What happen yo SG platform at sunshine?

What happen yo SG platform at sunshine?

The standard gauge platform was demolished about 10 years ago.

As It was In very poor condition and had been fenced off for years.

Poor North Melbourne Station users.

But the stats have It that North Melbourne Is only ranked 27th most used station In Melbourne (that may change In the future with more development around the station)

XPT trains do NOT stop at Wodonga, only at Albury

Yet funny enough on the Onboard Cash Registers, when doing fare calculations, Wodonga is indeed listed as an option, but if you try securing a fare for ethior of Broadmeadow / Seymour / Wodonga... The system can't display a fare!

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.

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.

Went for a look at West Werribee and observed a prety spartan worksite of equipment and labourers, and looking up the RRL line the track looks ready for trains. Not sure how far it goes, some distance at a guess.

signaling gantry is present for entry to the section, but without lights installed. Baulks are installed over the RRL lines.

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.

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 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.....".

Problem is they're not "....doing anything about....".

I'll believe this will happen only when contracts are signed.

I'd love to be proven wrong, and if so I'd be the first to admit I was wrong.  Don't think I will though.

Caught 1130 Up Geelong Sunday which still arrived into plat 2 via Franklin St &  1500  Down departed from 6 .  So only some Geelongs are going into 15/16 plus all Gippslands  till the big shutdown after Christmas .

Lots of track infrastructure painted yellow between platforms and Franklin St . (Yellow paint indicates to be removed.)

Stand on the Latrobe Street bridge and look North & South late January and one will notice a marked difference in the track layouts approaching the Country terminal from Franklin St compared to the existing .

After big shutdown the five tracks accessing the country terminal should look something like :

1. Through Country Line  bg  bi-directional
2.  Main Country Line  bg  bi-directional  
3.  Up East Country  Line bg  Up direction only
4.  Country  Line  dg  bi-directional  
5.  Dual Gauge line  Up direction only  

The Down dg line on the Nth Melb flyover is also supposed to continue beyond Franklin St in an Up direction as a single bg bi directional track (alongside the car sidings) giving VLP access to plats 7 & 8 independent of Metro trains on the East Suburban lines .  (Whether this happens as part of these works, or at a later stage is unknown .)

There are also altered track layouts in front of old No. 1 Box to simplify access to/from platforms 1 - 7 and allow more parallel moves and operational flexibility.  

New platforms 1 & 2 for Sunbury trains open @ Footscray third week of January. Footscray plats get re-numbered to New 1 & 2 Sunbury,  Existing 1 & 2 become 3 & 4 for future Up & Down RRL lines, Existing Newport line platforms get re-numbered to 5 & 6 .

The key clause is "...talking about.....".

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.

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.

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.

I thought Hastings was supposed to get an SG track from the north...that said I think this plan is pretty much dead now?

As for Dandenong, I think they will do something eventually, but not until the Metro Tunnel is done.

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.

Looking at the Ballarat line under Anderson Rd, the rails going under there looks quite steep, considering! Will make for great photos heading under the underpass though...

No rails laid out at the Deer Park Bypass end of the RRL. Certainly ready to be put down though, looks like a nice flat base to put them on.

Huge piles of ballast are waiting out at Boral at Deer Park West, along with a few of the CFCLA yellow ballast hoppers.

The huge monstrosity of a new station is starting to look pretty finished at Sunshine, some of the old weatherboard buildings do still stand also.

Part of the temp bridge at Albion has been reinstated, only the part over the Up and SG tracks at this stage. Signs in place along Ballarat Rd advising of the upcoming bus lane in place, too.

I'm hoping to make it out in time tonight to get some final photos of the HK McKay bridge before it's demolished (and access is restricted), also.

Wolfpac

On the latest video flyover of the progress.

The tracks they have laid from the West Werribee end, split apart for some distance.

Are they planning on building a train stabling yard In the middle of the two tracks ?

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.

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.

Off topic from RRL (Obviously.:

There are two options for a Westernport railway as I understand. One is a route north-east from Hastings>Clyde>Beaconsfield to join the existing Pakenham line. (Or I suppose it could be sent through the existing Cranbourne line reservation). From there it would follow the line into the city. If this were to be an option they would need to act fast to secure the land as it is being rapidly eaten up by housing estates.

The other option was to follow the existing Stony Point line to Frankston. From Frankston the freight line would then follow the existing line as far as Kananook where it would swing over the freeway and end up in the median strip of Eastlink as far as Yarraman on the Dandenong line. From Yarraman the freight line would parallel the existing line in that corridor to the city.

Both options need the Dandenong Rail corridor but the only provision for this line (so far) that has been made is at Westall where the new station was built in such a way that a forth track could be provided to the south of the existing lines.

Back to RRL.

I travelled out that way on the 24th of Dec. to see the construction before it was all shut down starting today. Looks like progress is being made very rapidly. Track has been laid over the viaduct from South Kensington and Maribrynong River bridge to continue over the flyover. At Footscray station, the new platform 1 (and I assume 2) for Metro Sunbury trains has had signage already installed. I believe these platforms will be commissioned over the four week shutdown. When these platforms are opened, the existing centre platforms (future platforms 3 & 4 for RRL) will be rebuilt and the existing station buildings refurbished. Track has also been laid behind the new West Footscray station. There are some gaps in construction - through the Footscray precinct and also around the existing Tottenham substation. Obviously when the substation is demolished then the area can be reclaimed for the RRL.

In terms of station design through the corridor, I actually like the fact that four of the stations that required alterations have been coloured as a design feature - Sunshine yellow, Tottenham blue, West Footscray green & Footscray red. It's something different for suburban stations and provides a unifying feature. Certainly the new structures at Footscray are very impressive although I think West Footscray might be a little oversized.

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.

The whole problem with that idea is that it would have presented viability issues for the East-West tunnel.  They don't look at it as providing complimentary infrastructure - they look at it as competition that could potentially scare merchant bankers away from an already marginal project. There would be less of a need for an East-West toll way if there was a freight terminal and standard gauge network access in Dandenong - therefore it will never get built.  Napthine is all about generating more truck traffic, not less.

Certainly the new structures at Footscray are very impressive although I think West Footscray might be a little oversized.

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.

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.

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.

Would you like to post it here?
I'd certainly be interested!

Would you like to post it here?
I'd certainly be interested!

Great, I'll get to uploading it then.

Just opening Platforms 15 and 16 now will make a huge difference in simplifying train operations and reliability between Southern Cross and North Melbourne. In itself this will elimate one of the biggest bottle necks in the system. Let's hope Metrology can manage the merge efficiently at Sth Kensington when full services resume after these shutdowns.

The sun setting on the HV McKay bridge in Sunshine on Fri, 27th Dec, 2013. (Taken on my phone, the dSLR photos will hopefully be online soon!)



Wolfpac