How would the crewing work? Would a Ballarat driver take a taxi to Maryborough to drive the first up? Or would a driver be based at Maryborough and drive the morning up to city and take a Ballarat train back home then taxi?

Reverse for the evening train?

I always find it good to see work progressing. At least they've started work on Clunes pretty quickly.

I always find it good to see work progressing. At least they've started work on Clunes pretty quickly.

Only the works siding, That's all that has been done to date.

I guess Clunes station will get a platform extension and refurbishment, the station building would probably get a bit of a patch up (but won't be used) and a sealed carpark, bus stop, footpaths, etc.

But will It cost $17 million ?

Creswick today
[bigimg]http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/5137/068s.jpg[/bigimg]

That looks silly, why can they not slew the track or create a passing loop through to the existing platform?

Just a tad too late for that now...BTW, passing loop = additional unnecessary expense.

Having been there for a good look, most of the town is on the northern, new platform side.
It's easier access to parking, kiss-and-ride & future bus connections on the new side and the track having been slewed away from the old platform appears to have a less acute angle on the upside curve, allowing for faster speeds in future express service operation.

Mike.

Would anyone happen to know the comparison be between the time taken to build Seymour's 3rd platform, and Creswick's 2nd platform?

Cheers,

Would anyone happen to know the comparison be between the time taken to build Seymour's 3rd platform, and Creswick's 2nd platform?

Cheers,

From memory Seymour platform 3 took a round 4 weeks over a two month period. The first work was constructing the steel work imedialty followed by the concreteing a bit of delay then fitting out the platform. I will check my photos to make sure. This timming would apply to all the new East line platforms (Avenel , euroa etc.) constructed as well.
The delay between the concreting and fitting out was very variable for instance Broadmedows STILL has not been fitted out inspite of the platform it self being finished months ago.

How long did Creswick take?

Woodford

The initial tt appears to be framed on the available capacity on existing VLP services between Maryborough and Ballarat rather than on meeting the preferred times for day return journeys to Melbourne which is the main market for all regional rail services.

This is just like Echuca - a Weekday timetable framed to suit the Operator, not the passengers .

With all the capital expenditure on the track , why Maryborough does not have a day return rail service from Melbourne on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holiday Mondays (like Echuca has) when rollingstock is available defies logic .

With all the capital expenditure on the track , why Maryborough does not have a day return rail service from Melbourne on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holiday Mondays (like Echuca has) when rollingstock is available defies logic .

Maybe Ballarat to Geelong could be looked at...?

Victorian Railways once had a Ballarat  Queenscliff service, so anything is possible.

Perhaps Maryborough  Geelong with connections at Ballarat and Geelong to / from Southern Cross!
But then again, I suspect that would fall into the realm of armchair gunzelling, something which I don't like stooping too  

Mr Bear - I'll think you'll find Mr. Rev was being slightly mischievious!!!!