Re: [Melb] 27/4/2001 - Services disrupted on Belgrave Line

[Peter <railvic@iprimus.com.au>]

Mick Stock wrote:

[snip]
> 
>  There are 2 Belgrave trains spaced closely together. Then a Lilydale,
> which is cancelled. Then another Belgrave train 3 mins after the
> cancelled Lilydale. In a 30 minute period, there were 3 Belgrave (and
> also a Ringwood) trains, but no Lilydale trains for at least 47 mins.
> And even when there are no cancellations/delays, why are there 3
> Belgrave trains (2 within 9 mins of each other), a Ringwood train, but
> only 1 Lilydale train between 18:50 and 19:30?

I think this is due to operation limitation at Lilydale with 2
platforms:

18.32 Lilydale (LIL arr. 19.34 - Plat. 1) forms 19.41 Ringwood (3 car)
and 20.02 Flinders Street (3 car);
18.48 Lilydale (LIL arr. 19.52 - Plat. 2) shunts, detach 3 car, then
redock to form 20.20 Flinders Street (3 car departing from plat. 2).
19.17 Lilydale (LIL arr. 20.14 - Plat. 1) shunts entire train.  Cross
20.02 Flinders Street at Mooroolbark.

So from above, between 19.50 and 20.15 hours, there is train shunting
going on with one platform occupied.  Therefore, it is not possible to
have an additional Lilydale service timetabled, which will give you
another Lilydale service departing Flinders Street between 18.50 and
19.30 hours during weekday peak.  Also just a reminder that 19.20 down
Belgrave is an extension of Ringwood service (prior to the current
timetable).  Neverthelss, a ** possible (I stress "possible") **
solution is to extend 19.09 down Ringwood to Mooroolbark with an earlier
departure time at Flinders Street - Train to arrive at Mooroolbark no
later than 19.55 then sent back to Ringwood as empty car ahead of the
20.02 up Lilydale.  

Often questions and comments related to service scheduling come down to
operation limitation, such as single line, train shunting, platform
occupation, etc.

Peter