And a local Geelong rail system is bonkers - the rail lines go nowhere near anywhere of interest.
No reason to hold Geelong on a pedestal - it should simply be run as an extension of existing suburban services, it's a shorter journey than other metro journeys. Rather, the longer distance suburban journeys (eg. Frankston, Pakenham, etc.) should be considered on the same level as Geelong, with more appropriate rollingstock. Given there are only three (assuming the useless Aircraft is closed) suburban stops between Newport and Werribee, operating as a separate service makes no sense.Yes I do support a Geelong electrification in its own right to Melbourne but by electrifying the RRL as that itself is a suburban line despite Vlines running on it. No it is 4 stations between Werribee and Newport (assuming aircraft is kept as a useful station to reduce the demand between Laverton and Williams landing.)
And a local Geelong rail system is bonkers - the rail lines go nowhere near anywhere of interest.
No reason to hold Geelong on a pedestal - it should simply be run as an extension of existing suburban services, it's a shorter journey than other metro journeys. Rather, the longer distance suburban journeys (eg. Frankston, Pakenham, etc.) should be considered on the same level as Geelong, with more appropriate rollingstock. Given there are only three (assuming the useless Aircraft is closed) suburban stops between Newport and Werribee, operating as a separate service makes no sense.
And a local Geelong rail system is bonkers - the rail lines go nowhere near anywhere of interest.
Yes I do support a Geelong electrification in its own right to Melbourne but by electrifying the RRL as that itself is a suburban line despite Vlines running on it. No it is 4 stations between Werribee and Newport (assuming aircraft is kept as a useful station to reduce the demand between Laverton and Williams landing.)
A seperate service aka the High speed rail I am proposing is for people from Geelong, Torquay, Colac and Warnambool to have a seperate service direct to the city instead clogging onto a metro service. This would be like terminating the Gippsland service at Pakenham. This is not good for regional commuters past Geelong as it forces them onto a metro style service. Regional and Metro serves two different modes and should be separated when possible.
A local Geelong rail system is for the future, you don't have any vision how Geelong can eventually become an independent city with its own network. It can happen in 30-50 years time, but the provision for it must be provided now before the land all sold up (Torquay line will get land provision).
Why don't we close the entire Victorian rail network and just run trains to/from Geelong?Geelong is Victoria's whipping boy. It's a part of Melbourne when it suits (TV, Radio, VCE zoning etc.) and a part of Regional Victoria when it suits (Feds funding for roads, lack of a regular rail service (better now than it used to be), no electrification etc.). If we are a part of Melbourne, then make us a proper part of Melbourne. That includes a properly funded Bus Network and electrification and duplication through to waurn ponds via Werribee.
I, for one, am sick of hearing of fanciful, ridiculous and unnecessary schemes to save Geelong commuters 30 seconds here or there plus a God given right to a reserved seat in gold class when compared to the average suburban passenger from Frankston, Pakenham or Craigieburn about whom no one gives a damn.
There is more to Victoria than Geelong.
Geelong is Victoria's whipping boy. It's a part of Melbourne when it suits (TV, Radio, VCE zoning etc.) and a part of Regional Victoria when it suits (Feds funding for roads, lack of a regular rail service (better now than it used to be), no electrification etc.). If we are a part of Melbourne, then make us a proper part of Melbourne. That includes a properly funded Bus Network and electrification and duplication through to waurn ponds via Werribee.Wow! All that paranoia and footy as well.
Geelong line is the busiest VLine line by far, we prop up the other lines which struggle patronage wise and are a burden to State's pocket. If it wasn't for us, and if you move us to Metro, then you might see some other VLine services reduced due to lack of subsidy.
Why don't we close the entire Victorian rail network and just run trains to/from Geelong?Wasn't this the central idea of the Thompson government's Lonie Report?
Why don't we close the entire Victorian rail network and just run trains to/from Geelong?Wasn't this the central idea of the Thompson government's Lonie Report?
And some metro lines (Frankston, Werribee, Pakenham, Sunbury) get more patronage than others, your point?Why don't we close the entire Victorian rail network and just run trains to/from Geelong?Geelong is Victoria's whipping boy. It's a part of Melbourne when it suits (TV, Radio, VCE zoning etc.) and a part of Regional Victoria when it suits (Feds funding for roads, lack of a regular rail service (better now than it used to be), no electrification etc.). If we are a part of Melbourne, then make us a proper part of Melbourne. That includes a properly funded Bus Network and electrification and duplication through to waurn ponds via Werribee.
I, for one, am sick of hearing of fanciful, ridiculous and unnecessary schemes to save Geelong commuters 30 seconds here or there plus a God given right to a reserved seat in gold class when compared to the average suburban passenger from Frankston, Pakenham or Craigieburn about whom no one gives a damn.
There is more to Victoria than Geelong.
Geelong line is the busiest VLine line by far, we prop up the other lines which struggle patronage wise and are a burden to State's pocket. If it wasn't for us, and if you move us to Metro, then you might see some other VLine services reduced due to lack of subsidy.
Why don't we close the entire Victorian rail network and just run trains to/from Geelong?Wasn't this the central idea of the Thompson government's Lonie Report?
When you only pay twice the weekly fare of Box Hill to travel five times the distance to Geelong it's probably best not suggesting you prop up other services.And you pay more to go from Southern Cross to Flinders St then Frankston to Lara. It's probably best they fix the way fares are collected before suggesting which services are profitable and which ones are not.
Exactly. The current fare structure gives out so much free travel it's no wonder the government subsidies are so high.When you only pay twice the weekly fare of Box Hill to travel five times the distance to Geelong it's probably best not suggesting you prop up other services.And you pay more to go from Southern Cross to Flinders St then Frankston to Lara. It's probably best they fix the way fares are collected before suggesting which services are profitable and which ones are not.
When you only pay twice the weekly fare of Box Hill to travel five times the distance to Geelong it's probably best not suggesting you prop up other services.I disagree. There is a strong economic case for cross-subsidy. The NBN (and Telecom and SEC before it) utilised this methodology for very good reason. By adding cents to many people, you can avoid forcing a few to pay many dollars.
Exactly. The current fare structure gives out so much free travel it's no wonder the government subsidies are so high.
Go distance-based and eliminate the early-bird fare and your cost recovery will increase markedly.
Subscribers: bevans, Boss, Boss 2, Dangersdan707, doyle, Engineeringlogic, freightgate, Jack Le Lievre, james.au, Lockie91, Nightfire, RailVicTim, reubstar6, RTT_Rules, x31, xxxxlbear
We've disabled Quick Reply for this thread as it was last updated more than six months ago.