Fw: Fri.27.5.22 daily digest
  Roderick Smith

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Roderick

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Fri.27.5.22 Metro Twitter
Flinders St: still with a lane closed for tunnel works? [reopened by July?  Closed again by Nov.]
Campbell Arcade (Flinders St station) is closed until 2024. The exit from the Myki gates within the subway will  also be closed. No pedestrian access between the arcade & Flinders St. Use Elizabeth & Swanston St entry/exits. Platform  interchange via that subway will be available until mid 2022.
Buses replace trains on sections of the Mernda line until the last train of Sunday 29 May (works).  When trains return, they'll bypass Preston & Bell for around 3 months.
7.59 Pakenham/Cranbourne lines: Major outbound delays clearing after a train fault at South Yarra.
- Where are the express buses to Dandenong? There are 100s of people at Caulfield and not enough buses.
- We are following up with the busing coordinator.
- I feel sorry for all the passengers between Caulfield & Dandenong! No room on the overcrowded buses for them.
- This is disgraceful treatment of your passengers.
Happy 37th birthday to the city loop! On this day in 1985, Flagstaff was opened to the public, marking the completion of the loop and revolutionising how people travel in Melbourne.  Take a look at some of our favourite throwback photos.
- What's the current work status of the new tunnel? It seems like not a lots of news recently.
- Our team is working on station entrance construction, structure and lining works, and rail tunnel fit out, just to name a few. You can find out more about the current works on our website.
18.24 Hurstbridge line: Major delays (police attending to a trespasser near Ivanhoe). Trains will be held at platforms.
- 18.34 clearing
Pakenham/Cranbourne lines:
- All trains direct to/from Flinders St from 21.00 until the last train (works). From loop stations, take a train from pfm 4 to Richmond. From Southern Cross, take a train from pfm 13 to Flinders St.
- Buses replace trains Caulfield - Dandenong from 21.55 until the last train of Sun 29 May (maintenance works).
22.44 Sunbury/Werribee/Williamstown Lines: Major delays as we recover from a police request at Footscray. Listen for announcements and check information displays for travel information.

Victoria told to put its foot down in drive to ditch diesel buses.  Patrick Hatch May 27, 2022
KEY POINTS
Victoria will buy only electric buses from 2025. 
But transport and climate experts say the state should match NSW and phase out all diesel buses by 2030.  
Transport is the third-highest emitting sector of Australia’s economy.
Victoria is being urged to adopt a target of replacing all public buses with electric vehicles by the end of this decade, to accelerate what transport experts say is an essential step in tackling the state’s carbon emissions.
Research by the Australia Institute has ranked Victoria’s approach towards zero-emissions buses as the second most ambitious in the country, with a commitment to only buy electric buses from 2025.
Victoria’s first locally built, fully electric bus (pictured) hit the road in 2020 as part of a trial.
But Audrey Quicke, one of the think tank’s climate and energy researchers, said Victoria should match NSW’s commitment to convert all of its public buses to renewable-powered electric buses by 2030. The ACT has the same ambition for 2040.
“Buses roughly last around 20 years, so if you’re still buying diesel buses in 2024, you’re looking at a long time before you have a zero emissions fleet,” Quicke said. “What we need is some of those targets from all states and territories.”
Transport is the third-highest emitting sector of Australia’s economy. But the uptake of electric vehicles has been slow by international standards, making up about 2 per cent of new car sales compared with 4 per cent in the US and 17 per cent in Europe.
Public transport minister Ben Carroll said the state was transitioning its 4000-strong bus fleet to zero emissions in a “phased and sustainable way that represents value for taxpayers’ money”.
”Tackling emissions in the bus industry is critical to Victoria meeting its legislated commitment of net-zero emissions by 2050, and we have the plan to achieve that,” he said.
Victoria launched a three-year zero-emissions bus trial in April, and will deploy 41 electric buses in Melbourne, Seymour and Traralgon by the year’s end. It expects 78 will be on the road by mid-2025.
Public Transport Users Association Victoria president Tony Morton said he supported accelerating the state’s shift to electric buses, which were not only greener but quieter and more comfortable as well.
“While it’s great to imagine having your own Tesla and charging it from your own solar panels… it’s much easier to electrify buses that cary 20 to 50 people at once,” Morton said.
Quicke said the biggest obstacles in the shift to electric buses were the need to install charging infrastructure at depots, and the higher initial purchase cost of $550,000 to $900,000 per bus, compared with $480,000 for a diesel model. Costs were falling, however, and were competitive when factoring in the vehicle’s life-long fuel saving, she said.
Victoria’s first locally built electric bus rolled out of the Volgren’s Dandenong workshop in early 2020 and saved 61 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in its first 300 days of service when it was deployed on routes 246 and 251 as part of a trial.
NSW has launched a massive public transport program that will involve buying 8000 new zero emissions buses to hit its target, and the government has said the “vast majority” of them will be built in the state.
The Australia Institute’s report also says the country should encourage greater public transport patronage, alongside electrification, to curb rising transport emissions and other pollution. Federal support in the form of research into local electric bus manufacturing and funding for specialist mechanics is also needed, it says.
The report found seven out of 10 Victorians supported adopting NSW’s 2030 electric bus target and one in 10 opposed it, based on a survey of 600 people.
Several countries have made 100 per cent bus electrification commitments as part of their national decarbonisation strategies, including the Netherlands (2030), New Zealand (2035) and Denmark (2030, in cities only).
RELATED ARTICLE An area of old growth forest in the Huon Valley, Tasmania. Tasmania slowed logging and became one of first carbon negative places in the world
RELATED ARTICLE Air quality on buses appear to be important  in viral spread. Australia must jump on board the e-bus express
<www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/victoria-told-to-put-its-foot-down-in-drive-to-ditch-diesel-buses-20220526-p5aong.html>
* Given that a large portion of Victorian electricity is generated by burning brown coal (the most greenhouse intensive fuel in the Australian generating fleet), and that the busses would be changed from grid supplied electricity, I don’t think it is correct to say they would be “zero emissions” busses. Yes electric buses can go a long way in helping with urban air quality as they do not emit pollutants in urban centres as internal combustion engine powered buses do, however let’s not kid ourselves that there are no emissions associated with such vehicles.

‘Shouldn’t be happening’: how VLine is failing commuters with disabilities.  Michaela Meade May 27, 2022 Geelong Advertiser
Geelong’s neglected train services creating uncertainty for commuters with disabilities.
Accessibility to VLine train services for Geelong and surrounds is “not good enough”, with some doubting if they will ever improve.
Many people living with a disability are unable to catch the train services they need, Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) Geelong branch convener Paul Westcott says.
Most of the trains used on Geelong’s rail network are VLocity trains – modern trains with accessibility embedded in the design – however some are older models.
These are also used on the Melbourne to Warrnambool via Geelong V-Line, and Mr Westcott said are not disability friendly.
“Some of them have been made accessible, but the main problem is making the doors bigger,” he said.
“There should be at least one carriage (in each train on the line) with a larger door.
“What people have told us is that they can’t be sure if there is one.”
This, he says, is having a harsh impact on people’s emotional wellbeing.
“There’s a real uncertainty and nervousness of ‘will the train be accessible?’,” he said.
“Some people have found they’ve been put in the luggage and conductor area, because only that door … allows wheelchairs.
“That’s led to embarrassment and annoyance, even a feeling of humiliation.
“It shouldn’t be happening.”
Mr Westcott said in some instances of a person with disability trying to catch a train, V/Line staff will give them a taxi fare.
VLine train passing over Moorabool street Geelong. picture: Glenn Ferguson
He said this takes away from the person’s agency, and may lead to other issues.
“Able-bodied people can with confidence turn up and catch whatever train they want,” he said.
“Disabled people can’t necessarily do that.
“Taxis are not what they wanted, and not what should happen.
“It means people could be more reluctant to travel.
“It limits their choices … it might even make them housebound, if they feel they can’t go anywhere.
“It’s not good enough.”
Shadow Public Transport Minister Steph Ryan said the neglect of V/Line had reached “shameful lows”, and was causing some Victorians with disabilities to put their lives on hold because of the inability to use the services.
“Sadly, this problem isn’t new,” Ms Ryan said.
“We’ve heard too many stories of people being forced to travel in the cargo carriage or prevented from travelling on V/Line altogether because accessible carriages were unexpectedly dropped from a service.
“It’s humiliating, it’s denigrating, and it should not be accepted by the Andrews Government.”
A state government spokeswoman said: “The Victorian Liberals have a track record of cuts and closures when it comes to transport infrastructure – only Labor is upgrading every single regional rail line and delivering modern new trains to create a more accessible network.”
“There’s always more that can be done, and this year’s budget delivers $157.8 million for accessibility and amenity upgrades – including across V-Line train services,” they said.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/geelong/shouldnt-be-happening-how-vline-is-failing-commuters-with-disabilities/news-story/e34d5f88d43903b30611e6ebf37f391f>
* This article is wrong. I have seen disabled people travelling on the Geelong-Melbourne line frequently and not in the cargo carriage, because there isn’t one. Stick to the facts! The Geelong-Melbourne V/line service ain’t world’s best practice, but it ain’t too bad, either. Much and all as the Andrews government and Andrews himself stands condemned for its handling of Covid and general mismanagement of the state, on the issue of regional rail services the government is working to make it better. The results are there to prove it - put simply, the VLine train to Southern Cross “ain’t a bad ride”.
* What Geelong has to do is vote Labor out of the seat of Corio. If Corio becomes a swinging seat like Corangamite then they might take notice of the wants and needs of the Constituents of Corio.
* VLINE is such a poorly run organisation. Zero focus on the customer controlled by union parameters & a can’t do attitude. They’ve let me down so many time’s. I’m not surprised reading this article at the lack of understanding for the requirements of the disabled. Simply not good enough.
* Absolutely disgusting!  Years of promises from all sides and levels of Government, yet Geelong still has a second rate, overcrowded and unreliable train service.  What does Geelong have to do to…??? 

Fri.27.5.22 Melbourne 'Herald Sun'. Pedestrian hit.
A PEDESTRIAN was last night fighting for life after being hit by a reversing car in Melbourne's CBD on Thursday.
The female, whose age is unknown, was crossing Flinders St after getting off a tram when she was struck by a dark Mazda CX3 about 9.30.
Police estimate the car had been illegally reversing along the busy road for around 25 to 30m.
The victim sustained life-threatening injuries and was rushed to Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Detective Sergeant Peter Romanis, from the major collision investigation unit, said that the 33-year-old driver was taken to Melbourne West police station after the incident.
"As to the reason why he was reversing, it is currently unknown", Sergeant Romanis said.
"We haven't been able to ascertain the reason why. We are hoping he might be able to shed some light on that." The man remained at the scene and was tested for alcohol and drugs, which is standard practice in serious road accidents.
Sergeant Romanis pleaded for road users to pay attention, saying 17 pedestrians had died on Victorian roads this year.
"The trend is heading up and we don't want to see that trend continue," he said.
The driver remains in custody.

Fri.27.5.22 Melbourne 'Herald Sun'. Wheelchairs on bus trial
WHEELCHAIR restraints will be fitted to buses in several metropolitan Melbourne bus fleets in a trial to improve public transport for people with a disability.
Research led by Federation University tested various driving conditions to capture the experiences of mobility device users on buses.
It showed that restraints reduced the risk of the chairs sliding and tipping, improving safety.
Almost $158m was allocated for accessibility and safety works on the public transport network in this month's Victorian budget.

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