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.
And the site offices were being cleared away.
The road under rail grade separation on the Sunbury line at Anderson Road was open to traffic.
Noise walls were going up beside the existing railway line around Ardeer.
And the new railway through Wyndham Vale.
Wyndham Vale station looked ready for trains.
But the street entrance was boarded up – the first train was still a year away.
V/Line trains still sharing the suburban tracks into North Melbourne station.
But Ballarat trains were snaking across the new tracks to use the new country platforms at Sunshine station.
Flinders Street Station
Metro Trains Melbourne was more interested in making money at Flinders Street Station than running trains.
Leasing the site of the long abandoned platform 11 for the construction of a bar.
With views of the Yarra River.
The station also gained a massive video wall on the concourse, screening an endless loop of advertisements.
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.
While the western end of Southern Cross Station was a much brighter place.
But not for long – work on the 699 Bourke Street development atop the station was underway.
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.
The old signalling equipment placed trackside waiting collection.
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’.
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.
While at the nearby State Library tram stop was the aftermath of an even less competent driver.
And new liveries
June 2014 was the first V/Line train painted into the new PTV ‘shard’ livery – VLocity railcar 3VL40.
The shiny new colors a contrast to the faded livery the rest of the VLocity fleet was then wearing.
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.
Footnote
Here you can find the rest of my ‘photos from ten years ago‘ series.
I’ve never seen the So Cross lighting working. It looks quite good.