Another instalment in my photos from ten years ago series – this time it is January 2014.
Regional Rail Link
Work on the Regional Rail Link project is an ongoing theme, and this month is no different. Over the Christmas and New Years break, rail access to the country platforms at Southern Cross Station was cut off.
With prefabricated track panels being moved into place.
As the tracks towards the station were rearranged.
To direct trains towards the North Melbourne flyover, which was being rebuilt for the use of V/Line trains towards Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo.
The new track pair towards Footscray was starting to take shape.
But the new platforms 3 and 4 at Sunshine were still to come.
With just the pair of tracks for suburban trains in place so far.
Much of the work was able to be completed while suburban trains were still running, but on some weekends passengers were put onto rail replacement buses – with ageing high-floor clunkers without air conditioning still in use.
And trains elsewhere
Work was also underway on the removal of the Mitcham Road and Rooks Roads level crossings in Mitcham, with trains terminating at Blackburn station.
But luckily for passengers they didn’t need to go traipsing through the dank and flooded pedestrian underpass to find their replacement buses
A temporary footbridge was provided at the end of the platform, leading directly to the temporary bus interchange located in the station car park.
Metro Trains Melbourne also used the Christmas and New Year break as an excuse to cut services under a ‘summer timetable’ that lasted two weeks into the normal work year, causing gross overcrowding. Thankfully this practice is now a thing of the past.
While at Southern Cross Station passengers encountered the usual Friday afternoon ticket queue, thanks to the inability to purchase tickets ahead of time.
Trams
In January 2014 the tram tracks on Collins Street were extended westwards by one more stop to the intersection of Collins Street and Bourke Street, which became the new Victoria Harbour terminus.
And work to relay the tram tracks along Mount Alexander Road in Ascot Vale was about to kick off.
The old maroon liveried City Circle trams were still running around the CBD.
And on La Trobe Street I found a route 24 tram, and a Ventura-liveried Transdev bus.
But on January 16 and 17 route 82 high floor trams were replaced by high floor buses thanks to the extreme heat – the trams freed up were used on other routes to replace those expected to fail in the heat.
And the other bits
In the CBD I found a Melbourne Bike Share ute transferring bikes between stations. The service ended in November 2019.
And down at Port Melbourne I found trucks being loaded onto the Spirit of Tasmania for the voyage that night. It moved to Geelong in October 2022.
In Ascot Vale I found a speed and red light camera being calibrated.
And for some reason this Telstra payphone had received a ‘this telephone booth is monitored by Moonee Valley Council. Please use your discretion and be mindful of residents at all times’ sign.
Footnote
Here you can find the rest of my ‘photos from ten years ago‘ series.
As long it wasn’t hot, I used to enjoy riding on the old train replacement buses when works were underway. Just not too far.
I can remember when the 82 was cancelled because of extreme heat and wasn’t there another route too?
I can’t seem to recall other tram routes getting replaced with buses due to the heat.