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vicsig
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Jan 11, 2003
Last Visited: Sep 15, 2004
Location: www.vicsig.net
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Posted: Tue May 06, 2003 10:00 pm
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Following is from today's state budget.
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$31.7 MILLION START TO BOOST THE FREIGHT STATE
Transport Minister Peter Batchelor today said the Bracks Government would invest $31.7 million in key initiatives that will boost Victoria's freight industry and deliver more jobs to regional Victoria.
"The Government will add an important new connection to Victoria's standard gauge network with construction of a $13.5 million standard gauge line into Corio Quay, North Shore and Lascelles Wharf at the Port of Geelong," Mr Batchelor said.
The Port of Portland will also receive a boost, with construction of a $15 million overpass separating trains and trucks to the port from local traffic on Cliff Street.
Mr Batchelor said the new Portland overpass would create a dedicated access route into the port, allowing more goods to move in and out with greater efficiency.
"The overpass will improve road safety. It will allow the port to establish a one-way ring road system for trucks, meaning less congestion, delays and higher truck throughput," he said.
"It will also give Portland the opportunity to use land surrounding the port more strategically, enabling it to meet the challenges of future freight growth."
Victoria's rail gauge standardisation program will start at Geelong, with construction of a dual gauge rail link along the Corio Independent Goods Line.
New dual gauge rail access will enable the Port of Geelong, which specialises in bulk trade, to increase its use of rail into the port and reduce business costs to exporters and importers.
"Key facilities at the Port of Geelong are currently isolated from the standard gauge rail network – including the interstate line," Mr Batchelor said.
"The Government's program will deliver an essential rail link to key port facilities at Corio Quay and North Shore, linking them into the national network.
"It will also enable the rail link we are building into Lascelles Wharf to proceed with dual gauge access."
Mr Batchelor said the Government funded these specific projects following a meeting with the Alliance for Rail Standardisation, an umbrella organisation of regional councils.
"While we have a commitment to standardising Victoria's rail freight network, everyone acknowledges that the key issue delaying the program is the previous Liberal-National Government's decision to lease the regional network to Freight Australia for 45 years," he said.
"Because the Government does not directly control the track, it does not have the power to unilaterally undertake capital works projects.
"Councils acknowledge this, but they want us to get on with the job of standardisation in other areas within our control – and we are."
Mr Batchelor said the Government was continuing discussions with Freight Australia and other rail users about co-operative arrangements for progressing standardisation, track access and other freight development issues.
He said the rail gauge standardisation program had also been affected, to a lesser extent, by lack of Commonwealth Government and private sector funding, which both remain necessary pre-conditions.
"We've listened to regional councils and rail users, and we are getting on with important freight projects including the Corio Independent Goods Line at Geelong and the Cliff Street overpass at Portland," Mr Batchelor said.
He said the Government had also allocated $1.1 million to develop a masterplan for Dynon Rail Precinct.
"The Government plans to integrate the Port of Melbourne and the Dynon rail terminals to form a single transport hub that caters for the seamless movement of freight between the Port and freight terminals," he said.
As part of the Innovation statement Victorians. Bright Ideas. Brilliant Future, announced last year, the Government is providing funding of $2.1 million for the Smart Freight project.
This involves providing Victoria's freight and logistics industry with a common integrated information system, generating major efficiency gains and reducing freight congestion in and out of Melbourne Port. |
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zipitidoodah
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Jan 22, 2003
Last Visited: Apr 28, 2007
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Posted: Wed May 07, 2003 9:18 am
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I wonder if some of that money came from the now defunct standardisation project?
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freightgate
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Feb 11, 2003
Last Visited: Nov 12, 2008
Location: Albury, New South Wales
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Posted: Wed May 07, 2003 9:22 am
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| vicsig wrote: |
"The Government plans to integrate the Port of Melbourne and the Dynon rail terminals to form a single transport hub that caters for the seamless movement of freight between the Port and freight terminals," he said.
As part of the Innovation statement Victorians. Bright Ideas. Brilliant Future, announced last year, the Government is providing funding of $2.1 million for the Smart Freight project.
This involves providing Victoria's freight and logistics industry with a common integrated information system, generating major efficiency gains and reducing freight congestion in and out of Melbourne Port. |
Will this involve the reinstatement of goods lines, or the building of yet more roads to go over or under the port. I wonder if any of this funding will go toward the reinstatement of the webb dock service? Surely (looking at some maps) there is more growth in terms of container traffic down there, given the extra space available to expand?
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vicsig
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Jan 11, 2003
Last Visited: Sep 15, 2004
Location: www.vicsig.net
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Posted: Wed May 07, 2003 1:04 pm
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| freightgate wrote: | | vicsig wrote: |
"The Government plans to integrate the Port of Melbourne and the Dynon rail terminals to form a single transport hub that caters for the seamless movement of freight between the Port and freight terminals," he said.
As part of the Innovation statement Victorians. Bright Ideas. Brilliant Future, announced last year, the Government is providing funding of $2.1 million for the Smart Freight project.
This involves providing Victoria's freight and logistics industry with a common integrated information system, generating major efficiency gains and reducing freight congestion in and out of Melbourne Port. |
Will this involve the reinstatement of goods lines, or the building of yet more roads to go over or under the port. I wonder if any of this funding will go toward the reinstatement of the webb dock service? Surely (looking at some maps) there is more growth in terms of container traffic down there, given the extra space available to expand? |
Certinally the whole docklands area and docks area has provision for a line branching off the Appleton Dock line near City Link, following City Link to the Yarra, crossing and joining up with the original Webb Dock line.
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Nexas
The Ghost of George Stephenson
Joined: Jan 12, 2003
Last Visited: Nov 26, 2008
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Posted: Wed May 07, 2003 1:27 pm
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A simple smeggy article from the HS...
| Quote: | $13.6m on buses
07may03
ABOUT $35 million will be spent improving public transport over the next four years.
This includes $7.2 million for stage one works to strengthen Flinders St station concourse.
Other Budget meas ures include:
$3.9 million to develop a new public transport ticketing system.
A $13.6 million package to improve suburban bus services.
AN $8.4 million boost to public transport safety over four years.
ABOUT $8 million for new bike paths across Victoria over three years.
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Views expressed by me are strictly my own, not of my friends, employer, or anyone else, unless otherwise stated.
*Back at RP for a limited time only*
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mjja
Sir Nigel Gresley
Joined: Jan 13, 2003
Last Visited: Nov 26, 2008
Location: Mount Waverley, Melbourne
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Posted: Wed May 07, 2003 3:04 pm
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A competent politican's reply. Sounds great and says nothing.
Happy Gunzelling and remember, "Go by rail!"
Michael Angelico
President, Smart Passengers Inc
(My opinions are my own unless specifically stated.)
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MelbourneCity
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Jan 22, 2003
Last Visited: Nov 29, 2008
Location: Melbourne
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Posted: Wed May 07, 2003 7:55 pm
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Grrr. The state budget was crap!
the Herald Sun even had the nerve to say that motorists were losers in the budget.
There was over $400m set out to roads this budget!
Public Transport or rather "other" transport, ie, trains, trams, buses, bikes. Got on;y $35m ALL UP!
WHAT A JOKE!
No Rail/tram projects have been commited to!
I doubt we'll see the Knox Tram done soon
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Nexas
The Ghost of George Stephenson
Joined: Jan 12, 2003
Last Visited: Nov 26, 2008
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2003 10:02 am
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| MelbourneCity wrote: |
No Rail/tram projects have been commited to!
I doubt we'll see the Knox Tram done soon |
I honestly don't think the Knox tram extension will ever pass Vermont South, at least not in the next 10 years.
They are planning an extension to Vermont South, and improved bus services from Vermont South to Knox. They won't be bothered having this bus service only a few years and then taking it away for trams.
Stupid Government. Another Extension which has probably never been thought about by them is one i'd like... Extension of Route 3 from East Malvern to Chadstone. That would be useful
Views expressed by me are strictly my own, not of my friends, employer, or anyone else, unless otherwise stated.
*Back at RP for a limited time only*
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cfclael57
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Sep 29, 2003
Last Visited: Dec 1, 2008
Location: The signalbox
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2003 11:01 am
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I think that train lines should be extended, not trams. Think about route 109. It runs almost parralel with the trains all the way to Box Hill. Just like the Coburg tram line with te Upfield line. I think a worthwhile extention would be to extend the GWY line to Wantirna, Vermont or Knox or even all three depending on the line of suburbs. At least another 10 km would make a good line. As well it would only cost about 30 million or under considering it costs 1 million for a modern 1 km stretch of modern railway line. You could always divert the modern line to Chadstone via underground like the city loop's tunnels and have a station called Chadstone right under the major shopping centre. Every second train could go there!
Thats my view.
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freightgate
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Feb 11, 2003
Last Visited: Nov 12, 2008
Location: Albury, New South Wales
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2003 11:19 am
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| cfclael57 wrote: | As well it would only cost about 30 million or under considering it costs 1 million for a modern 1 km stretch of modern railway line. You could always divert the modern line to Chadstone via underground like the city loop's tunnels and have a station called Chadstone right under the major shopping centre. Every second train could go there!
Thats my view. |
Nick, I think is is quite sensible. Why keep expanding what I understand to be the slowest tram network in the world? Heavy rail is the answer. Integrating major shopping centres like Chadstone in Vic with heavy rail is the answer, but looking at a map of Melbourne's east, the government should look at the doncaster railway line first, this is now quite pressing. Next a loop line back around to cover extensions of lines, but adding some cross metro lines also. Like rome, all roads/railways lead to Melbourne.
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mjja
Sir Nigel Gresley
Joined: Jan 13, 2003
Last Visited: Nov 26, 2008
Location: Mount Waverley, Melbourne
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2003 12:24 pm
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Trams go different places to trains. It's the same as bus routes which hit railway stations on the same line - nobody goes from one station to another, they change from train to bus to get the last few kms to their actual destination.
The real wastefulness is where a bus and tram run exactly the same route and almost the same timetable, like bus 477 and tram 59. The tram goes through two minutes earlier and gets all the stops, the bus charges on through without getting any stops to pick up pax, and gets to Airport West at the same time as the tram.
Happy Gunzelling and remember, "Go by rail!"
Michael Angelico
President, Smart Passengers Inc
(My opinions are my own unless specifically stated.)
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kuldalai
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Jan 14, 2003
Last Visited: Dec 1, 2008
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2003 5:01 pm
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Very hard to wade through budget papers as they keep changing the format each year, and repackaging previous announcements along with new works so very hard to understand. BUT papers reveal in 2003/2004 finanacial year : Country Fast rail allocated $ 361m ( $ 147m spent in 2002/2003 allegedly on what is the question as nothing has happened );
total fast rail cost now shown as $ 573m plus fibre optic links further $ 21m. New station at Grovedale $4m for completion late 2004 for total cost $5m; Disabled access at Jolimont station $1m; design works for grade separation Middleborough Rd on Ringwood line $ 1m; Flinders St concourse strengthening $ 6.6m , total cost $ 7.2m; Study to identify
metropolitan rail bottleknecks gets $ 4m. Study for new MET ticketing system $ 3.9m.; Spencer St Station Authority (to run the decrepit place) $ 5m. No obvious sign of monies to allow Craigieburn electrification to proceed or for South Morang extension, or for Vermont South tram extension (but they do have a nice large sign in the median strip on the Burwood Higway proclaiming the extension is nigh .)
Here we go again this Government and its endless damn studies chewing up millions of dollars . The senior operational management of VLP, Connex, & M>Train could advise in a one day conference where the bottleknecks are and on a second day come up with solutions. Such an approach would cost Government a few thousand dollars , but no we need a $ 4m study to tell the rail operations what they already know.
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Nexas
The Ghost of George Stephenson
Joined: Jan 12, 2003
Last Visited: Nov 26, 2008
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2003 7:21 pm
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| cfclael57 wrote: | I think that train lines should be extended, not trams. Think about route 109. It runs almost parralel with the trains all the way to Box Hill. Just like the Coburg tram line with te Upfield line. I think a worthwhile extention would be to extend the GWY line to Wantirna, Vermont or Knox or even all three depending on the line of suburbs. At least another 10 km would make a good line. As well it would only cost about 30 million or under considering it costs 1 million for a modern 1 km stretch of modern railway line. You could always divert the modern line to Chadstone via underground like the city loop's tunnels and have a station called Chadstone right under the major shopping centre. Every second train could go there!
Thats my view. |
What about the trams that don't run along a rail line?
About the 109, it gives people in the Kew/Balwyn area opportunity to have a quicker route to Box Hill, instead of Bus or Car.
As for Chadstone, There are plenty of bus services heading east, however people west of Chadstone have a much harder time getting there, and Tram is the answer! Tram would connect to Heavy Rail at Balaclava, Caulfield, and East Malvern. But another good Idea would be to make a link (sorta like old outer circle) from GWY line to DNG line, from East Malvern, to Oakleigh/Huntingdale, via Chadstone.
Trams still deserve extensions. Trams only serve a limited area of the city, the inner suburbs, with only a handful of lines heading into Zone 2. Commuters from Middle and Outer Suburbs rely on smeggy bus frequencies and indirect routes to head home after getting off a train. Buses end around 6pm on most routes, and don't run weekends on those routes. Tram lines should get extensions as well.
Views expressed by me are strictly my own, not of my friends, employer, or anyone else, unless otherwise stated.
*Back at RP for a limited time only*
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cfclael57
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Sep 29, 2003
Last Visited: Dec 1, 2008
Location: The signalbox
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2003 7:29 pm
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I never said they didn't deserve extentions, I said that if considering extentions that rail is a more viable option. Trams, unless they run on a reserved track are incredibly slow. They have bad acceleration worse than a bus (not saying i like buses i think buses suck) and are slower than the trains say I could catch the tram to the city. It would take around 35 mins. Train in contrast takes 15 mins therefore is a more worthwhile service. What trams need is better gear ratios. The person who divised the current tram speed limits must have been pissed at the time  They need more tracks like along Burwood HWY like route 75. And like 109 past Box Hill. If the tram has to share with the cars its pointless.
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vicsig
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Jan 11, 2003
Last Visited: Sep 15, 2004
Location: www.vicsig.net
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2003 8:12 pm
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I think there is something like $9.2 million in the 2003/04 budget for stage 1 upgrade works to Flinders St station (ie making the Swanston St concourse stand up without the risk of falling down).
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