Peter Berrett <pberrett@ <"remove this spambaittbsa.com.au> wrote in
article <6gk2r2$bde@news.tbsa.com.au>...
> Hi all
>
> Having now established (at least to my satisfaction) that trams can be
> made to run on rail tracks, the next question this begs is - does this
> finding hold some potential for the transport network in Melbourne?
>
> I keep thinking about the alamein line and musing that it has a couple
> of clear problems.
>
> 1. The first is that it doesn't go anywhere of significance. Alamein is
> not exactly Box Hill Central if you know what I mean. The logical
> solution is extension of the line to somewhere like Chadstone or to join
> the Glen Waverley line (thus actually having a railway that runs TO
> somewhere of significance) but one need only follow the line along to
> see that the Golf link, freeway and topology make a rail extension
> difficult and expensive.
>
> 2. The second is that during peak hours there is a clear business need
> to provide for a direct commuter service to the city. It is all well and
> good to talk about conversion of the line to light rail but the truth is
> that during peak hours this would mean that commuters would need to
> change transport modes - am undesirable loss of amenity.
>
> How then to solve this problem? I think that hybrid problems demand
> hybrid solutions. The problem of relatively low patronage spur lines
> seems to beg for a hybrid solution.
>
> So what criteria should our solution meet.
>
> a) Transport mode should be able to use existing rail lines to handle
> city commuter traffic during peak hour with transport continuing a
> direct service into the city.
>
> b) transport should provide some sort of transport beyond alamein
> station but without the cost/expense/golf link disruption of a rail
> extension. I'd like to see a rail extension but it is difficult to see
> it getting off the ground - especially as it is in jeff's electorate.
> This suggests some sort of light rail solution.
>
> The hybrid solution I am proposing is this. During peak hours normal
> trains would run along the line as they currently do.
>
> During non-peak hours however a light rail vehicle, using broad gauge,
> would travel along the line then after coming to Alamein follow existing
> roads across the freeway to Chadstone and thence onto one of the
> Dandenong line stations. They key difference here is that for the first
> tihe we would see broad gauge light rail infrstructure on Victorian
> roads. This solution thus provides a light rail link to Chaddie whilst
> retaining existing amenity.
>
> Obviously the height of platforms is a problem. I propose that the ends
> of the platforms be extended and taper down to a ground level platform
> so that people can come down to the level of the light rail vehicle. The
> light rail vehicle would stop at the end of the platform. Alternatively
> all stations could be made centre platform stations like Hartwell and
> then ground level platforms could be built on the opposite sides of the
> track so that people could board the light rail vehicle from there.
>
> I suppose the final hurdle is the question of the termination point of
> the light rail vehicle at the Camberwell end of the line. Camberwell now
> does not have adequate space for new ground level platforms so this
> leaves this option out. East Camberwell looms as the obvious second
> choice. An interchange could be built there for people to change from
> light rail to heavy rail during off peak hours.
>
> One extension to this idea that I rather like is the idea of continuing
> the light rail service to Box Hill. During daylight hours this would
> provide a useful service for shoppers. Box hill station has a disused
> platform, so perhaps the light rail vehicle coudl terminate there (after
> the ground is built up to a suitable height so that the track is level
> with the platform).
>
> Thus our peak service is as follows;
>
> Heavy rail City to Alamein with light rail running Alamein to Chadstone
> and thence to station on Dandenong line along broad guage tramway.
>
> Off peak
>
> Light rail departs Station on Dandenong line to Chadstone to Alamein to
> East Camberwell then express to Box Hill.
>
>
> Shoudl for some reason the above idea prove impracical I offer the
> following modification. If broad gauge trams can't be used - why not a
> low-rider bus capble of running on broad gauge rail tracks?
>
> What do readers think?
>
> cheers Peter
>