There are several fixes possible to encourage the travelling public back
to the rails.
How about building bigger car parks at stations in the inner suburbs.
For example Clifton Hill (CH) is serviced by the Epping & Hurstbridge
lines. If Park Safe built a large car park within a two minute walk of
the station and if an extra service terminating at CH ( turnaround on a
new siding or at Rushall or Westgarth ) was added, it would make
travelling to the city more economical. The carpark would hopefully
cost much less than the city ones and the petrol and time saved would
make it a possibility.
Trams are really slow compared to trains but trams serve a purpose. And
rarely do the two meet. Another Possible. IF the 86,87 & 88 tram was
to meet up with Thornbury station on the Epping line the travel time
between North Bundoora (RMIT) and the city would be reduced
considerably. The solution here is to turn the city bound tram down
Miller St, from Plenty Rd heading for the bridge. Then a single track
down Ethel St, then into Hutton St and back onto High St. ( Hutton &
High will need a set of traffic lights). The idea of a single track
would be for AM = city bound then PM = outbound, and a single track
would reduce the cost.
What Melbourne needs is at least one rail link that circles the city and
connects all existing rail lines that feed into the city. I suppose
when the fossil fuels are gone and only the rich can afford the
synthetic fuels we will have a ring road to convert into a rail line.
None of this will ever happen while we are preaching to the converted.
Do any of these suggestion ever get to the people who make the
decisions? Now that privisation is looming, an operator may look at
positive suggestion to improve patronage.
Cameron.
Now this is what Peter Berrett VK3PZ wrote:
>
> - Princes Park
>
> solution: dedicated spur with new station)
Possible.
> - Waverley Park
>
> solution: dedicated spur via Monash Uni Clayton to Knox City
Not really a certainty that football will be played there in the
future. Maybe if the showgrounds are moved there.
> - Northland Shopping Centre
> solution: dedicated spur from Reservoir, via Kingsbury
The line was supposed to follow the Darebin Creek alignment branching
off at Alphington and going to Plenty Rd. Planned about the 1950's
Canned 19??'s
> - Airport
> solution: new Broadmeadows line via Sunshine with Airport spur
Should happen somehow.
> - Yarra Glen Racecourse
> solution: extension of line to Yarra Glen (diesel only)
Heavy Rail just like South Geelong for the races.
>
> - RMIT Bundoora
> solution: spur from Epping?
No. Bus from Lalor or Thomastown.
>
> - La Trobe University
> solution: see Northland line above - Kingsbury station would service La
> Trobe students
See above.
>
> I realise it is a bit of a wish list but I hope it makes people realise
> how the train service is failing to service the Melbourne public
> adequately.
>
> Does anyone have any other suggestions of pupular places that warrant a train service?
>
> cheers peter