswick and Jewell stations), and signal huts, such as the Brunswick Road signal hut.
Works underway on the new Coburg Station.
The new Coburg Station facade
The heritage listed station buildings had flat and non-patterned strips around the windows, which is reflected in the windows, arches and base of the panels in the new design.
You can also see patterned strips along the top of the new panels which reflect the patterns in the eaves of the heritage buildings.
Both Moreland and Coburg heritage listed station buildings are being retained and incorporated in the new station precincts.
Keep an eye on our Facebook page or sign up to email updates for more information about the Bell to Moreland project.
https://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/media/news/incorporating-heritage-in-the-new-moreland-and-coburg-station-designs


Mernda: Population, history, sights, shopping, fashion and crime
Kimberley Seedy October 19, 2020 Whittlesea Leader
From dairy farms that supplied milk to Melbourne to the historic watering hole The Bridge Inn Hotel, the suburb of Mernda has a rich history. Here’s a look at postcode 3754.
Kangaroos are a common sight in Mernda.
From humble beginnings as small country town, Mernda is now one of the fastest growing suburbs in Melbourne.
Part of the Whittlesea Council area, Mernda means young girl (derived from murnmurndik) in Woiwurrung, the local language of the Wurundjeri people.
According to the council, by 2036 it is estimated that the population of the suburb will increase by about 68 per cent from 16,800 (in 2015) to an estimated 28,200.
According to the council history of the suburb, Europeans settled in the area in the 1840s and the land was mainly used for dairy farming.
Plenty River Mernda, 1914. Credit: George Norfolk photographer, State Library of Victoria
Mernda in the 1930s. Picture: J. E Campbell photographer, State Library of Victoria.
In the early 1900s there were many dairy farms in Mernda that supplied milk to Melbourne.
Bridge Inn Hotel has been serving the local community since the 1890s.
John Borrack’s water colour painting of the early days of the Bridge Inn Hotel.
The historic pub is still popular today.
The suburb is also home to the historic Mernda Bakery Cafe, now known as Turners Bakehouse Eatery.
It was built in the late 1890s by Charles and Stephenson Tuner, and today is still selling breads, pies and pastries.
Mernda Bakery cafe.
Mernda Park Primary School opened in 2017, along with Mernda Central College to Year 7 students. The College will grow to Year 12 in 2022.
Mernda police station opened the following year.
In 2018 the State Government opened the Mernda rail extension.
The extension of the South Morang line to Mernda involved 8km of new rail line and three new stations, including Mernda Station on Bridge Inn Rd.
The new Mernda station.
Mernda also has a large population of kangaroos, which has caused havoc on the city’s train network.
And a mob of roos was left stuck in a Mernda paddock for more than a year thanks to a government department’s inaction.
Kangaroos are a common sight in Mernda.
Snakes are also common in Mernda in the warmer months, with a tiger snake spotted eating goldfish from a pond near Mernda Village Shopping Centre in September.
Mark Pelley, known as The Snake Hunter, said Mernda and Doreen were very common places for venomous snakes.
“The area used to be farmland and there was an odd snake here and there native to the area,” he said.
“In the last 10 years we built up thousands of houses in Mernda and Doreen over the same territory.
“What that has done is create shelter, a source of food and a source of water for every single snake.
Mernda is also home to one of the best coffee shops in Melbourne.
The Split Bean Cafe in Mernda Village is a popular spot with local mums.
Split Bean Cafe owners Neil and Kristy Gratton. Picture: Ellen Smith
Owner Neil Gratton, who has run the cafe with wife Kristy for five years, says he loves Mernda’s community feel.
“A lot of the customers that come in, the majority of them come in every day, they drop their kids off at school and the mums all come in and have their little after school drop-off coffee,” Mr Gratton said.
The suburb is also home to the mighty Mernda Football & Netball Football Club.
Mernda players celebrate their under-19 premiership win.
The club participates in the Northern Football Netball League.
THE HISTORY OF MELBOURNE’S POSTCODES
A HISTORY OF MELBOURNE: THE BEST AND WORST MOMENTS
MASONS RD MERNDA: NEIGHBOURS AGAINST ONE-WAY TRIAL
<www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/north/mernda-population-history-sights-shopping-fashion-and-crime/news-story/302e31fdf6a8f31c8ccf0904d9a88703>
* The area was known as Morang and Yan Yean until 1893, when it was renamed Yan Yean South. It was in 1913 that the locality was renamed Mernda, which was derived from a Woiwurrung (Wurundjeri) word meaning earth. In 1913, Mernda contained a school, a Methodist church, a Catholic church, a bakery/store, a railway station and a mechanics' institute and Bridge Inn Hotel. The Post Office was opened on 19 February 1875 as Yan Yean and was renamed Yan Yean South in 1892 and Mernda in 1913.
* Mernda was previously named Morang and that is why today there is a South Morang but no Morang.

Show full size
201019M-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-Mernda-e-station-ss  |  640W x 360H  | 189.82 KB |  Photo details
Show full size
201019M-MetroTwitter-SouthGippslandHwy  |  640W x 342H  | 184.53 KB |  Photo details
Show full size
201019M-MetroTwitter-WerribeeSt  |  640W x 356H  | 135.7 KB |  Photo details
Show full size
201009F-LXRA-Coburg-station-a-ss  |  640W x 453H  | 270.97 KB |  Photo details
Show full size
201009F-LXRA-Coburg-station-b-ss  |  640W x 421H  | 270.03 KB |  Photo details
Show full size
201009F-LXRA-Moreland-station-a-ss  |  640W x 311H  | 222.38 KB |  Photo details
Show full size
201009F-LXRA-Moreland-station-b-ss  |  640W x 453H  | 238.84 KB |  Photo details
Show full size
190408M-Melbourne'Express'-bustitution-a  |  448W x 252H  | 110.51 KB |  Photo details
Show full size
190408M-Melbourne'Express'-bustitution-b  |  448W x 252H  | 126.79 KB |  Photo details
Show full size
190408M-Melbourne'Express'-bustitution-c  |  448W x 252H  | 116.59 KB |  Photo details
Show full size
190408M-Melbourne'Express'-bustitution-d-ss  |  640W x 360H  | 212.51 KB |  Photo details
Show full size
190408M-Melbourne'Express'-bustitution-e-ss  |  640W x 360H  | 165.07 KB |  Photo details
Show full size
190408M-Melbourne'Express'-bustitution-high.floor  |  448W x 252H  | 131.16 KB |  Photo details
Show full size
190408M-Melbourne'Express'-vegan.protest-ss  |  640W x 360H  | 211.06 KB |  Photo details
Show full size
190408M-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-trams-ss  |  640W x 360H  | 200.6 KB |  Photo details