Questions and Answers with Jim Betts

mjja · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 5:06 pm

I have made a new thread for this discussion. Sorry for mucking you up everyone, I'll transfer all the questions which haven't been answered.

For reference, the old thread was here: http://www.railpage.com.au/f-t11319385-0-asc-s30.htm

The conditions of this thread are:
1) Time is limited. We don't want Jim to spend all his time talking to us and none on looking after the system. Therefore, each person will be allowed to ask one question at a time. The moderators will make sure nobody hogs the thread.

2) No leading or loaded questons will be allowed. This thread is for those genuinely seeking information.

3) Discussion should be kept to a minimum. If you want to answer another person's question, do it by PM unless it's very brief. If you want to discuss a related issue, start another thread. This condition has a bit of give in it, ask a moderator if you're unsure.

I think that's it. On with the talking!

Happy Gunzelling and remember, "Go by rail!"

Michael Angelico
President, Smart Passengers Inc
(My opinions are my own unless specifically stated.)

mjja · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 5:15 pm

Questions from Meltrip:
Jim, I'd like clarification of a couple of points:

station street · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 5:29 pm

Before, I get started, I msut ask a simple but breif question: (Only because I'm un aware, not because I'm questioning your source) what's your position?

Anyway -

1) Is anything likely to happen in the near future to the platform capacity problems at Flinders Street? (For example, the way the Northern Group is restricted to one platform in peak)

2) Is there mcuh hope for a speed increase to either / both of the tram levelc rossings on the Glen Waverley line? (Gardiner and Kooyong) - Even if to 30 km / ph like Riversdale and Glen Huntly, opposed to the current 15 km / ph...

3) What is the current situation reguarding the City Loop's signalling and an upgrade, government funded?

4) Where will the third track on the Dandenong most likely end? (Springvale, Dandenong, Clayton...)

EDIT: Just realised MJJAs rules on asking questions. If indeed you find time limited, pelase feel free to only answer question 2.

- Station Street

Thanks for a good time - but I have decided to stop posting.

- Station Street

mjja · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 5:32 pm

Questions from tranzitjim (even though he's got a fan club he can ask his questions...):
Who owns the Vinelander cars?

What is to happen to the V/Line BS cars now they are withdrawn?

Happy Gunzelling and remember, "Go by rail!"

Michael Angelico
President, Smart Passengers Inc
(My opinions are my own unless specifically stated.)

mjja · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 5:34 pm

Question from Somebody in the WWW:
Heres my 5 questions (and 2c):

- Within what radius of the majority of residents in the metropolitan area does the government intend to provide a public transport service meeting the "minimum service requirements"? I am curious as there are some locations within the middle suburbs where it is over 1.2km for many residents to walk to their nearest public transport service which runs decent operating hours & frequencies Mon-Sat, with usually almost no service on Sundays.

- Is it intended to redesign some routes to be more direct through the back streets of suburbia? There are some routes that operate large sections with little catchment that add significantly longer to the timetable while collecting few passengers along such areas.

- Are some surplus bus routes (ie #509 along Hope Street, #479 extension to City) likely to be scrapped entirely on the grounds of duplicating other services and receiving little patronage?

- Are you in a position to comment on patronage? If so, what are the most and least used services on a passengers-per-service ratio?

- Is it intended to re-design timetables to co-ordinate train & bus connections & frequencies? For example, in some areas there is a train service running every 15 minutes, and a bus every 20, meaning that any connection is just luck, or vice versa. Another example would be too short connections - one being that on week nights at Box Hill, there is a 3 minute connection between the train from the City and the #279 bus. As passengers are required to walk one escalator, exit through the ticket barriers, then walk through a confusing shopping centre to another escalator to take them up to the bus dec, this connection is very hard to make within the 3 minutes allocated without hurrying!

Thanks! Very Happy

Happy Gunzelling and remember, "Go by rail!"

Michael Angelico
President, Smart Passengers Inc
(My opinions are my own unless specifically stated.)

mjja · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 5:38 pm

I think that's the lot. PM me if I've missed anything.

Happy Gunzelling and remember, "Go by rail!"

Michael Angelico
President, Smart Passengers Inc
(My opinions are my own unless specifically stated.)

ZH836301 · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 5:50 pm

Do you expect the T&L statement will be enough to achieve the government's goal of 20% by 2020

savethehumans · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 6:06 pm

Q: How many paid employees does the DoI have, what proportion (roughly) could be described as service planning, and what is the combined salary (or the average salary) per service planning person.

DavidB · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 6:39 pm

What is the timeline on the third track from Blackburn to Ringwood, including the relocation of Heatherdale?

Cheers
David

melbtrip · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 6:50 pm

What happing with the Red Orbital bus?
It was in the Banyule Banner (July 2006) it was going to start in 6 months time long following roads: Southern Road, Oriel Road, Bell street, Burgundy street, Dora/Jika Streets.

If so going to start in 6 months time, what bus company is going run the bus route?

PalmerEldritch · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:15 pm

Jim, is the State Government still committed to three tracks between Caulfield and Dandenong, or will the triplication end at Springvale permanently?

Thanks in advance
PE

Watch out for the mighty Blues in 2008, with Judd, Stevens, Kreuzer, Cloke and Aisake
Ó hAilpín to join Fevola, Gibbs, Murphy, Carrazzo, Scotland, Fischer, Waite, Setanta
Ó hAilpín, Houlihan, Walker, Simpson, Betts and co!

Byrnesy · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:40 pm

Reminds me...

Jim, is the DoI looking at issues other than Dandenong-Cranbourne duplication and Caulfield-Dandenong triplication that affect the Caulfield group in peak hour in particular?

These could include a third track from Moorabbin to Cheltenham or Mordialloc, changes in the manner in which trains run between Richmond and Caulfield to a more East Richmond/Burnley style arrangement (so, with a DOWN all stopper-DOWN express, UP express-UP express arrangment for the four tracks from Richmond/South Yarra to Caulfield instead of DOWN Dandenong-UP Dandenong DOWN Frankston-UP Frankston arrangement that we have now), a flyover DOWN of Caulfield to avoid conflicts, more direct peak services etc.

Thanks in advance.

No longer here.

unique · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:50 pm

Who is Jim Betts?

PalmerEldritch · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:55 pm

Jim Betts · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:36 pm

First up, thanks to the Moderators for establishing order in the face of insurrection from the Taliban.

Second up, many thanks for all these questions.

Probably the best way forward is for me to log in over the weekend and try to answer as many points as possible in one go. In the mean time, keep the questions coming.

For those of you who don't know (and why should you?), I've been Director of Public Transport in the Vic State Govt since November 2004. I run Public Transport Division - part of the Dept of Infrastructure - and have a staff of 400 people. We deal with trains, trams, buses and taxis across Victoria - long term planning, short term contract management & regulation, etc, etc.

I've been heartened by the willingness of most people on this site to engage constructively.

Think about this formulation:

Option (a): as a Govt you invest $6.5bn in public transport
Option (b) as a Govt you do nothing for public transport

If, under both scenarios, you get bagged by the PTUA et al, you may be tempted to go for option (b) and spend the money on more grateful stakeholders in the health and education sectors. That's why these people are NOT ON OUR SIDE.

Enough of PTUA, let's share some facts and opinions and I'll do my best to be open with you at all times.