Re: Doncaster and Warrandyte Rail?

[David McLoughlin <davemcl@REMOVEiprolink.co.nz>]

thalytgv@my-dejanews.com wrote:
> 
> Much have been discuss with options to serve Knox City by using Rail/tram in
> this group, What about Warrandyte or Doncaster? These suburbans having
> relatively huge population and good highways but lacking reliable public
> transport, any chance of letting LRT/heavy
> Rail to get involve?
> 

There is little chance. However the eastern freeway was built with a
rail alignment in it for a proposed Doncaster railway. The MMTB
proposed, in the 1970s, using it for light rail. 

The alignment ought now be used for a light rail line, with the trams
coming off the freeway and branching to Templestowe and East Doncaster

The former branch would leave the freeway at Thompsons Rd and travel
along that road (on a suitable segretated track) to Manningham Road,
thence via the latter to High Street, thence via High Street to
Templestowe. As well as serving commuters this route would serve a lot
of schools in the area.

The East Doncaster line would leave the freeway at Doncaster Road and
run to Donvale, terminating at Doncaster Rd/Mitcham Rd, serving
Doncaster Shoppingtown and much more besides. The 48 could be extended
from Balwyn Road to the new line and run to Shoppingtown.

Hmmm, the city end. I'd run the line in median along Alexandra Parade
then Princes St to the 1/15 lines at Lygon Street, then down past the
University and along Swanston Street. To save overloading Swanston
Street I would through-route the service with southern lines, perhaps
the Dandenong Road services (5 and 64) or the High St St Kilda services
(3 and 67). Certainly not the 8 or the 72 as they get stuck in traffic
too much.

Yes I'd use articulated trams on the lines, and these would be a new
batch of low floors, those which Kennett has promised to begin ordering
when? 2004? So by the time those pigs were flying down the road, you
could build the new Doncaster/Templestowe lines to use them.

David McLoughlin
Auckland New Zealand

I remember the Ice Age. It was what they claimed was happening to the
weather before they invented Global Warming.


via        and to East Doncaster (terminus at