Beyond Epping (VIC) or signs of optimism.

[Cameron <epa.epacoh@mesmtpse.ericsson.se>]

Let me try to paint a picture of optimism.

The place is Epping (VIC) station, platform two at the eastern end. END
OF THE LINE so to speak.

The line used to go further on ( for normal traffic then stabling ) but
hasn’t for many years due to the workshops opening up.

Not far from the end of the platform ( a couple of metres ) are two
sleepers laid across the tracks. They are spaced about 1.5 metres apart.
On the first sleeper are two warning plates that have red and black
diagonal stripes.  Fifteen metres or so after the end of platform 2 
there is a foot crossing of the old track. The electrification has also
been stopped about another twenty metres after the foot crossing.  The
road level crossing is located about twenty metres from the last
electrification pole. The road level crossing signs are still there
rusting in the weather.

The signs for the foot crossing of the old track are NEW. The yellow
signs that say "BEWARE OF TRAINS" and the painted sign on the ground
that says "WAIT HERE" are new.

What can we gauge (bad railway pun) from this?

a)  Are they going to start stabling trains again on the other side of
the Cooper Street level crossing?
b)  Is this the first move to send passenger traffic back out towards
South Morang and Whittlesea?
c)  Did someone fail to mention to the crews who maintain the foot
crossings that two sleepers would derail most trains at any speed
d)  Any reasonable person would not  "WAIT HERE", next to the sign when
a rail vehicle was derailing 1 metre from them.
e)  Are the signs, paintwork and barriers necessary due to the fact that
that the rails are still there? If this is so why hasn’t the Cooper
Street level crossing been done?
f)  Should the signs read "BEWARE OF TRAINS IN THE FUTURE"  or  "BEWARE
OF TRAINS THAT LOOK LIKE NOT STOPPING AT PLATFORM 2" or "DON’T WAIT
HERE" or  "WAIT HERE IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO DO"
g)  Why was the foot crossing not given a fence to stop people just
wondering down the track towards platform 2?

Cameron.