Re: The Vic privatised Rail System

["Sam Eades" <seades@bigpond.net.au>]

Maurie Daly <mauried@tpg.com.au> wrote in message
3a3ff4dd.4844809@can-news.tpg.com.au">news:3a3ff4dd.4844809@can-news.tpg.com.au...
> Not living in VIC anymore , there are some aspects to all of this that
> I dont understand.
>
> 1/ In the Metro area where we have the two franchised suburban rail
> operators , who is responsible for track maintenance .
> Are there any common tracks , ie tracks over which both operators
> regularily run.
> Do both of the operators have a track access regime for other
> operators who wish to run over their tracks.
> Who owns / is responsible for the stations , including Flinders St and
> Spencer St.
> Who operates and pays for manning of signal boxes , including Metrol.

The track maintenacne is the responsibility of the operator. In the inner
city area (Richmond to FSS and the city loop) Bayside look after the
maintencance.
RMD - FSS is the only common track.
Both operators charge track access fees to 3rd parties (FA, VLP, WCR etc.)
Connex doesn't regularly have 3rd parties operating over their tracks (and
with the recent experience with Steamrail on the Lilydale line, they are not
enthusiatic for any more)!
The operator is responsible for the stations. Richmond, Flinders St and
Spencer St are owned and operated by Connex and the Loop stations by
Bayside.
The operator staffs the signalboxes. METROL has been split up the middle and
each is responsible for their half.


> 2/ In the country where NXP runs most of the country trains does it
> have to negotiate access rights to run over other peoples tracks.
> eg if NXP want to run a train from Spencer St to Geelong who does it
> have to gain access rights from , who provides the train control.
> Who staffs and pays for the signallers at Werribee,Nth Geelong A,B and
> C and Sth Geelong.
> Who maintains the signalling communications etc, which is common to
> both FA and ARTCs tracks.

FA is responsible for all Broad gauge (and some SG?) unelectrified lines
(except those under the control of tourist operators). FA staffs all signal
boxes, however, those locations where the station officer is responsible for
the signals (Lara, south Geelong etc), NXP pay for the Station officer.
If NXP want to run a Geelong train from Spencer St to South Geelong, they
have to get access rights from Bayside as far as Werribee, then FA to South
Geelong. Bayside need to staff Newport and Werribee, FA need to staff 'North
A' and 'Geelong A' boxes as well as "Spencer St Number 1". 'North B' is not
required to run the train. South Geelong must be staffed by NXP.


--
Sam Eades
seades@bigpond.net.au