r/MelbourneTrains

This is what Hobart should be doing.

Before the million dollar bike lanes, before $40 million dollar ferry crossings.
Before the cable-car, before the toll road up to the mountain.
Before lining the Bass Strait with cables or pretending to build domed footy stadiums.
THIS.

And if you listen to these guys, it may actually be cheaper than the current "plan"
https://www.facebook.com/HobartRail

:Suburban rolling stock

my reason why I am raising topic, this is because the suburban top speed is 110km, while other parts of the suburban network can reach 160km or 130/40.

but the suburban trains are restricted to 110, there isnt anything blocking in the way to reach top speed and im confused why are we not maxing the top speed on the Siemens (130) , HCMT (140), extrap 2.0 (130)

I do know that extrap 100 will be restricted to 100-110 because of their horrible suspension, but are build to handle 140km to keep in mind. is the reason is because of the break/signal is the problem? or the government haven’t spend enough to reach that top speed?

: Mainline
for the mainline, Im raising this topic aswell because for example pakenham line, from Beaconsfield - Pakenham the top speed is 100. the geography shows that the line is straight with no curve that the line can handle 160 - 200km. same line example I can give dandy to Oakliegh the top speed is 80, but same agian it can reach better speed 100-110km. is there a main reason we cannot get a better speed on the other lines (i am talking about express trains and big gaps between the stations aswell not local trains stopping all stations)

The last proper network development plan that was formally released was in 2012, and now that's been greatly changed now as well. Then there was the 2018 leaked plan. Right now I'm not sure what the long term development plan actually is other than the Suburban Rail Loop and Airport Rail.

There's no long term plan in terms covering the City Loop Reconfiguration, Metro 2 or any of the extensions in the leaked 2018 plan. I understand most of the budget is going to the SRL and LXRPs right now but like... should it not at least be planned or a timeline set out?

If the government can commit 10s of billions of dollars for the SRL, I see no reason to why they can't at least think about projects they want to commit to other than just the SRL. For example, there was no concrete plans for the Doncaster extensions but that was still included in the 2012 development plan.

I just want them to commit to something that isn't just pouring money into huge large scale projects. I haven't seen a concrete timeline for the Melton electrifications either. How can you set timelines for large scale projects such as the SRL but not for smaller works like Melton electrification?

View Poll

By the year 2035. Assuming that the SRL, Melton electrification & Upfield extension to Wallan, the Airport Link and the Sydney Metro all go ahead we'll see

Sydney:

• 112km of metro
• 335km of suburban train network.
• 447km total transit network.
• 25% of their total network will be a metro.
• 2 Airports, 2 Airport lines.
• 2 proper CBDs (Parramatta - This one is more of a geographical advantage that Sydney has, really can't compete here).

Melbourne:

• 26km of an automated metro line.
• 1 Airport line.
• 0 proper secondary CBDs. (Just look at the station precinct impression plans, and tell me if you think they can rival Parramatta, they can't.)
• Total suburban network of 492 km (+62km in extensions and Airport Link)
• Total train network of 518km. (+26km from with SRL)
• 5% of our total network would be a metro.

Someone explain to me, how Sydney can build 112km of metro in 22 years (2013-2035), or about 5.0km every year and we'll be stuck building the SRL North and East (~35km + 26km) which is 61 km in 28 years or about 2.1km every year. They're building twice as fast as we are and they're building it cheaper. I find it difficult to believe that this is purely because of geological difference in the stones that both our cities sit on.

People here like to claim that it's because Sydney is just sandstone while Melbourne is more difficult to dig through. Sure, but TBMs can dig the tunnels anywhere between a few months to a year, right? That doesn't explain why it takes so long to actually install the rails and the wirings within the tunnels themselves. I swear saying it's geology and just geology is just copout answer at this point.

A part of me think's its in part of the CFMEU corruption which is certainly true to an extent but I don't think it can account for Sydney building more than twice as fast.

I was travelling today with a relative to the airport and it took me about 1 hr 20 mins to get to the airport via the train on the Cranbourne/Pakenham line and the SkyBus from Southern Cross. But returning was very inconvenient and much worse, it took about 2 hrs 10 mins to get back to the same place without SkyBus (it felt too expensive to take again) from the airport through the 901 bus to Broadmeadows and an interchange at Flinders. If this is the case for me I wonder how many ppl really face this inconvenience, especially with the poor and limited access to the Airport via public transport. I know that we are getting the SRL airport but the longstanding effects of the need of airport services is very much existent and we already have the demand and the proposals long ago, which should have taken place much early and I hope they can do something in the meanwhile to ease journeys to and from the airport such as new temporary bus routes like going to Sunshine or St Albans which connects to 3 train lines until the Airport Station is fully completed. I just want there to be more connectivity and convenience in existing modes of travel to the airport till we at least get a major station there.

Hi - just wondering what might happen in this hypothetical situation, as it has caused me an enormous amount of worry.

I have a TBI - and due to my brain injury I have a Access Travel Pass. I do my best to keep it with me at all times. I even have a Bluetooth tracker attached to the lanyard that I hang my pass from.

I am trying as hard as I can. I've factored in additional tools and worked on skills to make sure I am more likely to remember to take the pass with me.

However, my memory is severely affected. And I've gone on public transport a few times without the pass. I just haven't met authorised officers on those occasions yet, to test out my concern.

I am wondering: is an authorised officer likely to fine me, if I forget the physical card, but, show them a photo of the card on my phone?

I'm sure it's going to be an "it depends" thing. But, if I forget my pass, often I've forgotten to bring my wallet/ID too... and I am not keen getting fined, or arrested if they think I'm withholding ID while them attempt to confirm who I am.

Thanks train fam! (I can't drive due to this brain injury so public transport is a huge part of my life now)!