After being closed for many months by the City Link freeway works, the
upfield line thru to Flemington bridge looks to be reopening soon(ish).
The last couple of weeks have ssen the freeway completed to the end of
where it leaves the line. This has enabled the erection of new overhead
masts and now the replacement of overhead has commenced. The level
crossing equiment at Arden St has been partially reinstated.
I haven't heard a statement from the Met, but then I don't travel regularly.
I thought the next interesting piece of work would have been to cross all
the rail lines leading west without causing disruption but they never had
to close tArden St, so there may well be minimum disruption, the machines
used for adding in bridge sections just fasten themselves to the already
completed parts and never getsd close to the ground.
Current rumour among passengers is that that the bus service between
Flemington Bridge & North Melbourne is only contracted until 21 Feb.
(This is what the bus drivers have said.)
So I guess the line reopens on Monday the 23rd, or the passengers walk to
North Melbourne... :-)
Now all we are waiting on is the various crossing closures & line upgrades
to be completed so the line can be full service 7 days a week...
originally promised for "mid 1998" or "June 1998" in various statements and
publiciity, but not lilkey until at least September, when the Box Forest Rd
crossing is due for upgrade (gates/barriers). The timing of that particular
upgrade became an issue after two accidents in 24 hours, one fatal, a week
ago.
crn
-- Clive Newall <crn@bby.com.au> / Broker Services Australia Ltd Melb Australia "I think Casper is the ghost of Richie Rich. I wonder how Richie died?" "Perhaps he realized how hollow the pursuit of money is and took his own life" --Bart and Lisa Simpson