Regional Rail Link works

Quite the coincidence given the works currently underway in Melbourne’s west – June 2013 was a two week long shut down of the railway lines to Sunbury, Ballarat and Bendigo for work on the Regional Rail Link project.

Passengers being sent onto buses running via Dynon Road.

But interestingly trains were able to keep running on the parallel Werribee line.

Track gangs playing frogger with passing trains.

But the Sunbury, Ballarat and Bendigo lines were less lucky – their tracks were blocked by construction equipment.

At the new West Footscray station the first section of the overhead concourse was put in place.

While at Sunshine the new overhead concourse loomed over the decrepit timber station building that came before it.

Works were also well underway on the greenfield section of the rail corridor – the platforms at Tarneit station were taking shape in an empty paddock.

Road over rail bridges were in place over yet to be laid track.

And the first spans of the massive rail over rail flyover at Manor Junction had been craned into place.

On Myki

A decade ago Myki had taken over as the only ticketing system in Melbourne, but slow readers resulted in long queues to exit stations. The solution – adding additional Myki readers, in a process that took months.

Ding ding

South Melbourne used to be a swamp, so it’s no surprise the Port Junction tram stop at Whiteman and Clarendon Streets turns into a lake each time it rains.

The tram stop was also used as the departure point for the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant service, with passengers given an oversized tram shelter to hide from the Melbourne weather.

To ensure the tram restaurant didn’t delay normal services, in 2016 the tram stop was rebuilt with a third track, but it didn’t see much use –
Yarra Trams kicked the service off the tracks in October 2018, citing safety concerns.

On the buses

Williams Landing station opened in 2013, with the Point Cook bus network revamped to bring passengers to it.

While at Fishermans Bend passengers were less lucky – having to wait 15 minutes in morning peak for their bus to finally arrive.

And a flushing footnote

In June 2013 the City of Melbourne closed the underground public toilets located at Collins and Queen Street.

Capping the entrances with concrete.

Footnote

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

Post retrieved by 35.215.163.46 using

The post Photos from ten years ago: June 2013 appeared first on Waking up in Geelong.

Ding ding

Metcard had been switched off.

The ‘safety’ zone tram stop on Epsom Road in Ascot Vale was copping a beating.

Route 19, 57 and 19 passengers didn’t have any platform stops along Elizabeth Street.

And the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant was still running lunch and dinner tours of Melbourne.

And trains

Evening peak would see massive crowds of pedestrians waiting to cross Spencer Street at Collins Street.

While on Friday nights, the queues would be at the V/Line booking office, waiting to buy a paper ticket.

South Yarra station was also becoming surrounded by new apartment blocks, but the single station entrance was struggling to cope – a problem not addressed until 2020.

But Footscray was getting an expanded station as part of the Regional Rail Link project.

The near-new footbridge demolished to make room for two additional platforms.

And Metro had unveiled a new infrastructure inspection train, in an attempt to address a spate of overhead wire failures crippling the rail network.

Things that are gone

Melbourne Bike Share was still operating.

One of the operational costs being the need to resupply bikes to empty stands.

Remember the “My Family” sticker fad? By 2013 they were on the way out.

Heritage listed public toilet on Queen Street? It was decommissioned in June 2013 and capped with concrete.

Horse drawn carriages leaving a trail of horse crap across the Melbourne CBD? They’re finally banned.

And Phillip Island

I headed out to Phillip Island, to look for the remains of the Summerland Estate. The only trace – a few dirt tracks.

I also made a detour to Pyramid Rock.

Which looked like the name suggested.

And on the way back I found a radio tower out in a paddock.

Turns out it was a non-directional beacon (NDB) used as an aviation navigational aid.

It was decommissioned in 2016 thanks to the popularity of GPS based navigation technology in general aviation.

Footnote

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

Post retrieved by 35.215.163.46 using

The post Photos from ten years ago: February 2013 appeared first on Waking up in Geelong.

The ‘upgrade’

Once upon a time Diggers Rest station was just a wayside stop on the outskirts of Melbourne.

Locals were served by V/Line trains headed for Bendigo.

Until 2011 when the Victorian Transport Plan announced the Sunbury electrification project, which would extend suburban train services from Watergardens to Sunbury.

The Department of Transport promised the world.

Upgrading both Diggers Rest and Sunbury stations.

Department of Transport flyer, August 2011

With a fact sheet from the time promising.

• Additional 500 commuter parking spaces
• Refurbished waiting rooms
• CCTV security cameras
• Improved lighting
• Passenger Information Display
• Updated toilet facilities
• Installation of platform shelters, extra seats and clocks

Work started on the massive platform verandas soon after.

As well as upgrades to the station building on platform 1, including a new toilet block.

But nothing

But the upgraded facilities were never opened – ‘staff shortage’ the excuse given in November 2012.

The station office was still gathering dust in 2015.

The story still the same in 2020.

The only change – a sign reading ‘These toilets are no longer in use’ on the toilet door.

A ‘Public toilets (daylight hours)’ sign on the station building.

And a sign pointing out towards the nearby park.

Where a small public toilet block can be found.

Google Street View

So what gives?

Locked toilets is a common situation at Melbourne railway stations.

But Diggers Rest residents aren’t happy about the same thing happening at their local station.

Despite all promises by the former Brumby Labor Government to provide additional services to Diggers Rest as part of the $270 million upgrade to the Sunbury line, the toilets and waiting rooms will stay locked.

In response to a recent letter from Melton City Council, the Minister for Transport, Jacinta Allen MP, said “I appreciate your continued concerns that the facilities at Diggers Rest Station remain closed. As you are aware, PTV (Public Transport Victoria) advised that the decision to staff a station is based on passenger numbers. PTV confirmed that there are no plans to open the waiting room and toilets at Diggers Rest station or to staff the station, until passenger numbers increase”.

The Minister seems reluctant to provide any further indication to Council with respect to when the waiting room and public toilet facilities will be made available to commuters.

The situation got a mention in the Melton & Moorabool Star Weekly back in 2018.

The existing toilets and passenger waiting area were upgraded as part of the Sunbury electrification project in 2012 and the toilets have remained locked ever since.

Diggers Rest resident David O’Connor has long campaigned for the toilets to be reopened for public use, with no success.

In a letter to Mr O’Connor in 2015, Metro Trains said that its policy was to only provide public amenities when stations are staffed. Diggers Rest Station is unstaffed.

“Public amenities are unavailable at unstaffed stations such as Diggers Rest due to vandalism, anti-social behavior and criminal activity,” the letter stated.

But it took until 2019 for the Victorian Government to give locals an answer – effectively a ‘sod off’.

Dear Mr Tori

DIGGERS REST STATION TOILET FACILITIES

Thank you for your letter of 2 April 2019 on behalf of Melton City Council regarding toilet access at Diggers Rest station.

I acknowledge Council’s concerns about amenities at Diggers Rest station.

As you are aware, this station was upgraded as part of the Sunbury Electrification Project. The decision was made not to staff the station at this time, which means the toilet facilities are not currently available for public use.

The decision to staff stations is based on several factors, primarily driven by expected patronage, whether the station is an interchange point, and whether the station provides services for special events.

Based on current passenger levels at Diggers Rest station, there are no plans to provide staffing at the station. This position will be reviewed should passenger numbers significantly increase.

The Victorian Government is expanding and upgrading toilet facilities across Melbourne’s train network, with new facilities already installed at several stations. Toilets are provided at all premium staffed stations, at host stations when staff are on duty, and at some unstaffed stations by self-cleaning, automated toilet blocks. Traditional toilet facilities are unavailable at unstaffed stations because of the misuse of facilities, security problems, cleanliness and public liability concerns.

The nearest station toilet facilities on the Sunbury line are at Sunbury and Watergardens, during staffed hours. For information about other station toilets, passengers are encouraged to visit the PTV website at ptv.vic.gov.au or call PTV on 1800 800 007 between 6 am and midnight.

I understand public toilets are also available at Stan Payne Reserve, approximately 170 metres from the station.

I trust this information is of use to Council. Thank you again for sharing these concerns with me.

Yours sincerely
Jeroen Weimar
Chief Executive Officer
Public Transport Victoria

I suspect the ‘These toilets are no longer in use’ signage was added by PTV following the above letter, formalising the closure.

Footnote: automated toilets

Hawkstowe station opened on the Mernda line in 2018 – unstaffed, but with automated Exeloo public toilets provided at concourse level.

The same applies at Altona – an existing station provided with automated toilets in 2018.

The Victorian Government found it fit to spend millions on jail cells at each Melbourne railway stations – so why not public toilets?

Post retrieved by 35.215.163.46 using

The post Dunny drama at Diggers Rest station appeared first on Waking up in Geelong.