Re: Travel patterns (was Re: New form of rail transportation)

[usenet.spam@gunzel.net (Michael)]

Ben <smithb@alphalink.com.au> wrote in article
<3a13bef1@news.alphalink.com.au>: 

>> Unfortunately, the idea of a railway extended from Williamstown under
>> the bay to Dandenong sounds a little absurd.

>What about a half decent ferry service that connects Williamstown,
>Footscray, Southgate, Port Melbourne and St Kilda or even Frankston. Not
>one of those touristy things but a proper ferry service using
>"Rivercats" (Yarracats/Baycats) like in Sydney and Brisbane.

Funny you bring this up. I was discussing with another aus.rail member last 
night, the idea of a ferry network possibly integrated into the Met fare 
system. 

Without looking at a Melways, my idea was to have services as follows:

(Assuming a ferry terminal to be setup on Northbank, at Flinders Street 
Station - which can be done at relatively minor cost).

* Northbank - Docklands - (few stops) - Marybyrnong - (Keilor??). [How far 
can a boat go up the Marybyrnong river?]
* Northbank - Williamstown - Corio - Queenscliff - Sorrento - Mornington - 
Black Rock - Northbank.
* Northbank - Black Rock - Mornington - Sorrento - Queenscliff - Corio - 
Williamstown - Northbank.

A service upstream on the Yarra River would be useless, since, for the 
distance you can travel - there are already a number of public transport 
options.

At the same time, you could possibly integrate Geelong rail into the Met 
fare system, hence becoming Zone 3 beyond Werribee.

There is genuine need for public transport in many of the areas mentioned 
above, and is still keeping to the mostly radial model outlined by other 
people. (With the exception of Sorrento-Queenscliff - anyone expecting 
people to go via Melbourne is total lunacy).

M.

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