November 2008 timetable changes

tomohawk · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 12:15 am

SteamtoStay · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 12:17 am

Tonzo · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:56 pm

Connex's press release at
http://www.connexmelbourne.com.au/news.php?newsid=393 says:

fullofrubbish · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 3:47 pm

Maybe on the Footscray-Newport section?

route14 · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 3:51 pm

or perhaps one via Paisley and one via Altona.

A true friend will see you through when others see that you are through.

dbowen · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 5:08 pm

Nexas · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 5:43 pm

Gwiwer · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 5:58 pm

This is a timetable change not a wholesale rewrite.

Some of the "tinkering around the edges" is to permit early steps to be made towards bigger changes coming at a later date. This might indeed include the "10 minute inter-peak" frequency to Werribee, for instance. though the use of the term "Werribee Line" might suggest that not all will reach that place. There is a turnback going in at Laverton, remember.

I am disappoined - but not surprised - that the Frankston line doesn't get more. Over several recent timetable changes the Frankston Line has failed to gain a single new train, only a few extensions of trains which used to start or finish at intermediate points.

There simply isn't a path available for any more. Dandenong has got several new trains which has used the slack in the system. The result is that Dandenong line trains are now less crowded than Frankston trains. If a Dandenong train were instead sent to Frankston you simply reverse that without addressing the overcrowding.

Why MYKI? It isn't mine and it's not a key.

Ferroequinologist. BA Hons (Honourable Bachelor of Aquatarts

)
The wise yet mysterious Sir Gwiwer Greybeard

kuldalai · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 8:05 pm

What a con job, the Government obsessed with claiming numerically a huge number of extra services when the majority of the total are car placement or counter peak, off peak trips that provide little extra capacity in the peaks , and late night Weekend stuff. No wonder we are not given the full detail .

In the true Weekday peaks these are the extra trips (M-F) : 0717Up Epping, 0800 Up Epping, 1722 Dn Epping, 0701 Up Wbee, 0823 Up Wbee, 1736 Dn Wbee, 0725 Up Syd, 0813 Up Syd, 1705 Dn Syd, 0719 Up Cbne, 1716 Dn Cbne.

NB: 1758 Dn Riversdale just AMEXED. 0915 Up Wbee also just AMEXED.

Given Craigieburn, Eltham, Lilydale, Belgrave, Glen Waverley, and Frankston get no extra peak capacity at all the punters will continue to be squeezed .

Gwiwer · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 8:43 pm

Epping is the big winner as are certain late night travellers with new later up trips on some lines Fridays and Saturdays.

In most cases only a few minutes timing adjustment has occurred where there is any change at all.

As with the past couple of timetable changes most of the "additional" services are indeed counter-peak or positioning moves so they benefit next to no-one. However the Department of Spin is statistically correct in noting the number of extra trips and the capacity they provide.

17.58 Riversdale is covered by the Alamein trains a few minutes either side of it being boosted to six cars.

No extra capacity on the Frankston line and the removal of two busy trains from the loop to run direct does nothing to improve the lot of the thousands of daily commuters forced to stand for up to two hours account the lack of service provision.

The continued failure to offer anything but an all-stations service between 5.30 and 6.00pm is a disgrace and likewise the failure to offer even the off-peak limited express pattern in the shoulders only causes delay as passengers struggle to enter and leave overcrowded trains at each and every one of the 30 intermediate stops. Just 15 seconds overtime at 30 stops = 7½ minutes delay and a fine. Most peak trains have gained a minute or two extra running time in respect of the overcrowding.

Why MYKI? It isn't mine and it's not a key.

Ferroequinologist. BA Hons (Honourable Bachelor of Aquatarts

)
The wise yet mysterious Sir Gwiwer Greybeard

Riccardo · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:57 pm

Deep Throat · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:08 pm

Two hours? I presume that is not a single journey, and if so, I think it isn't the DoT that's indulging in spin.

Interesting to note the massive slack in the timetables of up Eppings and Hurstbridges between Jolimont and Flinders Street of six minutes. Can anyone answer with a straight face whether the on-time reporting is at destinations, or sectional?

Anonymous - and proud of it.

xtrap_heaven · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:35 pm

One thing I notice (looking at the New Cranbourne timetable) is that several existing peak Cranbourne services (both directions) terminate at Dandenong, where another train departs aroud 5 minutes later.

Like the 0754 Up Cranbourne terminates at Dandenong, and a stopping all stations service deaprting Dandenong at 0812, with the 0815 (ex Pakenham) running express Dandenong-Springvale-Clayton-Oakleigh-Caulfield-Sth Yarra-Richmond-City Loop will have to crawl along behind it.

"The next station is Royal Park, passengers for the Inner Circle line, please change trains at Royal Park. From Royal Park, this train runs express to Coburg..."

fullofrubbish · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:54 pm

What I can't understand is why are Glen Waverley/Lilydale/Belgrave & Alamein still stuck with last trains departing Flinders St 2320 & 2330 respectively on Sunday nights when Epping & Hurstbridge got an additional late service each - 2358 & 0013? And 40 minute frequencies still - come on Connex!

Gwiwer · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 11:03 pm

1. My reference to 2 hours standing refers to the journey times of over an hour made by many passengers on at least the Frankston line and for which seats are not available for the great majority of the journey. So a passenger commuting from Carrum, Bonbeach or Chelsea for example may find they have to stand for around an hour in the morning and, if boarding at Central or Parliament then likewise in the evening.

2. Punctuality reporting refers to the train departing its origin and arriving its destination. If you want to see "padding" in timetables to massage the on-time statistics then look around the UK. The example I cited in an article published in "The Railway Magazine" several years ago and which is still with us is the final 7 kilometres or so of the London - West of England main line between St. Erth and Penzance. This is a well-maintained main line with speed limits around the 100kph (70mph) mark. Up trains are timed 9 minutes start to stop; down trains are given up to 30 minutes. This is not balanced elsewhere in the journeys which are timed typically around 20 minutes longer for down trains.

Why MYKI? It isn't mine and it's not a key.

Ferroequinologist. BA Hons (Honourable Bachelor of Aquatarts

)
The wise yet mysterious Sir Gwiwer Greybeard