Maybe Dan and his entourage will appear for the launch.
Melbourne Metro Rail Project Revived
reubstar6
Chief Train Controller
ngarner
Deputy Commissioner
Location: Seville
Thanks @historian. It had to be somewhere in, or near Melbourne, but the silence from the government and Metro Tunnel consortium is deafening
Neil
Neil
tayser
Deputy Commissioner
Location: Melbourne
The tracker has been removed from the first link on the main page of the site and it's replaced with a link to a page with infographics on the tunnel scheduling. There's a link from this new page to the tracker and it's showing the ship at Webb Dock now.
https://metrotunnel.vic.gov.au/construction/building-the-tunnels-and-stations/tunnel-boring-machines
https://metrotunnel.vic.gov.au/construction/building-the-tunnels-and-stations/tunnel-boring-machines
historian
Deputy Commissioner
The TBM must have fallen off the ship en route, or the ship has broken down, as the Metro web site has said nothing about it for nearly a week and has shown the ship approaching Port Philip Heads for the last four or more days! That and Andrews, et al, haven't made any efforts to promote their new toy to the voters of Victoria.
Parts of it may already be there. From the Upfield line train today I noticed a number of very large plastic wrapped shapes stored next to the station box at Arden St.
I was right
Tweets are coming through now of the four tunnel boring machines' official naming. They have been named after four groundbreaking women
- Joan Kirner (Victoria's first woman premier)
- Meg Lanning (Australian cricket captain)
- Alice Appleford (Wartime medical hero)
- Millie Peacock (Victoria's first woman MP)
tayser
Deputy Commissioner
Location: Melbourne
TBM2 / Meg well on its way now as well. Metro Tunnel tracker has been updated.
potatoinmymouth
Chief Commissioner
The gantry crane that Ms Allan and Mr Merlino were yakking about a few weeks ago at Prkville has been dismantled because of faulty welding.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/metro-tunnel-crane-spruiked-by-ministers-pulled-down-weeks-after-going-up-20190219-p50yug.html
The Age seems to have good sources on this project (there was the lead paint episode last week too) so that'll be interesting over the next few years.
(EDIT: Quick, look over there! Another tunnel project that isn't in the headlines!)
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/metro-tunnel-crane-spruiked-by-ministers-pulled-down-weeks-after-going-up-20190219-p50yug.html
The Age seems to have good sources on this project (there was the lead paint episode last week too) so that'll be interesting over the next few years.
(EDIT: Quick, look over there! Another tunnel project that isn't in the headlines!)
potatoinmymouth
Chief Commissioner
Disruptions yesterday and Friday at Spencer and Flinders St respectively had me wondering how much operational flexibility will actually be present post-Metro Tunnel. For example, on Friday with platforms 8-13 out of action at Flinders St, a goodly number of Werribee trains were able to be routed via the Loop and the balance of Werribee/Williamstown services were booted off at North Melbourne to transfer to Loop services. I was actually very impressed with how Metrol handled the whole episode - minor delays to Sunbury/Craigieburn/Upfield were a sensible price to pay for keeping the vast number of Werribee/Williamstown pax moving.
Consider a similar scenario in 2026: a small fire at Town Hall in the middle of morning puts both platforms out of action until electrical services have been restored, which takes about 2 hours. The nearest western turnback for down trains is at Sunshine (correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think West Footscray will have facilities for turnback in that direction), meaning buses have to be arranged in a location with very poor road access and disastrously congested city access. It's carnage. On the other hand, if the main suburban lines are retained between South Kensington and North Melbourne - and the publicly released plans seem to disagree on whether this - then trains can be diverted to North Melbourne platform 3, allowing pax to transfer at Footscray or North Melbourne for city access with minimal disruption to Craigieburn and Upfield services. Another alternative is adding an emergency crossover on the up side of Footscray for the same reason.
The scenario is less grim in the east given the ability to terminate at Caulfield.
Thoughts, anyone?
Consider a similar scenario in 2026: a small fire at Town Hall in the middle of morning puts both platforms out of action until electrical services have been restored, which takes about 2 hours. The nearest western turnback for down trains is at Sunshine (correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think West Footscray will have facilities for turnback in that direction), meaning buses have to be arranged in a location with very poor road access and disastrously congested city access. It's carnage. On the other hand, if the main suburban lines are retained between South Kensington and North Melbourne - and the publicly released plans seem to disagree on whether this - then trains can be diverted to North Melbourne platform 3, allowing pax to transfer at Footscray or North Melbourne for city access with minimal disruption to Craigieburn and Upfield services. Another alternative is adding an emergency crossover on the up side of Footscray for the same reason.
The scenario is less grim in the east given the ability to terminate at Caulfield.
Thoughts, anyone?
TOQ-1
Deputy Commissioner
Location: Power Trainger
A crossover to be used in emergencies is being put in at Hawksburn, so I don't see why there won't be one on the Western side. I don't think the diagrams for the portal entry included the track layout, so possibly there will be the ability to turnback here and use Footscray to detrain people, meaning some could transfer across to the Cross City Group.
True Believers
Chief Commissioner
potatoinmymouth
Chief Commissioner
And interesting article in Rail Express about the Bombardier CBTC system to be installed:
https://www.railexpress.com.au/bombardier-cbtc-to-ease-congestion-in-melbourne
But LD told us two years ago that this system has a "chequered past", so it will certainly be interesting...
https://www.railexpress.com.au/bombardier-cbtc-to-ease-congestion-in-melbourne
But LD told us two years ago that this system has a "chequered past", so it will certainly be interesting...
penguin2233
Locomotive Driver
Location: Craigieburn, Melbourne VIC
And interesting article in Rail Express about the Bombardier CBTC system to be installed:It shouldn't be a problem as the Melbourne Metro is a new project, however if Bombardier is too slow on rolling out the CBTC then maybe we will have an interesting situation?
https://www.railexpress.com.au/bombardier-cbtc-to-ease-congestion-in-melbourne
But LD told us two years ago that this system has a "chequered past", so it will certainly be interesting...
potatoinmymouth
Chief Commissioner
It shouldn't be a problem as the Melbourne Metro is a new project, however if Bombardier is too slow on rolling out the CBTC then maybe we will have an interesting situation?
Well, the CBTC rollout is only a “new project” for 9km through the tunnel; the vast majority of it is a retrofit. It’s going to have interfaces at Watergardens, Albion, Sunshine, South Kensington (possibly), South Yarra, Caulfield (possibly), and Dandenong with conventional signalling, and according to discussions here it will operates concurrently with fixed block systems for non-CBTC trains such as V/Line services and freight. That’s a pretty bloody complex retrofit, so I am not surprised it’s taken them two years to even design the thing.
Discoe
Beginner
Wasn't sure where else to post this.
Noticed at Flinders St today, a number of new signs with Flinders St on them at each platform.
They had a white background and black letters. Thought they were simple, clean, uncluttered signs.
Is this a move away from branded signange eg. Metro, PTV etc. Certainly makes sense from a cost saving perspective not having to change signage every couple of years!!
Noticed at Flinders St today, a number of new signs with Flinders St on them at each platform.
They had a white background and black letters. Thought they were simple, clean, uncluttered signs.
Is this a move away from branded signange eg. Metro, PTV etc. Certainly makes sense from a cost saving perspective not having to change signage every couple of years!!
John.Z
Assistant Commissioner
Wasn't sure where else to post this.It's the new PTV font and typography style. Expect to see it more and more.
Noticed at Flinders St today, a number of new signs with Flinders St on them at each platform.
They had a white background and black letters. Thought they were simple, clean, uncluttered signs.
Is this a move away from branded signange eg. Metro, PTV etc. Certainly makes sense from a cost saving perspective not having to change signage every couple of years!!
On that note, at Parliament and Flagstaff now the screens change when a train arrives to show a countdown clock until train departs to try to encourage people to not board the train. Not sure how well it'll work.
res1psaloqu1tur
Station Staff
Fair bit of movement at the station sites tonight. Large relescopic cranes are being unloaded off the back of a couple of trucks up Flinders Lane and into the City Square pit. Saw Victoria Street partially blocked off to let a couple of overload trucks with the same type of crane heading Northwards via Victoria Street - potentially to the Arden or Parkville sites.
Lad_Porter
Chief Commissioner
Location: Yarra Glen
On that note, at Parliament and Flagstaff now the screens change when a train arrives to show a countdown clock until train departs to try to encourage people to not board the train. Not sure how well it'll work.I don't think it will work well, and could be counter productive. Some people, when they see that the train is departing in two or three seconds, will scramble to get on board, rather than standing clear.
At what point will the doors close, relative to the countdown clock?
reubstar6
Chief Train Controller
Would programming it so the timer actually ends 3-5 seconds before the train is due to depart work? That way even if people run for the train departing in 2 seconds, it shouldn't hold the train up for too long. If no one tries to board the train during the additional period of time, then the train would depart a few seconds early.
Lockie91
Assistant Commissioner
Can someone on the know please detail what has been accomplished over the occupation at South Yarra besides the removal of the William Street bridge. I know the remainder of the line was subject to signalling and power upgrades.
TIA
TIA
TOQ-1
Deputy Commissioner
Location: Power Trainger
From what I can work out, they prepared the base for the slewing of lines for the later construction of the tunnel portal, but put the lines back in place so there didn't have to be any signalling changes in this occo.
ptvcommuter
Train Controller
An option instead of terminating at Caulfield and running the whole Sandringham Line with busses should be to install crossovers at Hawksburn and Prahran.
For 6 Million or so you would cater for passengers during Metro Tunnel works, remember there are still 5 odd years of construction to go still
Relatively cheap but the benefits are enormous and it means passengers don’t have to be bussed
You can run extra trams on the Route 72 for the Frankston and Dandenong passengers
Route 78 can be used at Prahran for passengers with the Sandringham passengers on the Route 78 changing to a Ringwood/Glen Waverley/Alamein service at East Richmond Station
For 6 Million or so you would cater for passengers during Metro Tunnel works, remember there are still 5 odd years of construction to go still
Relatively cheap but the benefits are enormous and it means passengers don’t have to be bussed
You can run extra trams on the Route 72 for the Frankston and Dandenong passengers
Route 78 can be used at Prahran for passengers with the Sandringham passengers on the Route 78 changing to a Ringwood/Glen Waverley/Alamein service at East Richmond Station
bevans
Site Admin
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Just thinking, do we need a new thread for construction updates?
potatoinmymouth
Chief Commissioner
Don’t see any need, this one is only 18 pages and has done a good job of keeping discussion centralised the last few years.
True Believers
Chief Commissioner
Looks like if Shorten becomes Prime Minister, the Metro Tunnel will get 2 billion dollars of Federal money to help fund the project. I think it was back when Rudd was Prime Minister the money was set aside for Melbourne Metro.
If this happens, that means money will be freed up to commit to the second Metro Tunnel. Or any other projects that Dan wants to get built.
https://www.facebook.com/DanielAndrewsMP/photos/a.149185875145957/2299759586755231/?type=3&theater
If this happens, that means money will be freed up to commit to the second Metro Tunnel. Or any other projects that Dan wants to get built.
https://www.facebook.com/DanielAndrewsMP/photos/a.149185875145957/2299759586755231/?type=3&theater
potatoinmymouth
Chief Commissioner
Looks like if Shorten becomes Prime Minister, the Metro Tunnel will get 2 billion dollars of Federal money to help fund the project. I think it was back when Rudd was Prime Minister the money was set aside for Melbourne Metro.I reckon there are two possible destinations for that $2 billion:
If this happens, that means money will be freed up to commit to the second Metro Tunnel. Or any other projects that Dan wants to get built.
https://www.facebook.com/DanielAndrewsMP/photos/a.149185875145957/2299759586755231/?type=3&theater
- Slush fund for hiding cost overruns on everything from the Murray Basin to level crossings; or
- Getting the TBMs in the ground for SRL South-East in 2022.
The way things are going at the moment with the state budget I'd guess the former; though of course I would prefer the latter!
ptvcommuter
Train Controller
3 Billion of the EW Link locked box has been committed towards Metro Tunnel. What will the other 1 Billion get recommitted towards ?
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