Re: Light Rail Question

Peter Berrett VK3PZ (pberrett@tbsa.com.au)
Sat, 04 Apr 1998 09:15:06 +1100

Eddie Oliver wrote:
>
> Peter Berrett VK3PZ <pberrett@tbsa.com.au> wrote:
>
> >Perhaps Perth's train service is in fact a light rail service?
>
> No. It is a heavy rail service. For a start, with the exception of the latest
> route, passenger trackage is shared (or shareable) with freight, and it
> is constructed to full heavy rail standards.

I have on occasions heard of it referred to as a light rail service.
Perhaps it is a light rail service running on heavy rails?

>
> >Perhaps this is the way Melbourne should go. Instead of running 6 cars
> >trains every 20-30 minutes in non-peak hours perhaps the service should
> >be run as 3 car sets every 10-15 minutes? obviously a greater number of
> >drivers would be necessary but this would be compensated for by more
> >passenegers
>
> Of course the service needs a better frequency, but the main thing it needs
> is some proper express running. All stations to Belgrave or Frankston is
> ridiculous, and even skipping between South Yarra and Malvern is only
> a token gesture.
>
> Eddie Oliver

Proabably the best solution is a spur line at an earlier point along the
line. (a la Alamein) The spur line serves the inner suburbs whilst the
outer suburbs trains run express. Wish they did that all the time. I
reckon there is a case for a Boronia to Box Hill express to Melbourne
train each way each day.

cheers peter