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

["Ben" <smithb@alphalink.com.au>]

"Michael" <usenet.spam@gunzel.net> wrote in message
8FEE8C858gunzelT333@139.130.239.94">news:8FEE8C858gunzelT333@139.130.239.94...
> 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).

I believe from memory that there is a mooring there already. Not the Tourist
Ferries but on the FSS side of Princes Bridge right?

>
> * Northbank - Docklands - (few stops) - Marybyrnong - (Keilor??). [How far
> can a boat go up the Marybyrnong river?]

To Avondale Hieghts, Canning Reserve I think, maybe a bit further up stream
from the Cordite Av bridge.

> * Northbank - Williamstown - Corio - Queenscliff - Sorrento - Mornington -
> Black Rock - Northbank.
> * Northbank - Black Rock - Mornington - Sorrento - Queenscliff - Corio -
> Williamstown - Northbank.

How long would this take?

What about a ferry service from Frankston to Mornington,  the lower
Mornington Peninsular (Sorrento/Portsea),  Queenscliff then to Geelong/Corio
where it would connect with rail to Melbourne and vice versa, connect with
rail in Frankston.

That way you would have a lower bay system that feed to Geelong and
Frankston dramatically cutting travel time between the two.

While in the upper bay you could have the Northbank, Docklands, Footscray,
Willy, Port Melbourne/Beacon Cove (Sandridge), St Kilda, Black Rock service.
>
> 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).

Geelong should be part of the Met fare system. Currently a return adult
ticket to Geelong OP costs about $12.20. I know a concession to Geelong
costs $6.10 and a zone 123 daily concession costs $4.30. So that would mean
a few $'s off the price of travel if it is in zone 3. What about Geelong
busses? (The Met is starting to look like City rail here with such a large
area.)

Ben Smith