Re: 4D Is it or isn't it

["Graeme" <gvrail@thatsent.com.au>]

Very encouraging to see that there is a recognition about the need for
improvements to frequencies, speed and capacity.  The Northern Suburbs
Railway here in Perth has interpeak train frequencies of 7.5 minutes.  That
builds to 3.5 minutes in the peak period with express trains (they run Perth
to Warwick non-stop and then all stops to Currambine.  By running expresses
contra flow as well we significantly improved the utilisation of the
rollingstock, enabling a number of sets to get in as many as 3 peak period
trips in the down direction away from Perth, as well as enhancing
opportunities for cross City travel.

Judging by the extent of the freeway system in Melbourne, I get the feeling
there are a number of opportunities to develop longer haul cross city travel
as much as just Melbourne CBD trips.
--
Graeme Vellacott
PO Box 322
CANNINGTON 6987
AUSTRALIA
Email:   gvrail@thatsent.com.au
Ph/Fax: +61 8 9451 5630
Visit www.thatsent.com.au
Wizzer1865 <wizzer1865@aol.com> wrote in message
19991119005322.01090.00000681@ng-fy1.aol.com">news:19991119005322.01090.00000681@ng-fy1.aol.com...
> >Hi,
> >I met with Hillside upper management yesterday and we discussed double
> >deckers in passing. They agreed that theyre not needed but they didn't
> >mention what they wanted to do with the 4D.
> >
> >We also suggested a lot of improvements to service patterns and so
> >forth which they said they were "considering" or would "consider", such
> >as off-peak and late night frequency improvements and more expresses
> >through the day. They acknowledged that line capacity's not an issue.
> >
> >When it came to infrastructure upgrades they said basically that they
> >would do that which their contract required them to do and no more,
> >which I guess reinforces the idea that lobbying on PT should be
> >directed at government.
> >
>
> Your issue with management about service improvements is an interesting
one, I
> remember once before that they had gone down that track before and they
said
> then that capacity was a problem, especially between Box Hill and
Ringwood. The
> section back from Box Hill is set up for 90 sec spacing between trains,
the
> only problem being the 2 outer tracks from Hawthorn to Box Hill and thence
to
> Blackburn have a speed of only 65 kmh, between Richmond and Hawthorn it's
even
> worse with a 55 kmh limit.The centre track has a speed of 70 kmh from
Hawthorn
> to Camberwell and then 80 kmh to Box Hill which is why most express trains
> during peak times use the centre track.What needsto be done is track
capacity
> between Box Hill and Ringwood needs to be increased to allow more services
to
> run. One way would be to improve signal aspects to allow greater headway,
also
> trains from Belgraveand Lilydale need to only stop at Premium stations
from
> Ringwood and have a stopping all stations service from Ringwood to the
city. Of
> course if anyone else has a suggestion or two I would very much like to
hear it
> as I don't consider myself an expert in these things by a long shot.
>
> Regards wizzer