Fw: Wed.8-Fri.10.11.23 daily digests, austerity issues
  Roderick Smith

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To:australiantransportnews@... australiantransportnews@...>
Sent: Friday, 17 November 2023 at 11:49:24 am AEDT
Subject: Wed.8-Fri.10.11.23 daily digests, austerity issues


Roderick

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Wed.8.11.23


Wed.8.11.23 Metro Twitter
Trains will not stop at Parkdale until mid 2024 (level-crossing removal work). Shuttle buses will operate Mentone - Parkdale - Mordialloc, connecting with trains. No access to station facilities or platforms during this time.
4.41 Metropolitan trains: Trains are stopped (a communications outage across the network). We are working to rectify this issue as soon as possible. Consider alternative travel.
- 5.51 Trains are now resuming, with major delays.
- 7.24 Still major delays, with alterations and cancellations.
- 8.08 Your system is SOOOO bad!  There were announcements to say that the 8.18 has been cancelled. Whilst the screens on platform and online show the 7.58 & 8.06 are running as normal. But just don’t show up.  How can anyone make alternate plans when the communication is so pathetic?
17.52  Buses replace trains Ashburton - Alamein (an external power fault). Buses are operating. Trains may terminate/originate at Riversdale.
- 0.00  Buses will remain in operation until the last train.
Buses replace trains Blackburn - Lilydale/Belgrave from 20.10 until the last (maintenance works).


https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/fresh-staffing-scandal-linked-to-nsw-transport-minister/ar-AA1jtDwQ


https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/the-suburban-rail-loop-is-a-money-sink-time-to-bite-the-bullet-and-cancel-it-20231107-p5ei8l.html


https://www.theage.com.au/traveller/reviews-and-advice/10-things-australia-should-adopt-from-japan-20231107-p5ei5f.html


A regional Victorian home with its own tram stop in the garden and a 50s-style diner is on track to be one of the state’s most unique spring properties. See inside
https://www.realestate.com.au/news/cambrian-hill-family-builds-pimpedout-party-tram-50sstyle-diner-into-unique-victorian-property-for-sale


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Thurs.9.11.23


Thurs.9.11.23 Metro Twitter
Trains will not stop at Parkdale until mid 2024 (level-crossing removal work). Shuttle buses will operate Mentone - Parkdale - Mordialloc, connecting with trains. No access to station facilities or platforms during this time.
Werribee line: Service changes apply from 10.00 to 19.30 tonight. From 16.00 to 19.30, citybound trains will run direct Laverton - Newport.  Inbound passengers for Altona loop stations, change at Laverton for replacement buses.
19.39 Pakenham line: Major delays (a vehicle hitting Beaconsfield Ave bridge near Beaconsfield). Trains may remain stationary for extended periods at stations or in between stations. Trains may terminate/originate at Dandenong.
- 20.07 Clearing.  Trains may operate at a reduced speed through Beaconsfield.


Public transport for 2023 Kennedy Oaks Day: Thursday 9 November 2023
All services will operate to a normal Thursday timetable, with additional Flemington Racecourse trains.
Before you travel: Plan your journey using Journey Planner and check Disruptions for service changes that may affect your journey.
Remember to top up your myki and have it ready to use before travelling.
Download the Flemington precinct map 455 kB or 30 kB docx.
Gates open: 10.30; First Race: 12.40; Feature Race: 17.10; Last Race: 17.50.
From Flinders St, trains will depart from pfm 8/9, stopping at Melbourne Southern Cross pfm 14, North Melbourne pfm 6, then express. 10.14 to 10.43, every 15 min; to 14.28, every 4-6 min; to 15.33, every 10 min; to 17.10, every 20 min
From Flemington Racecourse, trains will depart from pfm 1 & 2, express to North Melbourne pfm 5, Southern Cross pfm 13 and Flinders St pfm 8/9.  14.23 to 15.21, every 10 min; to 17.28, every 20 min; to 19.52, every 5 min; to 20.59, every 10 min.
Passengers for the Sunbury, Werribee and Williamstown lines can catch a one-way shuttle bus from Leonard Cres (outside Flemington Racecourse station) express to Footscray station, 15.00-20.00, every 5 min.
Additional trams will operate as route 57a from stop 1 Elizabeth St at Flinders St, serving all stops to to 19 Royal Children’s Hospital, then express to Epsom Rd (Melbourne Showgrounds): 10.30 to 13.30 and 16.00 to 20.00.
Bus route 404 (Footscray - Moonee Ponds via Newmarket) travels close to Flemington Racecourse.


https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/victoria-considers-private-investment-deal-for-suburban-rail-loop-20231108-p5eihv.html


https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/the-suburban-rail-loop-offers-allan-a-rare-political-opportunity-few-leaders-get-20231109-p5eip3.html


https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/the-myki-money-you-could-be-giving-the-government-for-nothing-20231109-p5eirr.html


https://www.theage.com.au/traveller/reviews-and-advice/has-the-phone-camera-killed-the-standalone-camera-20231027-p5efh6.html


https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/state-opposition-warns-jacinta-allan-to-pause-works-on-suburban-rail-loop/news-story/f833dd2cf6ccdb4f818345cb03d26ebb


https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8415675/buses-offer-more-flexibility-at-a-fraction-of-the-cost


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Fri.10.11.23
Down EV through Surrey Hills late morning; up at 14.03.


Fri.10.11.23 Metro Twitter
8.45 What’s the delay on the Pakenham line heading to the city?
- 8.48 We've just got word of an equipment fault in the Yarraman area, which is causing delays up to 15 minutes. Our web and app have been updated.
13.42 Buses to replace trains between Frankston and Stony Point (a track equipment fault). Buses ETA 60 min.  Consider alternative transport
- 15.22 Buses in operation
- 16.46 Trains to resume with: 17.20 ex Stony Point; 18.04 ex Frankston.
14.19 Minor delays Sunbury - Footscray (an equipment fault in the Sydenham Watergardens area).
- 16.28 Now major.
- Why are buses replacing trains every 2 days?  It’s supposed to be a train service, not a train/bus service!
16.03 Keon Pde, Reservoir, is closed in both directions at the Mernda line (a train stopped across the level crossing). Boom gates are down. Use Settlement Rd or Cheddar Rd and High St.
- 16.06  Citybound delays (an 'operational incident' in the Keon Park area). Trains may remain stationary for extended periods at stations or in between stations.
- 16.23 clearing.
17.10  & 17.26 Belgrave line: Major delays (emergency services in the Tecoma area). Trains may terminate/originate at Upper Ferntree Gully. Consider bus route 693 for local trips between UFG and Belgrave.
20.43 Metropolitan trains: Delays through Southern Cross (police attending to a trespasser). Trains may run direct to/from Flinders St.  Trains may remain stationary for extended periods at stations or in between stations.
- 20.50 clearing.
[This was a gross understatement of a typical can't-cope shambles, police and Metro.  There was a brawl & stabbing on an inbound race train, with stopped mid section and not at Southern Cross.  Police wanted the platform clear first.  Passengers forced doors and alighted, so Metro suspended all trains between North Melbourne and SC. Passengers trapped at Kensington also forced doors].


https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/matt-johnston-anthony-albanese-needs-to-dig-his-way-out-of-project-black-hole/news-story/c31c6a8b1c8379eb9b1275b81409203c


https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/grass-fires-break-out-in-lake-charm-fairley-in-northern-victoria/news-story/00ed68b2fbbd2122660be7ac7b2ef3f4 [trains suspended]