Re: Changes in Melbourne

[Michael Walker <walker@hotkey.net.au>]

David Proctor wrote:
> 
> Mick Stock <mzs@eastwood.apana.org.au> wrote in article
> <Pine.LNX.3.96.980116211828.17753A-100000@eastwood.apana.org.au>...
> <scissors out - big snip>
> 
> > What we need on the Lilydale & Belgrave lines during the weekend is as
> > follows:
> >
> >     Saturday:  Keep current timetable until about 7:45am, then use
> > existing Sunday t/t until about 6:30pm, then revert to current Sat t/t
> for
> > the rest of the night, OR new timetable after 7:45am - same as weekdays,
> > but without peak period extras??  Considering that most trains on Sat are
> > packed, this would be a good thing! Better still, run 6-car trains all
> > day.
> >
> >     Sunday:    Use current Saturday t/t until about 7:45am, then old Sun
> > t/t for the rest of the day/night.
> >
> >     This will give travellers on both lines a regular 30 min daytime
> > service (as we currently get on weekdays), plus the extra trains for
> early
> > Sunday mornings.
> 
> To save costs, why dont they jsut run a half-hourly, six car train to
> Ringwood and divide it there - three cars to Belgrave and three cars to
> Lilydale? On the return the sets would combine at Ringwood. This would save
> on crewing costs, at the same time as providing a half-hourly service.
> 
> --
> Regards
> 
> David Proctor
> daproc@bigfoot.com

My understanding of Metrail procedure regarding splitting trains (or in
railwayspeak DAP - Divide At Platform), passengers are not allowed on
trains whilst they are being split for safety reasons. Even Met Trains
wouldn't be game to kick all the passengers off a six car set to split
it at Ringwood.