Incidentally, the traffic at what was Clayton Rd LX is now as bad if not worse than it was then the LX was in place due to the necessary but awfully time-consuming roadworks going on to remove the rails. It's one lane each way, traffic was banked back well over the hill towards the Medical Centre and down past Centre Road the other way. It'll improve when they're done I know, but prime fodder for nay-sayers to turn up and point and shout about it.

I'm glad they ditched the monorail concept In favor of trams on their own right of way light rail (with traffic light priority)

The system works extremely well and well used (though they need to put a local shuttle on the Southport - Surfer Paradise section where passenger loading Is very high)

I'm glad they ditched the monorail concept In favor of trams on their own right of way light rail (with traffic light priority)

But a monorail if built, would be above ground, directly above existing traffic lanes. And monorails wouldn't need traffic light priority, being grade separated.
And with or without traffic light priority, there is a limit to the number of trams that can cross per minute. Without traffic light priority, it is limited by cycle. With traffic light priority for trams, the limit is on the acceptable vehicle frequency, just like level crossings with heavy rail.

Even so, Gold Coast's modern image is well suited to monorail. Monorail beams can also be built with less disruption than what comes with laying of tram tracks in a street. Mass transit monorails exist in quite a few cities similar to the Gold Coast.

EDIT: See this big image. Note the T-intersection where a right turn into the trunk is not permitted. If there were a monorail here instead of light rail, there would be room for a right turn lane.

There's the Kuala Lumpa Monorail for one.

There is no reason as to why the pillars could not have been designed similar to this allowing for two tracks per pillar, even if it were in the future.

The trams are much more accessible, being low floor with low platform stops (no staircases or lifts for people to contend with)

The trams are there In your face, gliding past shops and hotels, (that attracts people to them) and show passengers what shops they may want to get off and visit.

Monorails are getting pulled down all over the world, their an Inflexible gimmick  ! they may work ok at Seaworld and other amusement parks.

I love how everyone has completely ignored what John.Z has said which was:

There is no reason as to why the pillars could not have been designed similar to this allowing for two tracks per pillar, even if it were in the future.

instead everyone has seen a picture of a monorail and got themselves all in a tizz.

He hasn't said build them exactly the same as what was in the image, but of a similar design which allows for two tracks on the one pillar. I absolutely agree. When (not if) the extra tracks are built we are going to end up with a ridiculous situation of each track being supported by its own pillars. Not only does this take up more space at ground level but will ultimately cost a lot more. Clearly the geniuses tasked to design the bridge sections did not care (or were told not to care) about future upgrades.

There's the Kuala Lumpa Monorail for one.

Don't you just love bleedingly obvious spelling errors..

....like I CBF looking up the correct spelling...

I have to wonder why this design wasn't used for the majority of the elevated rail?

I have to wonder why this design wasn't used for the majority of the elevated rail?

I've no doubt it wouldn't have been fun building over an existing line, but IMO they've taken the easy, and most likely cheapest option. An arched pillar design straddling the existing tracks would have made adding bridge sections a lot cheaper and easier in the future. It also would have allowed double track bridge sections to be installed (splitting to singles near platforms if absolutely required) and therefore saving valuable space by being able to remove two of the walkways and concrete edging etc that exists on the 'inside' of each single track bridge section.

I think i've said it before, but this could have been such a great a news story for the government if it was done properly and there were significant time savings etc, but i've no doubt we'll look back at it in years to come (if we're not already doing so) and viewing it as a huge wasted opportunity and a waste of money.

Jakar, thank you for READING what I wrote instead of insinuating. I could not find a picture of what I know is at clayton (thanks the medelling monk for backing me up on that). It just seems so short sighted, even just building the stations (where there is room), with four tracks in mind within the station structure (either two side platforms with room for two middle tracks, or the room for an additional track on the outside within the shell). But that's your tax dollars at hard bureaucratic work for you.....

Maybe the thoughts for 4 rails finally has reached a stalemate. There is no room.
Time to move on and think outside the box, so here goes.

The major reason for another 2 tracks is to get express services for both regional and metro from dandenong to caulfield
Because express, then there is no need to go thru existing platforms nor indeed stations.
Does this not lead to conclude that there is not even a need to use the existing path.

I hate to say it, but the Nationals suggestion of a tunnel is sounding less silly.

Or

Since skyrail has been such a success and everybody now seems to love (or merely accept) it, then share the love around a bit further.

How about over the top of Dandenong Rd, then down Westall Rd. There is already a new need in this corridor for the tram to Rowville, so why not share.

Let the howls commence.

Cheers
John

Maybe the thoughts for 4 rails finally has reached a stalemate. There is no room.
Time to move on and think outside the box, so here goes.

The major reason for another 2 tracks is to get express services for both regional and metro from dandenong to caulfield
Because express, then there is no need to go thru existing platforms nor indeed stations.
Does this not lead to conclude that there is not even a need to use the existing path.

I hate to say it, but the Nationals suggestion of a tunnel is sounding less silly.

Or

Since skyrail has been such a success and everybody now seems to love (or merely accept) it, then share the love around a bit further.

How about over the top of Dandenong Rd, then down Westall Rd. There is already a new need in this corridor for the tram to Rowville, so why not share.

Let the howls commence.

Cheers
John

Ok ok I've got an even better one for y'all...

Do the quadding from Oakleigh to Dandenong in the existing corridor.  Then (drum roll please)... tunnel from Oakleigh to Chadstone and plonk in a new station.

BUT THEN keep going with your wonder tunnel from Chadstone to... ALAMEIN

Run the VLines through Chadstone and onto Melbourne's least patronised set of double rails and they have an express path almost all the way to the city, pretty easy to slot them in between a 20min suburban frequency.

I drew a line on a map so it must be a good idea. You can thank me later

Ruled out due to excessive shadowing (Caulfield to Oakleigh)

Maybe the thoughts for 4 rails finally has reached a stalemate. There is no room.
Time to move on and think outside the box, so here goes.

The major reason for another 2 tracks is to get express services for both regional and metro from dandenong to caulfield
Because express, then there is no need to go thru existing platforms nor indeed stations.
Does this not lead to conclude that there is not even a need to use the existing path.

I hate to say it, but the Nationals suggestion of a tunnel is sounding less silly.

Or

Since skyrail has been such a success and everybody now seems to love (or merely accept) it, then share the love around a bit further.

How about over the top of Dandenong Rd, then down Westall Rd. There is already a new need in this corridor for the tram to Rowville, so why not share.

Let the howls commence.

Cheers
John

Ok ok I've got an even better one for y'all...

Do the quadding from Oakleigh to Dandenong in the existing corridor.  Then (drum roll please)... tunnel from Oakleigh to Chadstone and plonk in a new station.

BUT THEN keep going with your wonder tunnel from Chadstone to... ALAMEIN

Run the VLines through Chadstone and onto Melbourne's least patronised set of double rails and they have an express path almost all the way to the city, pretty easy to slot them in between a 20min suburban frequency.

I drew a line on a map so it must be a good idea. You can thank me later

I'm afraid the Age beat you to that idea...

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/rowville-rail-fits-the-bigger-transport-picture-20180522-p4zgrn.html

Maybe the thoughts for 4 rails finally has reached a stalemate. There is no room.
Time to move on and think outside the box, so here goes.

The major reason for another 2 tracks is to get express services for both regional and metro from dandenong to caulfield
Because express, then there is no need to go thru existing platforms nor indeed stations.
Does this not lead to conclude that there is not even a need to use the existing path.

I hate to say it, but the Nationals suggestion of a tunnel is sounding less silly.

Or

Since skyrail has been such a success and everybody now seems to love (or merely accept) it, then share the love around a bit further.

How about over the top of Dandenong Rd, then down Westall Rd. There is already a new need in this corridor for the tram to Rowville, so why not share.

Let the howls commence.

Cheers
John

Ok ok I've got an even better one for y'all...

Do the quadding from Oakleigh to Dandenong in the existing corridor.  Then (drum roll please)... tunnel from Oakleigh to Chadstone and plonk in a new station.

BUT THEN keep going with your wonder tunnel from Chadstone to... ALAMEIN

Run the VLines through Chadstone and onto Melbourne's least patronised set of double rails and they have an express path almost all the way to the city, pretty easy to slot them in between a 20min suburban frequency.

I drew a line on a map so it must be a good idea. You can thank me later

Ruled out due to excessive shadowing (Caulfield to Oakleigh)

And the other sections?

I would have been more than happy as a tax payer to have had the government compulsory acquire the neighboring properties (yes I know its very easy to say that when its not my house) at well above market rates to keep everyone as happy as possible and do the job properly from the start.

I would imagine that two double track viaducts would create less shadow than 4 'wide' single track viaducts. Its a sad state of affairs though that we're more concerned about shadows on parks then actually shifting thousands of people per day.

And where do they go after Camberwell?

A more well thought plan would include:
*Going back to the original Metro Tunnel (Footscray - Caulfield)
Quadding Caulfield - Pakenham

Now you have VLine with their own path Flinders to Pakenham.

I would have been more than happy as a tax payer to have had the government compulsory acquire the neighboring properties (yes I know its very easy to say that when its not my house) at well above market rates to keep everyone as happy as possible and do the job properly from the start.