Location: BleakCity
That's for Brenton's favourite 10something am.
Regional Rail Link Bendigo Wise
ZH836301
Chief Commissioner
Location: BleakCity
ScottAus
Station Master
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Arrived at Spencer St platform 16 this morning. Rather nice as it is usually platform one with it's two measly gates and a huge walk to the main gates.
BrentonGolding
Chief Commissioner
Location: Maldon Junction
So stop whinging. Once the RRL is up to speed, you'll see at least 7 minutes dropped between Fscray-Southern Cross.
Actually I didn't think I was whinging, I thought I was relaying my experiences in response to the original post. I have no need to whinge as I only use the service on average once a fortnight. I just sit back with the paper and enjoy the ride.
The people who are whinging are my friends and neighbours in Castlemaine and surrounds who are complaining to each other, the local papers, local and state governments and anyone else who will (or will not) listen. Unfortunately for them they are not members or Railpage and therefore do not get the benefit of your wisdom telling them to be quiet and sit back like good little lemmings and put up with a service which seems to be getting worse at a time when everyone thought it would get better.
BrentonGolding
Chief Commissioner
Location: Maldon Junction
As an aside I decided to take Saturday 23rd off work and head back up to Maldon for the Victorian Goldfields Railway AGM. I knew that it was busses but I naively thought that it would be all the way to Castlemaine as it had been for the RRL works (which is usually quicker than the train). Planned to take the 09.36 out of SC to get to the Maine in time to get the connecting bus to Maldon and then jump on the Members Special Train back to Castlemaine for the meeting and enjoying a few cold ones with fellow members en route.
Arrived at SC and was told it was in fact coach to Sunbury then train from there. Rolled into Sunbury just after 10am to be told that the train would not be leaving for 25 mins! Needless to say I missed the connection and had to call the missus for a lift. Made it back to Maldon at 11.55 with 5 mins to spare.
A bizarre day!
Arrived at SC and was told it was in fact coach to Sunbury then train from there. Rolled into Sunbury just after 10am to be told that the train would not be leaving for 25 mins! Needless to say I missed the connection and had to call the missus for a lift. Made it back to Maldon at 11.55 with 5 mins to spare.
A bizarre day!
railblogger
Chief Commissioner
Location: At the back of the train, quitely doing exactly what you'd expect.
Actually I didn't think I was whinging, I thought I was relaying my experiences in response to the original post. I have no need to whinge as I only use the service on average once a fortnight. I just sit back with the paper and enjoy the ride.
Don't worry about that BrentonGolding. I and a few others have received comments like that as well.
The people who are whinging are my friends and neighbours in Castlemaine and surrounds who are complaining to each other, the local papers, local and state governments and anyone else who will (or will not) listen. Unfortunately for them they are not members or Railpage and therefore do not get the benefit of your wisdom telling them to be quiet and sit back like good little lemmings and put up with a service which seems to be getting worse at a time when everyone thought it would get better.
Personally I think that the regional service could be better, however it should not come at the cost of its metro counterpart getting better for its passengers, which has been the case since the RFR upgrade.
Carnot
Minister for Railways
Arrived at Spencer St platform 16 this morning. Rather nice as it is usually platform one with it's two measly gates and a huge walk to the main gates.
I suspect that delays on the Geelong service allowed that to happen.
This morning's Up Bendigo Flagship arrived at SCS platform 7 at 0718. We had to stop on the flyover for a few minutes as a Down Bendigo and Down Bacchus Marsh Sprinter got onto the flyover at the Festival Hall bottleneck.
BrentonGolding
Chief Commissioner
Location: Maldon Junction
Don't worry about that BrentonGolding. I and a few others have received comments like that as well.
Not worried, Railpage is positively tame compared to some of the other forums that my various hobbies and interests have taken me to over the years!
ZH836301
Chief Commissioner
Location: BleakCity
put up with a service which seems to be getting worse at a time when everyone thought it would get better.
I don't know how many times I have to say it - the RRL is not in normal operation.
Why do you think it is timetabled for more time than a spark stopping at South Kenso and North Melb?
Tell them to tell the local member they'll pay for the full cost of the service and they might be interested in their whinging.
Bogong
Chief Commissioner
Location: Essendon Aerodrome circa 1980
I think the whingers have a "sense of entitlement". They are NOT prepared to wait, even for just a few months.
This is often known as "Veruca Salt Syndrome"... I want it and I want it NOW!
This is often known as "Veruca Salt Syndrome"... I want it and I want it NOW!
ZH836301
Chief Commissioner
Location: BleakCity
Yep, they should have just started running it full speed from day one - then they could all whinge about the inevitable derailment.
BrentonGolding
Chief Commissioner
Location: Maldon Junction
I don't know how many times I have to say it - the RRL is not in normal operation.
And I don't know how many times I have to say it - many of these people have made life changing decisions, sold their homes in Melbourne, uprooted their families and their lives to regional Victoria as the government is encouraging them to do via things like this http://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/expo
Many of them did this based on being able to use the train service to get to and from work in the CBD.
They can't just tell the boss to stop whinging when the service changes and no longer gets them to work on time.
ZH836301
Chief Commissioner
Location: BleakCity
By that logic, we can never reseal any road, ever.
BrentonGolding
Chief Commissioner
Location: Maldon Junction
Now I don't understand your logic. Roads get resealed all the time because the Road lobby are the biggest "whingers" out there and many of them have the ear of Government because of their excellent political connections
ZH836301
Chief Commissioner
Location: BleakCity
Road lobby? Chuckle.
Calgully
Deputy Commissioner
Location:
Road lobby? Chuckle.
The only place the road lobby exists is in the minds of railfans.
Rail is so irrelevant to many there's no need for any organised opposition.
The Vinelander
Minister for Railways
Location: Ballan, Victoria on the Ballarat RFR Line
The only place the road lobby exists is in the minds of railfans.
... Are you sure 
The planned white elephant Mega$$ East-West link so hated by the inner suburban dwellers may yet get up because the road lobby, in particular the RACV and truck freight companies have the ear of VicRoads and their conservative friends in the present Victorian government.
Mike.
trainbrain
Chief Commissioner
The planned white elephant Mega$$ East-West link so hated by the inner suburban dwellers may yet get up because the road lobby, in particular the RACV and truck freight companies have the ear of VicRoads and their conservative friends in the present Victorian government.
Mike.
Perhaps you should read the last two Royal Autos........................
The Vinelander
Minister for Railways
Location: Ballan, Victoria on the Ballarat RFR Line
Perhaps you should read the last two Royal Autos........................
I haven't read the Royalauto in years and it gets filed in the recycle bin upon delivery. Something to do with too many ads when I used to read it for Gods waiting room cruises up the Danube et al...
What the Royalauto writes to is its largely elderly readership, who are now getting too old to drive and are looking for PT improvements and what it writes to the government have very little in common.
Mike.
ZH836301
Chief Commissioner
Location: BleakCity
The planned white elephant Mega$$ East-West link so hated by the inner suburban dwellers may yet get up because the road lobby, in particular the RACV and truck freight companies have the ear of VicRoads and their conservative friends in the present Victorian government.
a/ The East West Link is not VicRoads territory
b/ The RACV has less political sway than the Greens
c/ Road freight doesn't give a sh1te about the eastern section
What you call the 'road lobby' is really the construction lobby, who are running out of extortion rackets now the desalination plant and RRL are closing up.
Calgully
Deputy Commissioner
Location:
What you call the 'road lobby' is really the construction lobby, who are running out of extortion rackets now the desalination plant and RRL are closing up.
Pretty much exactly what I was thinking. That's a bit scary.
Nightfire
Minister for Railways
Location: Gippsland
What you call the 'road lobby' is really the construction lobby, who are running out of extortion rackets now the desalination plant and RRL are closing up.
Your right on the money on this one.
"Dutch Disease" Is taking It's toll on Victoria
BrentonGolding
Chief Commissioner
Location: Maldon Junction
"Brenton's favourite 10something am" rolled into SC at 10.41 yesterday. That's either late or early depending on your perspective. Made great time all the way to the Saltwater River (Maribyrnong) then crawled along and stopped for the obligatory rest outside Festival Hall.
Whilst relaxing on board I had a chance to read Tuesday's Midland Express and there on page 1 was the headline "Impact Overwhelming - Commuters find extra travel time a major issue"
Apptly the new timetable was raised at the last Mount Alexander Shire Council meeting as "a matter or urgency". The Mayor has since written to the Transport Minister as well as all other councils along the line to Bendigo to try to enlist their support.
Watch this space. Or not.
Whilst relaxing on board I had a chance to read Tuesday's Midland Express and there on page 1 was the headline "Impact Overwhelming - Commuters find extra travel time a major issue"
Apptly the new timetable was raised at the last Mount Alexander Shire Council meeting as "a matter or urgency". The Mayor has since written to the Transport Minister as well as all other councils along the line to Bendigo to try to enlist their support.
Watch this space. Or not.
ZH836301
Chief Commissioner
Location: BleakCity
So it took 8 minutes from Footscray, rather than the timetabled 15. And you're still sooking.
Is this the part where I say I told you so?
Is this the part where I say I told you so?
BrentonGolding
Chief Commissioner
Location: Maldon Junction
So it took 8 minutes from Footscray, rather than the timetabled 15. And you're still sooking.
Is this the part where I say I told you so?
I don't know how many times I have to say it - I am not sooking or whinging or whatever other way you want to describe it. I am merely commenting on the original post and adding information that people may find interesting / useful.
Which is clearly not you
railblogger
Chief Commissioner
Location: At the back of the train, quitely doing exactly what you'd expect.
Here is the link to that article: http://www.elliottmidnews.com.au/story/2527362/impact-overwhelming-commuters-find-extra-travel-time-a-major-issue/?cs=1227
It seems as through Cr Redden is terribly misinformed (note the last few paragraphs).
Firstly, the Sunbury-Sunshine section is not the root cause - it was the Sunshine-City section post-Sunbury electrification. Secondly, all the added time is going to be removed anyway, as stated by the RRLA.
It seems as through Cr Redden is terribly misinformed (note the last few paragraphs).
Firstly, the Sunbury-Sunshine section is not the root cause - it was the Sunshine-City section post-Sunbury electrification. Secondly, all the added time is going to be removed anyway, as stated by the RRLA.
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