Re: [Melb] national express cross-promotion

["Graeme Cleak" <gcleak@optusnet.com.au>]

For Saturday 6 May VLP had scheduled two forward Footy Specials from Geelong
to Richmond, (and 3 return), but they were cancelled on Friday afternoon due
to a shortage of Loco Crews.


Graeme Cleak.

Christopher_Martin GORDON <cmgord@ecr.mu.oz.au> wrote in message
news:8f146n$lss$1@mulga.cs.mu.OZ.AU...
> : Caught a V-line train this morning from Geelong to Melb, full of footy
> : supporters heading to Geelong v Hawthorn at the MCG, so all had to
change at
> : Spencer Street for Richmond or Jolimont.  Announcement on the train
said -
> : go to platforms 11 and 12 at Spencer Street for trains to Richmond.
>
> Once they would run footy specials to Richmond (empty to Caulfield and
wait
> till footy is finished and the return trip)
>
>
> : Is it just coincidence that National Express run both V-line and
Bayside,
> : which uses platforms 11 and  12 - seeking to promote only their own
> : services?
>
> Theory beinga Bayside train will run direct SSS-FSS-RCH where as a
Hillside
> train will run via loop SSS-FGS-MCS-PAR-RCH/JOL
>
> : Not good advice at the best of times, as of course platform 11 is for
> : Bayside trains to the North & West, not Richmond at all; platform 12
does go
> : to Richmond but not as often as 10 (Hillside to Richmond) and 9
(Hillside to
> : Jolimont).  Even worse advice today because nothing was running from
> : platform 11, and the Richmond-bound Bayside trains had been moved to
> : platform 13 for some reason.
>
> Platform 13 for Caulfield (and Sandringham train) group train since the
> viaduct re-construction works cloes Clifton Hill and Burnley viaducts.
> Trains running Flinders Street - Spencer Street (Burnley and Clifton
> Hill trains) use the Northern Viaduct (northern group) and trains
> running Spencer Street - Flinders Street (northern and caulfield) use
> the Caulfield viaduct.
>
> However to stop certian train getting in the way of other trains at
> Viaduct Junction (between Spencer Street and the Viaduct) trains
> from North Melbourne (northern group) use platform 12 at Spencer
> Street, therefor the Caulfield group train use platform 13 and the
> through suburban viaduct (new one).
>
> When work effects other parts the viaducts are just changed over, but
> normally Caulfield will use the through suburban and Platform 13 at SSS,
> Northern group trains will use the nearest open track on the old
> viaduct to the river (south) anf the Burnley and Clifton Hill trains will
> use the nearest open track on the old viaduct to the city (north).
>
> Two tracks will be closed for works. (Until the part over King Street
> was started a few weeks ago) one track would be under re-construction
> and the other for the plant train(s).  King Street was just rip up
> both tracks over 1/2 of King Street (the other 1/2 still open for
> road traffic) and replace bridge/viaduct.
>
> : About 200 people stood around on platform 11, missing several trains on
9 &
> : 10,  until someone finally had pity on them & told them the right
platform.
>
> Hillside runs Spencer Street, they should have sent everyone to Platform
> 9 and 10.  (or VLP should have sent the train to Richmond like they used
to)
>
> : Just wondering whether it's Vline policy to only promote Bayside
services,
> : or just a coincidence?
>
> I would say lack of thinking, ie put them all on the train which goes
direct
> not via the loop.
>
>
> : Steve
>
>
>
> --
>
> Chris Gordon
> http://www.railpage.org.au/vicsig
>
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> e-mail: cmgord@ecr.mu.oz.au (text only)
> e-mail: cmgord@alphalink.com.au
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