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melbtrip
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Mar 02, 2004
Last Visited: Dec 2, 2008
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Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 12:25 pm
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THE rail link to Melbourne Airport may not be on the agenda, but the push has begun for a link to Avalon Airport.
Tim Anderson, the manager of Linfox's Avalon Airport, said it made more sense economically to build a spur from the main Geelong-Melbourne railway line to Avalon.
"At the closest point it would only be about three kilometres across rural land," he said.
The Public Transport Users Association also backed the push.
"If, as expected, the airport continues to grow, then it absolutely makes sense for the airport passengers and airport workers to have a fast, efficient way to get there," Daniel Bowen, the association's president, said.
Mr Anderson said Avalon Airport was already handling more than 1 million passengers a year and he hoped this would double in coming years.
A spokesman for Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky, said there were no plans to build a rail line to Avalon.
from the the age
May be the new service may go via Werribee and Lara 
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Riccardo
Minister for Railways
Joined: Aug 20, 2003
Last Visited: Nov 28, 2008
Location: Elsewhere
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Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 12:48 pm
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I hope they put it in zone 2 :wink
If you need to get in touch, drop a comment at the Transport Textbook or on my blog.
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VRfan
Moderator
Joined: Jan 13, 2003
Last Visited: Dec 1, 2008
Location: In front of my computer :-p
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Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 1:16 pm
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Actually to be honest, I think a rail link to Avalon makes alot of sense. If you really want Avalon to grow as an airport (ie: to become a second major airport for Victoria), you need to provide decent transport.
The current Melbourne airport is within range of taxis from the CBD and there's also the regular Skybus for a cheaper option. AFAIK there's really nothing to Avalon apart from car. Taxis from Melbourne to Avalon would be ridiculously expensive.
Now, if you had an hourly rail service to the city at a reasonable price, it might make Avalon a more realistic option for travellers out of Melbourne rather than Tullamarine.
Have a look at Sydney. They only have one airport and it's at capacity. Any flight into that city has a premium because of this. They've been talking about a second airport in NSW and done nothing. Here in Victoria, we already have a second airport that just needs a decent transport link to the city.
Even if they don't build the line now, I think they should be looking at surveying the route and reserving it to prevent future development along the corridor
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wongm
Minister for Railways
Joined: May 26, 2005
Last Visited: Nov 26, 2008
Location: Geelong, Victoria
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Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 2:38 pm
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When I read the thread title I though melbtrip was talking about the City of Greater Geelong platform for the new suburb of Armstong Creek, located on the real Geelong Airport. It is supposed to have a public transport corridor from the Warrnambool line south to the town centre, and then head south for a future link to Torquay.
Linky
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The Vinelander
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Mar 28, 2006
Last Visited: Dec 1, 2008
Location: Ballan, Victoria on the Ballarat RFR Line
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Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 2:43 pm
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 This harebrained idea reminds me of an episode of a long running show I saw on the television several years ago....
Well, sir, there's nothing on earth
Like a genuine,
Bonafide,
Electrified,
Six-car
Monorail!
What'd I say?
Monorail!
What's it called?
Monorail!
That's right! Monorail!
[crowd chants `Monorail' softly and rhythmically]
I hear those things are awfully loud...
It glides as softly as a cloud.
Is there a chance the track could bend?
Not on your life, my Hindu friend.
What about us brain-dead slobs?
You'll be given cushy jobs.
Were you sent here by the devil?
No, good sir, I'm on the level.
The ring came off my pudding can.
Take my pen knife, my good man.
I swear it's Springfield's only choice...
Throw up your hands and raise your voice!
All: Monorail!
What's it called?
All: Monorail!
Once again...
All: Monorail!
But Main Street's still all cracked and broken...
Sorry, Mom, the mob has spoken!
Monorail!
Monorail!
Monorail!
[big finish]
Monorail!
Homer: Mono... D'oh
This is one transport challenge that can be and is, being well addressed by rubber tyred omnibuses
Mike.
PS thanks to The Simpsons.
The Vinelander, from Melbourne to Mildura was Victoria's only overnight sleeping car train which was launched 8/8/1972.
Ballan, the best town, on the best railway line, in the best state, of the best country in the World. Currently in Longreach.
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Somebody in the WWW
Comeng Gunzel
Joined: Oct 08, 2004
Last Visited: Dec 1, 2008
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Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 3:05 pm
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The solution for public transport to Avalon Airport is in a simple route bus meeting trains from both directions at Lara Station, as well as extra cleaning staff to clean up foam at Lara.
The passenger loadings (not in the short/medium term) would not warrant running a train all the way from Melbourne, and running a shuttle train from Lara would be ridiculous. If Linfox wants to completely fund a rail link ( ) to their airport they can, otherwise would be a waste of public money.
Hence the solution being in a simple, reliable, bus connection. Currently there is only the Sunbus which is run from Melbourne and must be pre-booked - useless.
| VRfan wrote: | | Have a look at Sydney. They only have one airport and it's at capacity. Any flight into that city has a premium because of this. They've been talking about a second airport in NSW and done nothing. Here in Victoria, we already have a second airport that just needs a decent transport link to the city. |
Difference with Tullamarine Airport is that it's not at capacity, doesn't have a curfew and has room to grow. 
" The trains at Pennant Hills run roughly every half hour. Nobody in their right mind uses a service that shoddy. That so many do just proves how many dumb and/or desperate people there are in Sydney." - MrPC
Transport Textbook - My photos at RailPictures.Net |
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VRfan
Moderator
Joined: Jan 13, 2003
Last Visited: Dec 1, 2008
Location: In front of my computer :-p
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Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 3:15 pm
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| Somebody in the WWW wrote: |
Difference with Tullamarine Airport is that it's not at capacity, doesn't have a curfew and has room to grow. |
They are predicting that air travel will increase over the next few years (hence why they are now talking about a Tullamarine rail link again). Jetstar already fly in and out of Avalon, so why not encourage other airlines to go in there, especially the new budget carriers.
If you have luggage with you, the last thing you want to be doing is lugging it into a train, then out again and onto a bus just for a 10 min ride.
I reckon give it 10-15 years and Avalon will grow substantially. At the very least a rail corridor should be reserved into Avalon Airport rather than doing what they did with Tullamarine and just ignore the problem until it's so late that any rail line will now be a costly exercise.
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K-Class
Locomotive Fireman
Joined: May 15, 2008
Last Visited: Nov 30, 2008
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Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 3:56 pm
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At this time it would be a waste to spend tax payers money to build this link, but to set aside a rail corridor would be good forward thinking.
As others have commented what is needed at this stage is a bus service that you don't need to pre book to use that connects with the existing line at Lara or any other more convenient station. This bus should be timetabled so that it meets all trains during the operating hours of the airport, in both directions so people can go either to Melbourne or Geelong.
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MelbourneCity
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Jan 22, 2003
Last Visited: Nov 29, 2008
Location: Melbourne
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Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 4:21 pm
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| VRfan wrote: | | Somebody in the WWW wrote: |
Difference with Tullamarine Airport is that it's not at capacity, doesn't have a curfew and has room to grow. |
They are predicting that air travel will increase over the next few years (hence why they are now talking about a Tullamarine rail link again). Jetstar already fly in and out of Avalon, so why not encourage other airlines to go in there, especially the new budget carriers.
If you have luggage with you, the last thing you want to be doing is lugging it into a train, then out again and onto a bus just for a 10 min ride.
I reckon give it 10-15 years and Avalon will grow substantially. At the very least a rail corridor should be reserved into Avalon Airport rather than doing what they did with Tullamarine and just ignore the problem until it's so late that any rail line will now be a costly exercise. |
Virgin Blue comes up every now and then in having an interest in Avalon.
Air Asia X is also very keen to fly international routes from the airport, and a International terminal is under development - when that opens, I don't know.
I think in time there will be a rail spur - and that could carry freight more so than passengers.
I don't think there is any real need for a service just yet, but maybe an "air link" service advertised by V/Line - with a shuttle bus connecting to the train.
Avalon, unlike MEL does not have flights leaving all day - Jetstar's flights are mainly in the morning and evening with a few during the day.
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kuldalai
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Jan 14, 2003
Last Visited: Nov 30, 2008
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Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 4:49 pm
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The FEDS have recently refused construction approval for an International Passenger Terminal at AVALON. Said to be something to do with Security ( Some RAAF Aircraft are maintained there). The Linfox people put out a pile of spin to try and gloss over things, but Air Asia are now talking to Tullamarine.
More important to get a rail link up and running to Tulla where the numbers are much larger than worrying about Avalon. All public transport needs can be adequately met by existing shuttle buses from Southern Cross and from Central Geelong .
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NottaGunzel
Banned
Joined: Jul 05, 2007
Last Visited: Nov 12, 2008
Location: Banned
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wongm
Minister for Railways
Joined: May 26, 2005
Last Visited: Nov 26, 2008
Location: Geelong, Victoria
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Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 7:35 pm
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| kuldalai wrote: | | The FEDS have recently refused construction approval for an International Passenger Terminal at AVALON. |
An article about the issue in question:
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/06/05/1212258958573.html
| Quote: | | A spokesman for Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon also declined to state the reasons for rejecting the proposal, but said the Government had no objection in principle to an international terminal at Avalon. |
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NottaGunzel
Banned
Joined: Jul 05, 2007
Last Visited: Nov 12, 2008
Location: Banned
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dalts 1985
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Jul 29, 2003
Last Visited: Nov 30, 2008
Location: Warrnambool by the sea on the Shipwreck Coast of Victoria
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Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 12:19 am
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The way I look at this is like this: My proposal as as follows:
Kill 3 birds with the one stone:
> Create a Melb. CBD - AVV Airport - MEL Airport - Melb. CBD Electified 25Kv Loop Service, requires building of 3 new lines, build them altogether & the cost may drop a little...
> Electifiy the Geelong line to 25Kv, all the way through to Marshall.
> Re-electifiy the Gippsland/Eastern Line (this time also to 25Kv.)
The Geelong & The Eastern/Gippsland Lines as a result, will be some what tied to one another operationally, I will explain in detail on this later...
By electifing both The Geelong & The Eastern/Gippsland lines, it enables a dedicated service using a dedicated fleet of trains to be used. A new type of train would be ordered for this purpose... A electified verson of a 6 car (DM-T-T-T-DM) V/Locity could be considered or perhaps even a version of the EDIRail Cityrail M Bug or UGR Cityrail OSCar, both modified to suit our loading gauge requirements, this being a Double Deck train also helps to combat the overcrowding issues by fitting twice the amount of people in the one car in the 2 deck layout...
These dedecaited runs would be: east-west & v.v... Marshall Stn - Geelong Central Stn - W'bee Stn - Footscray Stn - Nth Melb. Stn - Melb. SC Stn - Flinders St. Stn - Richmond Stn. - Caulfield Stn. - Dandenong Stn. Pakenham Stn. Warragul Stn - Traralgon Stn.
These dedeccaited sets would also run the Melb. CBD - AVV Airport - MEL Airport - Melb. CBD Electified 25Kv Loop Service Shuttles... these shuttles would use the existing line from Melb. SC Stn, via Footscray to Newport & on to W'bee then to Lara where a new spur would run out into AVV Airport, the return trips going via a loop arrangem't: AVV Airport - Melb. Airport - Melb. CBD, would use the existing alignm't to Newport, then the Newport - Brooklyn-Sunshine-Abion-Broady Cross-City Connecting Lines (which wouldneed electifiying to connect into the new Melb. Airport line...
The V/Locitys currently used on these Geelong & Eastern Region RFR services could/would then be redeployed to the 2 other RFR lines of Ballarat/Bendigo, as well as Seymour, to boost available compacity of RFR required rollingstock.
"A vote for Labor means no more of Howard's bullsh*t |
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NathanCastle
Assistant Commissioner
Joined: Dec 11, 2007
Last Visited: Nov 24, 2008
Location: Gippsland
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Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 10:01 am
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A simple train link bus service from the airport passenger terminal to Lara station (meeting trains) would do Avalon fine for the foreseeable future.
As for people having to lug around heavy luggage from train to bus visa versa, well the budget airlines are trying to ween their passengers off taking luggage (they want only hand luggage) and charge passengers though the nose for checked luggage.
So this might not be such an issue for people who would consider using public transport to the airport.
Also running a V/Line train on a Avalon Airport spur from Melbourne would be a wast of a train service and train path
This proposed carbon trading scheme Is going to ruin the economy of Australia. "Dump It Now"
65 miles from Flinders Street Station Melbourne and 703 feet above sea level
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