Re: Suggestions for a better Melbourne

[David Bromage <dbromage@omni.com.au>]

"FRISCÉ Theatre Co. (Bryan Cullis)" wrote:
> *  Electrification and reopening of line to Healesville, with stations at
> Coldstream, Yering, Yarra Glen, Tarrawarra and Healesville.

You could probably even add an "East Lilydale" or something similar. All
the ay to Healsville might not be justified, even as a Stony Point style
of service, but extending to Coldstream would probably work.

> *  Opening of new stations at Cave Hill (between Mooroolbark and Lilydale)

This would be the famous Electiondale station. Cave Hill could be
abmiguous should the quarry ever decide to send lime by rail again.
(This has been proposed, but V/Line wasn't interested!)

The former Shire of Lilydale proposed the name Billanook for the station,
which is between Mooroolbark and the former Cave Hill siding.

> and Bedford Park (between Ringwood and Heathmont).

Bedford Road between Croydon and Mooroolbark would be more useful.

> *  Opening of a Y-link between Bedford Park and Ringwood East, running
> trains
> from Upper Fern Tree Gully to Lilydale, and calling it the Maroondah line.

I don't think this would be of much use, and I doubt there is room for
the triangle. I can think of better ways to spend that sort of money.

> *  Rename Glenferrie to "Glenferrie-Swinburne".

I can't really see much point to this.

> *  Extending the Glen Waverley line to Rowville,

And on to Upper FT Gully.

Also follow the Perth example and build a railway from Greensborough to
Frankston down the middle of the proposed freeway. There could be junctions
at Ringwood, Scorsby and Dandenong.

> *  Extending the Alamein line to connect with the Rowville line between East
> Malvern and Holmesglen, with services running to Rowville via Glen Iris or
> via Ashburton.

Good idea. This can be done even without extending to Rowville.
The junction should be triangular.

> *  Reopening and electrification of Epping line to South Morang

Sounds reasonable, but why not all the way to Whittlesea?

> *  Opening of a Y-Link between Rushall and Westgarth, running trains from
> Reservoir and Heidelberg, and calling it the Merrilands line.

Can't see much use for this, unless you also rebuild the Inner Circle.

> *  Construction of a new rail line to East Doncaster.  The line will run
> from Victoria Park via the Eastern Freeway, then underground from just after
> the footbridge between Kenneth and Carron Sts. to East Doncaster.
> Sq., East Doncaster), with possible plans to extend the line underground to
> Box Hill.

An eventual link to Ringwood via Donvale rather than Box Hill might be
more useful.

After the Mont Albert tram is extended to Box Hill, I'd like to see
North Balwyn extended to Doncaster and then a link between the two.
This was a serious proposal by the Met before the change of government.

> *  Electrification of rail line from Broadmeadows and Upfield to
> Craigieburn, with stations at Coolaroo (Kalimna Cres., Coolaroo), Roxburgh
> Park (former site of Somerton station), Patullos (Patullos La., Craigieburn)
> and Craigieburn (current station).

Good idea.

> *  Extend the Flemington Racecourse line to connect with western lines just
> before South Kensington, allowing trains to run City - North Melbourne -
> Showgrounds - Racecourse - North Melbourne.

A triangular junction might be useful. This could allow direct services
from the western lines to the Showgrounds. (Oh dear, do I see another
Olympic Park line?)

> *  Electrification of the rail line from St. Albans to Sunbury, with
> stations at Keilor Downs (Taylors Rd., Keilor Downs), Taylors Lakes (Proctor
> Cres., Keilor Downs), Sydenham (current station),

Sydenham is being relocated as part of the current electrification.
But otherwise a sensible suggestion.

> *  Electrification of the rail line from Sunshine to Bacchus Marsh, with
> stations at Selwyn Park (cnr. Ridgeway Pde. and Smart St., West Sunshine)
> and all other existing stations, plus Parwan (former station).

Melton would work, bring part of Zone 2, but I can't see Bacchus Marsh
being electrified unless it was made Zone 3. The solution would be just
run more Ballarat trains. 

There's a problem with Parwan - there's nothing there!

> *  Addition of Werribee Racecourse to system maps.

Hasn't the overhead been decommissioned?

In an ideal world, National Express would electrify to South Geelong.

> *  Reopen and electrify the line to Mornington with stations at all original
> sites except for Mornington (former site of R.M.S.P. 16, on the western side
> of Nepean Hwy.).

Have you consulted MRPS? :)

> *  Electrification of the Stony Point line from Frankston, with a new
> station in Hastings called "Old Tyabb" (adjacent to Old Tyabb township).

Probably better to come up with a new name.

> *  Resuming of electric services to Warragul with all Pakenham services
> extended to Warragul.

You'd have to rebuild the overhead first. Warragul is a silly location for
the end of the wires, and can hardly be justified for only 21 trains per
week.

You either have to keep it as is and increase the number of Traralgon trains
(see my proposal at http://www.railpage.org.au/forward/east/) or go the
whole hog and electrify to Traralgon (again!) and build interurban EMUs.
VR should have built its proposed interurban Harris trains in the 50s, 
and/or the interurban Comeng in the early 80s.

> *  Introduction of a suburban rail system for Geelong and suburbs, named
> "Geelong City Railways (GCR)".  Trains would run on existing tracks, with
> replacement tracks required along line to Drysdale and construction of new
> track for a Y-link and an additional rail line.

A few years ago there was a serious proposal to rebuild from South
Geelong 
to Leopold, partly funded by the City of Greater Geelong. Leopold is
about 
the limit of urban expansion of Geelong. Going on to Drysdale could probably
not be justified. The proposal would have included commuter services on
the 
main line to Grovedale, and was to have included Deakin. Geelong Showgrounds
was also to regain its station (lots of houses nearby now) as part of the
Leopold proposal.

GSPS/BPR was consulted at the time about the feasbility of extending the 
narrow gauge to meet other trains at Leopold. A Belgrave style layout
was dismissed early on in favour of a cross-platform connection. A dual
gauge turntable was also mentioned.

Cheers
David