Welcome to Bayside Trains

[Chris Brownbill <cbrnbill@enternet.com.au>]

Brochure being handed out yesterday evening at Parliament station entitled
"Welcome to Bayside Trains".  At first glance it looks pretty, but when you read
more closely you start to see how my fears of network disintegration are coming
true now that we have segregated our rail system.

Some illustrations of the 'half-information' or supplier biased information this
brochure contains are:
-  The map only shows Bayside routes - Hillside lines are shown only at the
junction points with arrows pointing off into the never-never.  
-  Whilst the brochure is at pains to point out that nothing has changed in the
way you pay for your ticket and travel, it then says that 'Metcards are
available at all Bayside Trains stations'.  Well, that's the truth, but its not
the whole truth because there is an implication which the spin doctors know
would never stand up in court that this is something better than what you would
find and someone else's stations.
-  There is a section titled "Trains right to the Gate" in which the benefits of
train travel to the Zoo, the MCG, Shopping at Melbourne Central, and the races
at Caulfield are extolled.  What about Melbourne's main racecourse -
Flemington?  Of course not - that's the other lot!

In a different vein, there's a cutesy shot of a nicely renovated polychrome
brick station in evening light with a softly lit city skyline in the distance. 
Very nice I thought until  I looked a bit closer and realised it was Footscray
station.  Amazing what a good Photographer can do.

Finally, they give an incorrect web address.

3 out of 10 (for spelling and punctuation only).