Posts Tagged ‘Australia’

Rail noise regulations – yet another “break of gauge”

As if the different rail gauges, incompatible train radio systems and contradictory high visibility vest standards weren’t enough of an obstacle for interstate rail freight in Australia, turns out there is yet another “break of gauge” – state based rail noise regulations. Welcome to the New South Wales EPA In the state of New South […]

A ferry trip across the harbour in Auckland

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 […]

That’s not my railway station…

That’s not my Box Hill railway station… the backdrop is too green. That’s not my Seddon railway station… the building is too wooden. And that’s not my Spotswood railway station… there isn’t a station there at all! So were are they? Melbourne’s Box Hill railway station has three platforms located beneath a shopping centre in […]

‘Made in Melbourne for Melbourne’ buses

In recent years ‘Made in Melbourne for Melbourne’ signs have started appearing on buses operating around Melbourne, but in reality that claim is a little stretched – we build the bus bodies locally atop an imported bus chassis. The process starts with a bus chassis – a bare steel frame with diesel engine and mechanical […]

Australia’s train radio “break of gauge”

It’s pretty common knowledge that Australia’s rail network is a mess of different rail gauges, preventing freight and passengers from travelling across Australia without changing trains. But did you know that’s not the only incompatibility holding back rail in Australia – there is also a mess of different train radio systems. How we got there […]