Catching a train through last night I was really impressed with the amount of work that's been done so far and what they're obviously waiting to get done during the coming shut-down. The rail underpass at Sunshine, the new tracks through Footscray - it's easy to see why this project ran into the multi-billions. I wasn't convinced when it was first announced all those years ago but you can see for yourself how much more efficient and faster south/west V/Line services will become once it's all done.The Government is talking about something like SERRL which would be a new (presumably dual gauge) dedicated line from Melbourne CBD through Dandenong to serve a dual purpose possibly of serving the port at Hastings and separating VLP trains from Metro trains between CBD and Dandenong at least .
It's a shame the same thing won't be done with the Dandy line - once RFR is finished it's going to make Gippsland trains look even more snail-like.
The Government is talking about something like SERRL which would be a new (presumably dual gauge) dedicated line from Melbourne CBD through Dandenong to serve a dual purpose possibly of serving the port at Hastings and separating VLP trains from Metro trains between CBD and Dandenong at least .
The key clause is "...talking about.....".In fact I thought Agent Mulder's preferred "Port of Hastings" freight model involved building a huge new arterial road connecting to the M1 and/or a road specifically for driver-less trucks to transfer freight. I didn't see anything about a planned rail link to the Westernport Bay area when the idea of a second deep-water bulk port was floated recently, especially not a standard-gauge connection.
Problem is they're not "....doing anything about....".
In fact I thought Agent Mulder's preferred "Port of Hastings" freight model involved building a huge new arterial road connecting to the M1 and/or a road specifically for driver-less trucks to transfer freight. I didn't see anything about a planned rail link to the Westernport Bay area when the idea of a second deep-water bulk port was floated recently, especially not a standard-gauge connection.I thought Hastings was supposed to get an SG track from the north...that said I think this plan is pretty much dead now?
The Dandenong triplication should have been done twenty years ago but unfortunately it's on the 'never' list (in my opinion), the estimated expense was projected at $1.5 billion plus.
In fact I thought Agent Mulder's preferred "Port of Hastings" freight model involved building a huge new arterial road connecting to the M1 and/or a road specifically for driver-less trucks to transfer freight. I didn't see anything about a planned rail link to the Westernport Bay area when the idea of a second deep-water bulk port was floated recently, especially not a standard-gauge connection.Off topic from RRL (Obviously.:
The Dandenong triplication should have been done twenty years ago but unfortunately it's on the 'never' list (in my opinion), the estimated expense was projected at $1.5 billion plus.
Out of curiosity, is there any reason why they do not want to use the existing line to Hastings via Frankston? Duplication of the Hastings- Frankston section would of course be required first.The (now defunct) proposal was for a dedicated standard gauge freight line to be built as a completely 'stand alone' operation, integrated into the ARTC network and separate from the broad gauge network; I'm guessing they wanted it to go via the Gippsland easement because the gradients and curves are less than via Frankston; also Dandenong is probably the best choice to run a standard gauge line through because it's the main industrial hub of the eastern suburbs.
West Footscray is also too far away from Geelong Rd in my opinion - although it is closer to those new apartments in the old tyre factory... they've really crammed them in there that's for sure.Certainly the new structures at Footscray are very impressive although I think West Footscray might be a little oversized.
Would you like to post it here?Caught the 1200 down and 1221 up services between Little River and Southern Cross, on opening day. Both arrived and departed from platform 16. Prior to boarding the 1200 service I did see Terry Mulder get off the train and have his mini press conference thing on the platform.
Travel time between Plat. 16 and Footscray was between 5-6 minutes both ways, despite the fairly ordinary speeds reached between South Kensington and SCS. From there the services ran on time up to and past Werribee, something I (at least not in my somewhat limited experience) have seen very much of on the Geelong line. In comparison, I have usually observed a 10 minute or so travel time between Southern Cross and Footscray.
I do have a video (from inside the train though) of the travel between South Kensington and Plat. 16, if anyone is interested.
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