Museum and Parliament would also have met that criterion.

Come to think of it, you could argue that Sandown Park also met it when it was re-opened in 1965.

Problem with Laverton is precisely that it is the last zone 1. Come 8am the car park is full and quite often people will park nearly all the way along the railway reservation to Aircraft in order to access zone 1 fares.

This could be fixed by ending Zone 1 at Westona or run Werribee trains express Aircraft - Newport. If Laverton pax are only using Laverton for the cheaper fare, then they should have to catch stopping all stations trains like the rest of Zone 1 passengers. This creates more capacity on the express trains for higher paying passengers.

Yes, let's just let pedestrians wander across an 8 lane freeway to get to the station, shall we?

Not to mention the 1m high concrete barrier in the middle topped with another 1m of iron fence.

Then buy and plant mature trees, it would still cost a lot less than what is being built. I think anything outside the rail reservation should be Vic Roads responsibility including the footbridge.

Are we really having a discussion about whether mature trees should have been put in? Really?

This could be fixed by ending Zone 1 at Westona or run Werribee trains express Aircraft - Newport. If Laverton pax are only using Laverton for the cheaper fare, then they should have to catch stopping all stations trains like the rest of Zone 1 passengers. This creates more capacity on the express trains for higher paying passengers.

If you frigg the zones on the Werribee line then you have to frigg them everywhere else, its a slippery slope.

Why should Laverton passengers have to use specific trains if they are paying the relevant fare?

No. Because it is a zero sum game if you do.  What is the point of opening a new station ostensibly to increase passenger access on the line if you are then going to close another station?

Well, well, we agree on something!!

And re: the next post, yes, Aircraft is a consideration for skipping the odd train when there are significant enough services on the line to not become too much of an inconvenience.

I've thought the same of West and Middle Footscray.

To be fair, Mike, you don't disagree with me at all. You troll me here, on Whirlpool, and other places, because you know that while I understand the rules, my knowledge of them isn't my tacit approval of them.

Thus, you can't argue against the points I make, so you ridicule me. You're nothing but a wannabe try hard, and I just wish you'd smeg off.

http://corp.ptv.vic.gov.au/projects/railway-stations/williams-landing-project/

On 28 April, Williams Landing Station will be open to commuters.To mark this exciting milestone, we’re hosting an exclusive sneak peek celebration event for the community at the Williams Landing Station ahead of its official opening.
This event will give locals the opportunity to be among the first people to walk through and explore the new station.
Come and be entertained by local performers, enjoy a sausage sizzle and take part in a scavenger hunt quiz.
The event will also feature demonstrations and information about bicycle facilities available at the station and cycling in the Wyndham area.

• Date: Sunday 21 April 2013
• Time: 10am to midday
• RSVptvprojects@ptv.vic.gov.au

Road access will be available via the Palmers Road extension from Point Cook.
Parking is available at the new station car park off Palmers Road.
Point Cook locals are encouraged to walk to the station via the new pedestrian bridge over the Princes Freeway.
As the Palmers Road extension from the Williams Landing estate will not be open to traffic until 28 April, a free shuttle bus service for Williams Landing residents has been arranged.
The bus will run to and from the Williams Landing Sales and Info Centre at 3 Opsum Way (Melways 203 J8).
The bus will run to the following schedule:

• 10am departure from Sales Centre
• 10.45am departure from Williams Landing Station
• 11am departure from Sales Centre
• 11.15am departure from Williams Landing Station
• 11.30am departure from Sales Centre
• 12pm departure from Williams Landing Station.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Went to the open day.  There is still a lot of stuff to finish off (no ticketing equipment yet for example).

Pedestrian access from Williams Landing to the station is very poor; you need to make a long detour via the car park to access the station.  It seems that PTV expects everyone to drive

Went to the open day.  There is still a lot of stuff to finish off (no ticketing equipment yet for example).

Pedestrian access from Williams Landing to the station is very poor; you need to make a long detour via the car park to access the station.  It seems that PTV expects everyone to drive

How far away are the bus stops from the station?

Went to the open day.  There is still a lot of stuff to finish off (no ticketing equipment yet for example).

Pedestrian access from Williams Landing to the station is very poor; you need to make a long detour via the car park to access the station.  It seems that PTV expects everyone to drive

There are stairs and a lift at the base of the station which most not driving will utilise. The ramp is quite long and accesable from close to the car park. Busses stop near the base of the station.  Bus passengers will likely use either the stairs or lift which are fairly close by.

I'll post some photos in the next few days.

Since there hadn't been any reports about Williams Landing Station since its opening, I took a trip there on Monday's evening peak.  I first tried getting on the 5:25 pm at Southern Cross, but it was so full about half a trainload were left on the platform (perhaps an earlier train had been cancelled).  Many of these got on the 5:28 Williamstown train, the remainder (including me) on the 5:36 Werribee.  It was crowded but not as tight as the 5:25.  The train was delayed at least 10 minutes through congestion, mainly between North Melbourne and Footscray.  Lots of passengers alighted at Williams Landing, and it was second only to Laverton in the number alighting from the train.  Most transferred to either cars or the connecting buses in about a 50:50 ratio. I saw one 495 bus to Point Cook depart looking full.  The car park seemed to have been nearly full.   The only signs of the town centre development are the promotional billboards. There is virtually no walk-up patronage to the station.  The building and facilities are great for what is otherwise such a wasteland.  No budget seems to have been allocated to landscaping.  The station platform is windy, and has the constant noise of the adjacent freeway.  Some tree planting to dampen the sound  reduce the wind would be a good investment.

Despite the new station at Williams Landing, there is still insufficient parking at Laverton well beyond the formed car park.

Verdict : a very necessary investment that is getting well used.

A further observation: a lot apparently able-bodied passengers chose to use the lifts.  The long ramp and long flight of stairs are off-putting to those not seeking exercise.  Are there any lessons here for the grade separation projects at Springvale Road Springvale, and Mitcham Road, where lifts will not be installed ?  There would be a number of passengers with health problems for which a long ramp is problematic, and a grade-separated station would be retrograde step compared to the current near-level boarding.

A further observation: a lot apparently able-bodied passengers chose to use the lifts.  The long ramp and long flight of stairs are off-putting to those not seeking exercise.  Are there any lessons here for the grade separation projects at Springvale Road Springvale, and Mitcham Road, where lifts will not be installed ?  There would be a number of passengers with health problems for which a long ramp is problematic, and a grade-separated station would be retrograde step compared to the current near-level boarding.

I think part of the problem with Williams Landing (and similarly, Laverton and Coolaroo) is that the bridge needs to be able to accomodate Double Stack High freight trains on the Standard Gauge line, This ends up with these stations having a very long stair case.

Westall station is of very similar design to Laverton, as is Coolaroo, however due to Westall not having to accommodate Double Stack requirements, The Stair case is much more sensible.

Would it not have been cheaper to lower the ARTC track by 1-2m, which would reduce the height of the station and adjacent road bridge structure ?

Extra costs:
1. A drainage and pump system
2. A small amount of extra fuel for freights (but most of the climb would be "powered" by kinetic energy from the fall)

Savings
1. Lower height on all vertical structures of the station and road bridge
2. Shorter ramp and stair structures

Perhaps the height of the station and bridge structures were not set by ARTC double-stacking requirements, but to enable sufficient clearance for over-dimensional loads on the adjacent freeway.

Perhaps the height of the station and bridge structures were not set by ARTC double-stacking requirements, but to enable sufficient clearance for over-dimensional loads on the adjacent freeway.

That's possible, but I'm not so sure. They've done exactly the same thing (massively tall station/walkway over SG freight line) at the new West Footscray station where there is no such road.

I think part of the problem with Williams Landing (and similarly, Laverton and Coolaroo) is that the bridge needs to be able to accomodate Double Stack High freight trains on the Standard Gauge line, This ends up with these stations having a very long stair case.

Westall station is of very similar design to Laverton, as is Coolaroo, however due to Westall not having to accommodate Double Stack requirements, The Stair case is much more sensible.

The 7100 mm clearance rule applies for all Government owned railways.

The design of some new overhead structures would be such, that they can be easily extended In height (If the need arises)