transport Archives - Waking up in Geelong https://wongm.com/tag/transport/ Marcus Wong. Gunzel. Engineering geek. History nerd. Mon, 14 Oct 2024 23:39:53 +0000 en-AU hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 23299142 Taking a sneak peek at Anzac station https://wongm.com/2024/10/metro-tunnel-anzac-station-open-day/ https://wongm.com/2024/10/metro-tunnel-anzac-station-open-day/#comments Mon, 14 Oct 2024 20:30:00 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=22546 On the weekend the Metro Tunnel project held a limited public open day for local residents at the recently completed Anzac station, and I was lucky enough to be able to take a look. So let’s head inside! Headed in The open day was held on the closed off section of Domain Road, east of […]

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On the weekend the Metro Tunnel project held a limited public open day for local residents at the recently completed Anzac station, and I was lucky enough to be able to take a look. So let’s head inside!

Anzac station open day signage on St Kilda Road

Headed in

The open day was held on the closed off section of Domain Road, east of Anzac station.

Future eastbound tram stop on Domain Road

With food stalls.

Food stalls along Domain Road for the Anzac station open day

And kids activities.

Photo frame cutouts at the Anzac station open day

Including a train ride.

'Kids' clarification added to the train signage at the Anzac station open day

But the reason I was there was to see inside Anzac station itself.

Domain Road entrance to Anzac station

Touring the station

We headed downstairs.

Headed down the steps at the Domain Road entrance to Anzac station

The Domain Road entrance having a single up escalator and a flight of stairs.

Single escalator and steps at the Domain Road entrance to Anzac station

As well as a lift, that doubled as a light well.

Lift at the Domain Road end of the unpaid area concourse at Anzac station

We were then greeted by the unpaid area concourse, which passes beneath St Kilda Road.

Domain Road end of the unpaid area concourse at Anzac station

And the tram stop above.

Atrium at Anzac station, bridge linking the two tram stop platforms

A trio of escalators and a lift connect the station concourse to the south end of the tram stop.

Trio of escalators and lift at the southern tram stop entrance to Anzac station

And a single escalator, steps and lift to the northern end.

Single escalator, steps and lift at the northern tram stop entrance to Anzac station

The unpaid area walkway then continued west to the station entrance on Albert Road.

Albert Road end of the unpaid concourse at Anzac station

With a pair of escalators.

Pair of escalators and steps at the Albert Road entrance to Anzac station

Along with a lift.

Lift at the Albert Road entrance to Anzac station

Down to the platforms

Now it was time to head down to the platforms.

Customer service counter and Myki gates at the entrance to Anzac station

Obviously no trains running.

PIDS on the concourse at the Albert Road entrance to Anzac station

But the passenger information screens had been installed.

PIDS outside the main entrance to Anzac station

Through the ticket gates.

Two banks of Myki gates at the exit from the paid area at Anzac station

With sunlight still streaming in from the glass roof above.

Looking out from the paid area towards the atrium at Anzac station

We went past the pair of lifts down to platform level.

Pair of lifts and escalators down to the north end of the platforms at Anzac station

And took the escalators down instead.

Steps and pair of escalators to the north end of the Anzac station platforms

A wide island platform greeting us.

Platform level at Anzac station, looking south

But still no trains.

PIDS on the platform at Anzac station

Temporary fencing in place across the platform screen doors, with a demarcation still in place between active rail tunnels and the under construction railway station.

Temporary fencing in place across the platform screen doors at Anzac station

But network ‘strip maps’ already displayed.

Network 'strip map' for the Sunbury bound platform at Anzac station

Along with customer help points.

Customer help point on the platform at Anzac station

The big orange pendant light fittings also a design feature.

Pendant light fittings at platform level at Anzac station

Along with the orange ceiling details.

Platform level at Anzac station, looking north

It was then time to head back out again, so we took a trio of escalators back to the concourse.

Trio of escalators at the south end of the platform at Anzac station

And then back out of the same ticket gates we entered through.

Two banks of Myki gates at the exit from the paid area at Anzac station

Past the customer service counter.

Customer service counter beside the Myki gates at Anzac station

Past the hidden away back of house area.

Entrance to the back of house area at Anzac station

Back down the unpaid concourse towards Domain Road.

Domain Road end of the unpaid concourse at Anzac station

Back up the escalator.

Escalator and stairs at the Domain Road entrance to Anzac station

And back into the sunlight.

Wayfinding signage at the Domain Road entrance to Anzac station

Ending the tour.

Footnote: a few other things I noticed

Anzac station isn’t completely finished yet – the retail spaces are still taken up by temporary facilities for construction workers.

Temporary staff toilets built into a future retail space on the concourse at Anzac station

With a few bits of wall cladding also missing.

Wall cladding still to be installed along the Domain Road end of the unpaid area concourse at Anzac station

I also noticed a separate set of stairs beside the Domain Road entrance.

Firefighter access stairs beside the Domain Road entrance to Anzac station

Locked away from public use, for firefighter access in case of emergency.

Firefighter access stairs beside the Domain Road entrance to Anzac station

I also found a second lift door hidden away at the back of the Domain Road lift – presumably it leads into the back of house area of the station.

Second lift door to the back of house area at the Domain Road entrance to Anzac station

And on Domain Road the tram tracks have been rebuilt, with new platform stops installed – despite route 58 trams still using the tracks along Toorak Road West they were diverted along back in 2017 to make way for the construction of Anzac station.

Future westbound tram stop on Domain Road

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Melbourne’s transit orientated fast food restaurants https://wongm.com/2024/10/melbourne-transit-orientated-fast-food-restaurants/ https://wongm.com/2024/10/melbourne-transit-orientated-fast-food-restaurants/#comments Mon, 07 Oct 2024 20:30:56 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=22498 Melbourne might not do a very good job of transit orientated development, but one thing we can do is transit orientated fast food. McDonald’s The McDonald’s in the Melbourne Central basement food court station has a serving window facing onto the concourse at Melbourne Central station. While the Box Hill Central outlet takes it a […]

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Melbourne might not do a very good job of transit orientated development, but one thing we can do is transit orientated fast food.

Welcome to Suburbia

McDonald’s

The McDonald’s in the Melbourne Central basement food court station has a serving window facing onto the concourse at Melbourne Central station.

McDonalds window facing the Swanston Street concourse of Melbourne Central

While the Box Hill Central outlet takes it a step further – a serving window facing into the paid area at Box Hill station.

McDonald's serving window facing into the paid area at Box Hill

McDonald’s logo on the station signage.

McDonald's logo featured on the Metlink signage at Box Hill Station

And the McDonald’s dining room has next train displays on the wall inside.

Next train displays inside the McDonald's dining room at Box Hill

Red Rooster

It’s not just McDonald’s located in stations – Red Rooster at Southern Cross Station has a “Walk Thru”.

Future

A glass wall separating their counter into paid and unpaid sections.

Red Rooster store at Southern Cross now has a glass wall between the paid and unpaid sections

And a failure

At Melbourne Central Station there is also a KFC service window facing into the Elizabeth Street concourse.

Abandoned KFC service window facing into the Elizabeth Street paid area at Melbourne Central Station

But thanks to it being a dead end for passengers, it has since been abandoned.

KFC service window now boarded up, facing into the Elizabeth Street end paid area at Melbourne Central Station

(Also blocking the view of the Geoff Hogg mural.)

Footnote: an interstate example

Brisbane Central station also has a fast food outlet inside it’s paid area – a McDonald’s.

McDonalds on the concourse at Brisbane Central station

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A history of nine car long V/Line trains https://wongm.com/2024/09/history-nine-car-vline-trains/ https://wongm.com/2024/09/history-nine-car-vline-trains/#comments Mon, 02 Sep 2024 21:30:00 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=22395 I realised the other day I’ve never written a complete piece about the history of V/Line operating nine car long trains – so here goes. In the beginning The story starts back in December 2005, with the introduction of the VLocity trains to the V/Line fleet. Each set consisted of two carriages seating a total […]

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I realised the other day I’ve never written a complete piece about the history of V/Line operating nine car long trains – so here goes.

VLocity VL74 leads VL21 and VL57 on a 9-car down Wyndham Vale service at Ravenhall

In the beginning

The story starts back in December 2005, with the introduction of the VLocity trains to the V/Line fleet. Each set consisted of two carriages seating a total of 140 passengers, with a drivers cab at each end. For the peak hour express trains on the Geelong line, they would coupled together three units to make a six car train.

VLocity VL01 leads two classmates on an up Geelong express service at Corio

We then saw a politically motivated 20% cut in V/Line fares in 2007, resulting in an explosion in patronage, especially on the Geelong line.

One response to this was the ordering of additional trains for V/Line, who saw their first three-car long VLocity set enter service in August 2008.

3VL41 heads back to Melbourne at North Shore

But with patronage still growing and suburban and V/Line trains sharing the tracks out of Melbourne, running more services on the Geelong line wasn’t an option. But V/Line had another solution – 7-car long VLocity train, made up of two 2-car sets with a 3-car set.

7 car VLocity consist approaches South Geelong on an up empty cars run from Marshall

These trains were introduced to the Geelong line in November 2008 and ran until June 2015, when Geelong trains commenced using the new Regional Rail Link tracks, and the last of the 2-car VLocity trains had been extended to be three cars along.

VLocity VL16 and classmate depart Tarneit on a down Geelong service

So what next?

As early as 2011 V/Line knew longer trains would be required – their ‘Initial Strategic Operations Plan’, obtained by the Greens under the Freedom of Information Act, says the following:

V/Line anticipates that by this point in time (2018) a high capacity style DMU will be required for Geelong services. It is expected that these trains would operate in 8- or 9-car consists and would each be able to carry 750 – 800 customers. It is expected that the eight peak hour services would be operated with the high capacity DMUs.

And the Regional Rail Link project also included provision for these longer trains – providing 250 metre long platforms at Footscray, Tarneit and Wyndham Vale stations to cater for a hypothetical nine car long train, made up of three 3-car sets.

'VL9' - nine-car VLocity set stopping mark on the RRL platform at Footscray

But for some unknown reason, they decided only only build a 190 metre long platform at Sunshine, despite plenty of space at the city end for a 250 metre long one.

Trio of trains at Sunshine: pair of V/Line services outnumber the single Alstom Comeng

But in 2016 the State Government’s focus switched to a ‘high capacity next generation regional train’ – from the PTV website:

High capacity next generation regional trains

The 2016-17 State Budget includes $10 million in development funding for High-Capacity Next Generation Regional Rolling Stock to cater for the future needs of regional Victoria.

A next generation high capacity regional train will be commissioned in the coming years to cater for strong patronage growth and provide new peak services.

With V/Line saying in 2017 that nine car trains are possible, but won’t be happening any time soon – from the Geelong Advertiser.

Nine-carriage V/Line trains possible, but no plans for Geelong line yet
23 October 2017

The boss of the regional rail network has admitted for the first time nine-carriage trains on the Geelong line are a possibility.

Potential for a mega-train carrying more than 660 passengers comes after calls from commuters and rail experts to reduce peak-time overcrowding on the line.

But while James Pinder said a nine-carriage train was possible, he said it was not a current priority.

Mr Pinder said V/Line’s priority was bolstering its fleet from three to six-carriage trains.

“The (VLocity) train is capable of running in a nine-car configuration. (To run nine-carriage trains) it becomes an issue around infrastructure and number of vehicles (available),” he said.

“We don’t currently have any plans to run nine-car ser­vices. To run large numbers of nine-car services we would have to have a look at (increasing) platform lengths.”

On Monday, a spokeswoman for the Public Transport Minister did not say if the Government was considering introducing nine-carriage trains on the regional network.

The Geelong Advertiser under­stands platforms at Geelong station are long enough for nine-carriage trains — which could open the possibility for Geelong to Melbourne express trains.

Platforms at other smaller stations on the line would need to be extended for a stopping-all-stations Waurn Ponds to Southern Cross train.

Mr Pinder said nine-­carriage trains did not run across the V/Line network at present.

And they finally happen

On Sunday 21 June 2020 V/Line ran their first nine car VLocity train on the mainline, taking it from Southern Cross Station to Wyndham Vale and back to test their operation, as well as platform clearances.

VLocity VL07 leads the 9-car test train through Ravenhall on the down

Sunshine station being the sticking point.

VLocity VL23 pulls up at the very end of Sunshine platform 3

The last one and 1/2 carriages fouling the junction when the front was stopped at the city end of platform 3.

The last one and a 1/2 carriages of the 9-car test train overhang platform 3 at Sunshine

Or sticking out in front after the rear of the train was brought onto the platform.

The train has shunted forward, and now the first one and a 1/2 carriages of the train overhang platform 3 at Sunshine

These tests were then followed in July 2021 by more testing, this time between Ballarat and Lal Lal, which doesn’t see any V/Line passenger services run along it.


ThebusofdoomFSX video

But it took another year for the first nine car train to take passengers – following the 30 May 2022 timetable change.

Passengers in Melbourne’s west now have more space on selected peak services with 9-car VLocity trains running to and from Wyndham Vale Station for the first time.

The longer trains, which have the highest-capacity of any regional commuter train in Victoria, will boost capacity by 50% cent on the busiest part on the V/Line network.

The new 9-car services will run each weekday, with 1 in the morning peak starting at Wyndham Vale and 2 in the evening peak departing from Southern Cross.

As well as improving capacity, the 9-car trains also provide more doors for boarding, reducing crowding in corridors particularly in peak periods.

Platforms will also be extended at Sunshine Station to allow nine-car VLocity trains to stop there in the future.

But due to the short platforms, these nine car services had to run express through Sunshine, as well as Deer Park.

Extending the platforms at Sunshine

With level crossing removal works at Deer Park station regularly closing the Geelong and Ballarat lines, V/Line took the opportunity to finally extend the platforms at Sunshine. In March 2023 the piled foundations were installed.

New piled foundations in place for the up end extension of Sunshine platform 3

The real work kicking off in April, with assembly of the steel platform supports.

Steel platform edge panels waiting to be installed at Sunshine platform 3

And pouring of the concrete deck.

Steel deck in place at Sunshine platform 3 and 4, concrete pour now underway

They then left the completed section of platform fenced off for a month.

Extended platform 4 mostly complete, still fenced off and lacking tactile paving

The nine car trains still having to skip the stop.

VLocity VL23 trails two classmates on an up 9-car VLocity service from Wyndham Vale  express through Sunshine

Until May, when they decided to take down the fence between new and old.

VLocity VL105 arrives into Sunshine on a down South Geelong service

And the introduction of a new timetable from 28 May 2023 adding a stop at Sunshine to the nine car Wyndham Vale services.

However in recent months I haven’t seen a nine car train run – possibly due to a shortage of VLocity railcars following the retirement of the H set locomotive hauled carriage fleet.

Carriage set SSH22 at the up end of the three 6-car sets stored at Echuca

And so they choose to cut down a nine car train to six cars, than a six car train to three.

And now to Melton?

In May 2021 the State Government announced that funding would be provided to allow nine car VLocity trains to run to Melton, a promise repeated in October 2022.

VLocity VL108 and classmate on a down Wendouree service overtake VL60 waiting in the platform at Melton

And reiterated yet again in March 2024.

The Melton level crossing removal works will help introduce larger nine-car VLocity trains as part of the $650 million Melton Line Upgrade, increasing capacity for passengers by 50 per cent and creating 1,000 jobs during construction – while making roads safer and less congested for pedestrians.

To support the introduction of nine car trains, a new train stabling facility is being investigated at Cobblebank where trains could be stored when they are not operating, further supporting local jobs in construction and ongoing maintenance.

But look at what else was happening at the same time – a brand new station at Deer Park was opened in April 2023, with platforms only 215 metres long – half a carriage (10 metres) too short!

VLocity VL90 and classmate arrive into the new elevated Deer Park station on the up

That flew under the radar until August 2024, when the State Opposition gave a media drop to the Herald Sun, and then it was all over the news.

Footnote: it’s not just platform length

The new platform extensions at Sunshine also happen to be ~100mm higher than the existing platforms.

The new platform extensions are ~100mm higher than the existing platforms

This happens to be a new platform height standard, which was also used at Deer Park station – and happens to be incompatible with the outward swinging plug doors fitted to V/Line’s Sprinter railcars.

Freshly refurbished Sprinter 7004 leads 7002 through Deer Park on an up test run from Geelong

And so those trains are banned from stopping at the new platforms.

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Driving a bus down the railway tracks https://wongm.com/2024/08/rail-replacement-buses-along-railway-tracks-box-hill-middleborough-road-project/ https://wongm.com/2024/08/rail-replacement-buses-along-railway-tracks-box-hill-middleborough-road-project/#comments Mon, 12 Aug 2024 21:30:00 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=22049 Next time you turn up to a Melbourne railway station, only to discover that buses are replacing trains for level crossing removal works, and the bus stop is an epic walk away, just remember that it doesn’t have to be that way – once upon a time public transport operators actually used to put some […]

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Next time you turn up to a Melbourne railway station, only to discover that buses are replacing trains for level crossing removal works, and the bus stop is an epic walk away, just remember that it doesn’t have to be that way – once upon a time public transport operators actually used to put some effort into making the interchange between bus and train easy.

Today we look at the Middleborough Road Project of 2007, which isolated the Lilydale and Belgrave lines for six weeks while a new rail cutting was excavated under Middleborough Road at Box Hill.

X'Trapolis trains leads a down Belgrave service through the Middleborough Road cutting at Laburnum

Trying to catch a bus at Box Hill

If you’ve ever had the misfortune of trying to catch a bus at Box Hill station, you know how convoluted the route is – first a set of escalators to exit the platform.

Escalators down to Box Hill platform 2 and 3

Then futz around with the ticket gates.

Ticket barriers at the entrance to Box Hill station

Dodge clueless shoppers inside Box Hill Central shopping centre.

Looking down on Box Hill Central shopping centre and station concourse from the bus deck

Then take a vertigo inducing trip up another set of escalators into the middle of the shopping centre atrium.

Escalator to the Box Hill bus interchange heads right into the middle of the shopping centre atrium

And you’re finally there.

Ventura bus #1214 8263AO on route 765 at Box Hill station

So what did the Middleborough Road Project do?

Then-rail operator Connex still called in the buses.

Up to 48 buses will run in peak periods between Box Hill and Blackburn.

The trip between Blackburn and Box Hill should take no longer than 17 minutes, including time to board and disembark, and walk between the bus and the train.

During peak periods and throughout the day on weekdays, a continuous shuttle bus service will operate between Box Hill and Blackburn. Buses will depart as soon as they are full and return as soon as the passengers on board have disembarked.

After 9pm on weekdays and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, buses will operate to a set timetable. This will correspond to the temporary timetables for train services.

But built two temporary bus interchanges for them to operate from.

Blackburn

Buses will depart a temporary bus interchange just to the north of the station. Up to eight buses can stop in this interchange which will be built over an existing small car park and on the station side of Railway Road.

An extra DDA compliant crossing point is being built to the west of the station to accommodate passenger movement to and from the buses. This walkway will cross from the end of platforms 1 and 2, north to temporary bus interchange. It will not extend southwards to South Parade.

In addition, a number of gateways will be made in the fence separating platform 3 (which is the northern-most platform) and the adjacent temporary bus interchange in the car park.

Box Hill

A temporary bus interchange will be built next to the station, under Box Hill Central. The railway tracks, which are not in use during the shutdown, will be covered and the interchange built over them.

The interchange will have capacity for up to eight buses at a time to load/unload.

A pedestrian bridge, with stairs, will link platforms 2/3, with the bus interchange.

And how it worked

The interchange at Box Hill was the most impressive, with concrete being laid right over the top of the railway tracks, but in a way that trains could still run.


Weston Langford photo

So after the railway was shut down, buses could drive right in along the tracks.


Weston Langford photo

Stopping at a temporary bus interchange built on the tracks beneath the shopping centre.


Chris Gordon photo

Passengers being able to connect to trains on platforms 2 and 3 using a temporary footbridge over the bus roadway.


Chris Gordon photo

Buses then headed for Blackburn along the railway tracks.


Weston Langford photo

Exiting onto Whitehorse Road via a ramp at Linsley Street.


Weston Langford photo

And today?

2023 saw buses replace trains between Camberwell and Box Hill for level crossing removal works at Mont Albert Road, Mont Albert and Union Road, Surrey Hills – so how much effort was put into the replacement buses for that project?

At Camberwell station passengers had a short walk from the platforms to a shelter on Cookson Street to wait for buses.

Sundancer bus BS03YF at Camberwell station on a rail replacement service

With traffic controllers guiding buses out onto Burke Road.

Simcocks' coach #4 0204AO departs Camberwell station on a rail replacement service

But at the Box Hill end passengers got nothing – having to fight their way out of the station and along the Market Street mall to Whitehorse Road, where the buses would stop outside the shops.

Dysons bus #279 4332AO outside Box Hill station on Whitehorse Road

In all an incredible contrast to the world of 2007 – we now grade separate dozens of level crossings each year without blinking, but put almost zero effort into making life easy for the passengers having their travel disrupted.

Further reading

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Who are you #6029 – steam, diesel or electric? https://wongm.com/2024/08/australian-locomotive-6029-steam-diesel-or-electric/ https://wongm.com/2024/08/australian-locomotive-6029-steam-diesel-or-electric/#comments Mon, 05 Aug 2024 21:30:00 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=21755 Australian locomotive #6029 – is it steam, diesel, or electric? Strangely enough, it is all three at once. The original The first locomotive numbered #6029 is a New South Wales AD60 class Beyer-Garratt 4-8-4+4-8-4 heavy goods steam locomotive, which entered service in 1954 and is now preserved by Transport Heritage NSW. The young one The […]

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Australian locomotive #6029 – is it steam, diesel, or electric? Strangely enough, it is all three at once.

The original

The first locomotive numbered #6029 is a New South Wales AD60 class Beyer-Garratt 4-8-4+4-8-4 heavy goods steam locomotive, which entered service in 1954 and is now preserved by Transport Heritage NSW.

Garratt 6029 heads a down shuttle bound for Hurstville through Erskineville station

The young one

The next locomotive numbered #6029 is a UGL Rail C44aci diesel electric locomotive, operated by Aurizon on freight services across Australia since delivery in 2012.

ACD6048 leads 6029 towards McIntyre Loop on a northbound Aurizon intermodal

And the ring in

And the electric version of #6029 is actually a tram – a Melbourne E-class which entered service in 2015.

E.6029 on route 86 passes A1.235 on route 30 across the La Trobe Street Bridge

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Photos from ten years ago: June 2014 https://wongm.com/2024/06/photos-from-ten-years-ago-june-2014/ https://wongm.com/2024/06/photos-from-ten-years-ago-june-2014/#comments Mon, 24 Jun 2024 21:30:00 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=22246 Another instalment in my photos from ten years ago series – this time it is June 2014. Regional Rail Link These has been an ongoing theme for many months now, but ten years ago Regional Rail Link was nearing the finishing line – the finishing touches were being applied to the new platforms at Footscray. […]

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Another instalment in my photos from ten years ago series – this time it is June 2014.

Regional Rail Link

These has been an ongoing theme for many months now, but ten years ago Regional Rail Link was nearing the finishing line – the finishing touches were being applied to the new platforms at Footscray.

Applying the finishing touches to the new RRL platforms 3 and 4

And the site offices were being cleared away.

Clearing concrete from the site office area

The road under rail grade separation on the Sunbury line at Anderson Road was open to traffic.

Completed road under rail grade separation on the Sunbury line at Anderson Road

Noise walls were going up beside the existing railway line around Ardeer.

Noise walls under construction near Ardeer station

And the new railway through Wyndham Vale.

Noise barriers taking shape along Clarence Street at Lollypop Creek

Wyndham Vale station looked ready for trains.

Multi-level ramps link the footbridge to platform level

But the street entrance was boarded up – the first train was still a year away.

Street entrance to the station on the western side

V/Line trains still sharing the suburban tracks into North Melbourne station.

P14 leads a push-pull service into North Melbourne station platform 3

But Ballarat trains were snaking across the new tracks to use the new country platforms at Sunshine station.

Citybound VLocity from Ballarat crosses onto the suburban tracks at Sunshine

Flinders Street Station

Metro Trains Melbourne was more interested in making money at Flinders Street Station than running trains.

Metro Trains Melbourne - more interested in making money than running trains

Leasing the site of the long abandoned platform 11 for the construction of a bar.

Long building at the eastern end of the future bar

With views of the Yarra River.

Eastern end of the new bar along platform 11

The station also gained a massive video wall on the concourse, screening an endless loop of advertisements.

Massive video wall at Flinders Street Station showing Foxtel advertisements, among others

They didn’t stop until 25 November 2022, where an activist covered it with paint, shutting it down until June 2023 when a replacement screen was installed.

Southern Cross Station

V/Line’s fleet of A class diesel locomotives were still in frontline service a decade ago.

A70 on arrival at Southern Cross with a service from Bacchus Marsh

While the western end of Southern Cross Station was a much brighter place.

Original liveried VLocity 3VL21 awaits departure time from Southern Cross platform 15

But not for long – work on the 699 Bourke Street development atop the station was underway.

More floors added to the 699 Bourke Street development atop Southern Cross Station

The work supposedly the reason for the failed lighting above the platforms, which has never been fixed.

New signalling

The Kensington Racecourse Essendon Signaling Project (KRESP) was wrapped up on the Craigieburn line.

New signal NKT458 at the up end of Newmarket station among those commissioned as part of the resignalling of the area

The old signalling equipment placed trackside waiting collection.

Now-redundant LED signal heads waiting collection beside the Craigieburn line

The project enabled the retirement of the 1885 signal box at Flemington Racecourse, 1918 signal frame at Kensington, and 1969 signal panel at Essendon.

Trams

The last of the Z1 class trams were still in revenue service, but apprantly not too reliable – this one was being followed by mechanics onboard tram recovery truck ‘R10’.

Recovery truck R10 follows defective tram Z1.86 southbound at Swanston Street and Flinders Lane

And motorists were having trouble figuring out the bike lanes on Swanston Street – like this wanker driving a BMW through the tram stop at A’beckett Street.

Another motorist unable to figure out the bike lanes on Swanston Street - this time at the A'beckett Street end

While at the nearby State Library tram stop was the aftermath of an even less competent driver.

Damaged median fence at the State Library tram stop on Swanston Street

And new liveries

June 2014 was the first V/Line train painted into the new PTV ‘shard’ livery – VLocity railcar 3VL40.

VLocity 3VL40 in the new PTV 'shard' livery

The shiny new colors a contrast to the faded livery the rest of the VLocity fleet was then wearing.

PTV-liveried VLocity 3VL40 coupled to original-liveried classmate 3VL22

The move to PTV colors had also started on Melbourne’s bus fleet, with Westrans moving away from their corporate livery, before their eventual rebranding as part of CDC Melbourne.

Westrans-operated buses at Manor Lakes Central shopping centre

Footnote

Here you can find the rest of my ‘photos from ten years ago‘ series.

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A ferry trip across the harbour in Auckland https://wongm.com/2024/06/ferry-and-bus-trip-to-devonport-auckland-not-manly-sydney/ https://wongm.com/2024/06/ferry-and-bus-trip-to-devonport-auckland-not-manly-sydney/#comments Mon, 17 Jun 2024 21:30:00 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=22238 On my recent trip to Auckland I decided to catch a ferry across Waitematā Harbour to Devonport, but as I set off on my journey I noticed more and more things that felt like back home in Australia. I set off from the CBD at C̶i̶r̶c̶u̶l̶a̶r̶ ̶Q̶u̶a̶y̶ the Ferry Building. The ferry set off across […]

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On my recent trip to Auckland I decided to catch a ferry across Waitematā Harbour to Devonport, but as I set off on my journey I noticed more and more things that felt like back home in Australia.

Fullers360 ferry 'Tiri Kat' at Devonport, the Auckland CBD skyline behind

I set off from the CBD at C̶i̶r̶c̶u̶l̶a̶r̶ ̶Q̶u̶a̶y̶ the Ferry Building.

Ferry Building on Auckland Harbour, CBD skyline behind

The ferry set off across the water, C̶e̶n̶t̶r̶e̶p̶o̶i̶n̶t̶ ̶T̶o̶w̶e̶r̶ Sky Tower above the skyline.

Auckland CBD skyline viewed from out on Auckland Harbour

The arch of the S̶y̶d̶n̶e̶y̶ ̶H̶a̶r̶b̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶B̶r̶i̶d̶g̶e̶ Auckland Harbour Bridge to one side.

New Zealand Maritime Museum sailing ship 'Ted Ashby' beneath the Auckland Harbour Bridge

Navy ships moored at the G̶a̶r̶d̶e̶n̶ ̶I̶s̶l̶a̶n̶d̶ Devonport Naval Base.

Royal New Zealand Navy ships at the Devonport Naval Base

As we headed across S̶y̶d̶n̶e̶y̶ ̶H̶a̶r̶b̶o̶u̶r̶ Waitematā Harbour.

Container ship 'MSC Nimisha III' at the Fergusson Container Terminal at the Port of Auckland

Before our arrival at the M̶a̶n̶l̶y̶ Devonport ferry pier.

Fullers360 ferry 'Tiri Kat' at Devonport, the Auckland CBD skyline behind

There I realised I could catch a bus back to the city.

Kinetic bus N4060 GCP696 on route 806 at the Devonport Ferry Terminal

So I caught a local bus to the M̶a̶n̶l̶y̶ ̶V̶a̶l̶e̶ Akoranga busway station.

Ritchies bus #1335 LPE781 and Kinetic bus #4078 GDZ146 at the Akoranga busway station

And jumped on a B̶-̶L̶i̶n̶e̶ Northern Busway double decker bus.

Tranzurban Auckland buses #3565 LQK86 and #3560 LQK88 pass on route NX2 along the Northern Busway at Akoranga

To the northern terminus of M̶o̶n̶a̶ ̶V̶a̶l̶e̶ Albany.

Tranzurban Auckland double decker bus #3559 LQF481 and Pavlovich Coachlines bus #4006 GFR779 at the Albany busway station

And then hopped on a bus headed back south towards the W̶a̶r̶r̶i̶n̶g̶a̶h̶ ̶F̶r̶e̶e̶w̶a̶y̶ Northern Motorway.

Bus only lane southbound on the SH1 motorway at Onepoto

I found a separate set of lanes to one side, o̶n̶c̶e̶ ̶u̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶t̶r̶a̶m̶s̶cliped-on’ to the original bridge.

Headed south over the Auckland Harbour Bridge

On the other side there was a tangle of exits from the W̶e̶s̶t̶e̶r̶n̶ ̶D̶i̶s̶t̶r̶i̶b̶u̶t̶o̶r̶ Auckland Northern Motorway.

Exit ramps at the south end of the Auckland Harbour Bridge

And there it was – S̶y̶d̶n̶e̶y̶ ̶ Auckland!

Auckland Northern Motorway approaches the Auckland CBD

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Yet another Google Image Search OCR adventure https://wongm.com/2024/05/yet-another-google-image-search-ocr-adventure/ https://wongm.com/2024/05/yet-another-google-image-search-ocr-adventure/#respond Mon, 13 May 2024 21:30:00 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=22148 A few years ago I discovered that Google Image Search applies OCR to indexed images, enabling it to return results for text that have never appeared online, and I’ve found more examples over the years since. Well, now I’ve found yet another! Who’s that bus? Back in 2023 I photographed a Transit Systems coach, with […]

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A few years ago I discovered that Google Image Search applies OCR to indexed images, enabling it to return results for text that have never appeared online, and I’ve found more examples over the years since. Well, now I’ve found yet another!

Who’s that bus?

Back in 2023 I photographed a Transit Systems coach, with registration plate 5629AO.

Transit Systems coach #200 5629AO on Geelong Road, Brooklyn

I wanted to see if I’d photographed this coach before, so I plugged ‘5629AO’ into Google Search – which didn’t return anything of mine.

But a photo dated 2015 on Flickr titled ‘Big White Bus‘, with registration plate 5629AO visible – the same bus photographed.

And an article in the Bendigo Advertiser dated 2014 titled ‘Bus driver trapped by live power lines after incident‘, illustrated with a photo of the bus involved – registration 5629AO.

As for the history of the bus itself, the Australian Bus Fleet Lists entry for 5629AO says it entered service in 2005.

And I didn’t think that would even work!

I ended up in a discussion recently around Australian bus manufacturing, where imported chassis have bodies built atop them locally, and was trying to find out which bus operators use Iveco chassis – so I figured I’d try searching my photo gallery to see if I could find any.

And lo and behold, as search for “wongm Iveco” actually turned up highly relevant entries.

From the first row – a photo captioned “Moonee Valley Coaches #92 2266AO on St Albans Road, Sunshine North” appears because the bus has an ‘Iveco’ badge on the front.

Moonee Valley Coaches #92 2266AO on St Albans Road, Sunshine North

Same applies to their photo captioned “HG Corporate Buses minibus XV95BF with luggage trailer at William Street and Flinders Lane”.

HG Corporate Buses minibus XV95BF with luggage trailer at William Street and Flinders Lane

“Hi-rail weed spray trucks at Somerton” too.

Hi-rail weed spray trucks at Somerton

“Moonee Valley Coaches #87 BS02AL at Swanston and Flinders Street”.

Moonee Valley Coaches #87 BS02AL at Swanston and Flinders Street

“Moonee Valley Coaches bus #82 9682AO on out of service at Moonee Ponds Junction”.

Moonee Valley Coaches bus #82 9682AO on out of service at Moonee Ponds Junction

“Moonee Valley Coaches bus #90 2264AO on route 506 along Glenlyon Road at Lygon Street”.

Moonee Valley Coaches bus #90 2264AO on route 506 along Glenlyon Road at Lygon Street

And “McKenzie’s coach 1829AO at the Southern Cross coach terminal”.

McKenzie's coach 1829AO at the Southern Cross coach terminal

I wouldn’t think that such a small piece of text like the badge on the front of a bus would get picked up by Google, but turns out they can do it.

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Farewell to V/Line’s H type carriage sets https://wongm.com/2024/02/vlines-h-type-carriage-sets-last-run-retirement/ https://wongm.com/2024/02/vlines-h-type-carriage-sets-last-run-retirement/#comments Mon, 19 Feb 2024 20:30:00 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=21885 On Friday 2 February 2024 V/Line retired the last of their ‘H’ type carriage sets that dated back to the 1980s, so I decided to go for a ride down to Geelong. Some history V/Line’s ‘H’ type carriage sets were originally built as ‘Harris’ suburban trains back in the 1950s. SLV image H31188. Photographer unknown. […]

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On Friday 2 February 2024 V/Line retired the last of their ‘H’ type carriage sets that dated back to the 1980s, so I decided to go for a ride down to Geelong.

Carriage set SLH32 on arrival at Waurn Ponds behind N456

Some history

V/Line’s ‘H’ type carriage sets were originally built as ‘Harris’ suburban trains back in the 1950s.


SLV image H31188. Photographer unknown. Undated but circa 1956 to 1968.

In the 1980s the decision was made to refurbish the aging Harris trains, bringing them up to the same standards as the air conditioned Comeng suburban trains then being delivered.


Weston Langford photo

However the additional weight of the upgraded equipment and expense of asbestos removal from the bodyshells saw the economics of the program compared to the purchase of additional Comeng trains, so the refurbishment program was abandoned.

Instead, it was decided to convert the Harris trains into the ‘H’ type locomotive hauled carriages for the use on V/Line services to destinations such as Bacchus Marsh, Kyneton, Sunbury, Seymour and Leongatha.

A role they continued in throughout the 2000s.

N473 shunts around the carriage set at South Geelong

The delivery of the new VLocity railcars from 2005 was intended to allow the retirement of the H sets.

VLocity lineup at Southern Cross

But the increase in patronage thank to the Regional Fast Rail project and a 20% cut to V/Line fares saw the aging carriages retained and refurbished from 2007.

12:05 - Transport Minister Lyn Kosky pisses off already

And refurbished for a third time from 2020.

Carriage set SSH22 at Southern Cross platform 5

But then just a few years later V/Line decided they were were done with the H sets, and in December 2023 H sets were withdrawn from services to Bacchus Marsh.

N459 and carriage set SSH25 depart Bacchus Marsh on the supposed last H set run on the line

And the surplus carriage sets were sent to Echuca for storage, where they were quickly vandalised.


Video by ‘Rail Australia’

The last day

On 2 February 2024 the last two H sets were retired from service, their runs to Geelong being taken over by VLocity railcars.

I started my day at 5 am, catching the first train of the day down to Geelong.

VLocity VL09 and classmate arrive into Sunshine on the first down Geelong service of the day

There I found diesel locomotive N456 already coupled up to carriage set SLH33.

N456 shunts carriage set SLH33 out of the sidings at Geelong

Ready to shunt it out of the sidings.

N456 shunts carriage set SLH33 out of the sidings at Geelong

And into platform 2.

N456 shunts carriage set SLH33 out of the sidings and back into platform 2 at Geelong

To form the 7:23 am service to Melbourne

VLocity VL30 and classmate alongside N456 with carriage set SLH33 at Geelong

I opted to catch an earlier service to Lara, so I could photograph it’s arrival.

N456 leads carriage set SLH33 into Lara on the up

And then ride it though to Melbourne.

Onboard carriage set SLH33  for the last run to Melbourne

On arrival at Southern Cross, N456 ran around the carriages, as shunter Y163 pushed the carriages back into platform 4.

N456 runs around at Southern Cross platform 4, as Y163 shunts carriage set SLH33 back into the platform

Where the carriage set was stabled for the day.

Carriage set SLH33 stabled for the day at Southern Cross platform 4

The last run?

It was the turn of N468 to lead carriage set SLH33 back to Geelong that evening – I caught the train from Sunshine.

N468 leads carriage set SLH33 into Sunshine on it's last run to Geelong

And went through to Geelong.

N468 on arrival at Geelong platform 3 with the last run of carriage set SLH33

Geelong’s resident shunter Y129 arrived soon after to collect the carriage set.

Y129 shunts into Geelong platform 3 to collect carriage set SLH33

Pulling the set out of platform 3.

Y129 shunts carriage set SLH33 out of Geelong platform 3

And in a bizarre touch for something being retired – they sent it through the train wash!

Y129 shunts carriage set SLH33 through the train wash at Geelong

And then stabled it in the sidings.

Y129 shunts carriage set SLH33 back from the train wash and into the sidings at Geelong

And the actual last run

Turns out V/Line had some late running that day, and the N set rostered to run a down Waurn Ponds service wasn’t available to run that service, so V/Line pulled carriage set SLH32 out of storage at Southern Cross, having withdrawn it from service the day before – and pressed it back into service.

N456 leads carriage set SLH32 into Geelong on a down Waurn Ponds service

So I climbed aboard it at Geelong.

N456 pauses at Geelong with carriage set SLH32 on a down Waurn Ponds service

For the short trip to Waurn Ponds.

N456 and carriage set SLH32 on arrival at Waurn Ponds

On arrival the locomotive was uncoupled from the carriages.

N456 is uncoupled from carriage set SLH32 on arrival at Waurn Ponds

And ran around them via the main line.

N456 runs around carriage set SLH32 at Waurn Ponds

N456 then coupled onto the Melbourne end.

N456 is coupled back onto carriage set SLH32 at Waurn Ponds

And after an arriving VLocity train cleared the single track from Geelong.

VLocity VL103 and VL00 arrive into Waurn Ponds on the down

Departed Waurn Ponds for the yard at Geelong.

N456 departs Waurn Ponds with empty carriage set SLH32 bound for the yard at Geelong

The end for a train now over 65 years old.

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Photographing every railway station in Melbourne – revisited https://wongm.com/2024/01/revisiting-photographing-every-melbourne-railway-station/ https://wongm.com/2024/01/revisiting-photographing-every-melbourne-railway-station/#comments Mon, 15 Jan 2024 20:30:00 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=14155 There are over two hundred railway stations across Melbourne, so for someone who has spent 15 years of photographing trains, and with over 100,000 photographs catalogued online, taking a photo at each station should have happened long ago. And I have – with some caveats! The back story I first looked into how many railway […]

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There are over two hundred railway stations across Melbourne, so for someone who has spent 15 years of photographing trains, and with over 100,000 photographs catalogued online, taking a photo at each station should have happened long ago. And I have – with some caveats!

EDI Comeng 381M trails an up service into the City Loop at North Melbourne

The back story

I first looked into how many railway stations that I’ve photographed back in 2015:

As of August 2015, I had taken a photograph at 167 of the 209 suburban railway station in Melbourne, leaving 42 which I have no proof of ever visiting – a strike rate of just under 80%.

However, those raw numbers were a little misleading, as my subject of my photos isn’t necessarily a train – as the graph below shows.

Confused?

Some explanation

Before collating the data around which stations I have taken a photo at, I never intentionally set out to photograph every railway station in Melbourne – instead I take photos of trains…

  • when I think a particular location looks photogenic,
  • when I hear about a steam train running,
  • when I want to see V/Line and freight trains,
  • when I realise I need a photo to illustrate a specific blog post,
  • when I discover something is about to change and I don’t yet have a photo of it,
  • when I decide to head out and photograph every ‘X’ item.

But the most common reason – I take photos of trains when I’m out and about doing other things.

The end result of this is a selection of photos across Melbourne that primarily covers the areas that I’ve passed through for work, study and visiting friends; with a particular focus on railway lines that see V/Line and freight services upon them; and leaving vast swathes of the city undocumented by my camera.

This also explains the stations where I have never photographed a suburban train at…

If a location is photogenic, I might take a photo of a train near the station when I’m in the area – but not bother visiting the station itself.

Alstom Comeng emerges from under the Jacana Flyover
Alstom Comeng emerges from under the Jacana Flyover

Over the years I’ve travelled on a number of special trains around Melbourne – resulting in plenty of photos featuring steam and diesel trains in strange locations, but no photos of the suburban trains that normally run to said stations.

Another photostop at Upwey, this time waiting to cross a down train
Diesel Electric Rail Motor RM58 at Upwey

When a weekend services run only every half hour, I don’t have time to wait around for the next train to show up – hence the stations where the only photo I have is of the station building.

Island platform at Ruthven station
Island platform at Ruthven station

And finally the ‘only substation’ category – I’ve been playing Pokemon with the substations that power Melbourne’s electric trains, and slowly photographing every example that I can find.

Reservoir substation: 1,500 kW capacity commissioned in 1963
Traction power substation on the Mernda line at Reservoir

And the years since

In the end, the very act of determining how many stations I have photographed changed my attitude to photography, and in the years since 2015 I stepped up my efforts to take a photo at every railway station in Melbourne – and by December 2019 I was getting close.

But visiting the last few stations took until November 2021.

The station that marked the end of my quest – Parkdale, which received a special visit due to the upcoming level crossing removal works.

Siemens 835M arrives into Parkdale on the down

However I am yet to photograph a train at every Melbourne railway station – the following stations have slipped from my grasp due to their lack of frequent services:

  • Moreland on the Upfield line, and
  • Ruthven on the Mernda line.

And there are two stations I’ve only visited on a day that trains were being replaced by buses:

  • Hampton and Gardenvale, both on the Sandringham line.

So how many years will it take until I find at train those last four stations?

Raw data

The raw data used for the above calculations as a Google spreadsheet.



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