The outer outer circle

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Mal Rowe

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Nov 16, 2020, 1:50:45 AM11/16/20
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The Victorian Government has announced that serious work will begin on
the Melbourne Suburban Rail Loop to ring Melbourne about 10km from the CBD.

Details are at:
https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/hdp.au.prod.app.vic-engage.files/7715/8623/8412/SRL_Project_Overview_fact_sheet.pdf

or https://tinyurl.com/y2bwvmtp

Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop Jacinta
Allan announced $2.2 billion for initial and early works on Stage One of
the project to run between Cheltenham and Box Hill, with the full
project to eventually link every major train line between Frankston and
Werribee via Melbourne Airport.  Works will start in 2022.

This is a much higher capacity option than the "Medium Capacity Transit
Corridors"  (Light Rail?) covering some similar areas proposed by the
"Rail Futures Institute".

See: https://tdu.to/m/261312

Mal Rowe in a world where debt is now good

Richard Youl

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Nov 16, 2020, 3:45:12 PM11/16/20
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It all sounds fine in theory, but presumably there are already buses connecting some of these focal points.

Is there any indication that these services are well patronised?

Regards,



> On 16 Nov 2020, at 4:50 pm, Mal Rowe <mal....@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> The Victorian Government has announced that serious work will begin on the Melbourne Suburban Rail Loop to ring Melbourne about 10km from the CBD.
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Mal Rowe

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Nov 16, 2020, 4:19:54 PM11/16/20
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On 17/11/2020 07:45, 'Richard Youl' via TramsDownUnder wrote:
> It all sounds fine in theory, but presumably there are already buses connecting some of these focal points.
>
> Is there any indication that these services are well patronised?

I would be very surprised if they are - Melbourne's buses overall carry
very light loads.

The SRL project is seen as a long term game changer - decentralising
Melbourne activity and making parts of Melbourne beyond "Zone 1" less
car dependent.

There's an interesting commentary on it in the online "Smart
Cities"journal at:

https://smart-cities.com.au/development-of-australian-city-rail-networks-part-2/?utm_source=Smart+Cities+-+News+List&utm_campaign=dcccc5974b-Smart+Cities+enews+30%2F01%2F20_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_52d1551fe6-dcccc5974b-93926329&mc_cid=dcccc5974b&mc_eid=8a10942e97

or https://tinyurl.com/yyuun5vx

Mal Rowe who does use buses for cross city travel

Richard Youl

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Nov 16, 2020, 4:48:32 PM11/16/20
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Thanks Mal.

I have used services such as the Bell Street buses a few times to get quickly between one tramline and another without going into the city but the few times I have used them loadings were quite light.

Obviously we all like to see any new rail line be a success but with rail construction standards being rather high these days with grade separations etc, construction will be expensive so hopefully the first stage will be one which is the most likely to attract patronage to test the water for viability.

Richard

> On 17 Nov 2020, at 7:19 am, Mal Rowe <mal....@gmail.com> wrote:
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Mark Skinner

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Nov 16, 2020, 4:53:35 PM11/16/20
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A random thought on this is that it is likely that some companies will retain work from home policies, based on experience of working through Covid-19. 

Those companies for whom this has worked will downsize CBD office numbers to save money on CBD office rents.

In this case, it would make sense that CBD based traffic expansion is less, while cross suburban traffic increases. 

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TP

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Nov 16, 2020, 9:56:56 PM11/16/20
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This will build its own patronage and break down the focus on the Melbourne CBD if coupled with a good planning strategy that encourages new centres, particularly where the line crosses other train and tram routes. Presumably it will be mostly underground given existing urban development in the areas through which it passes, so it should offer quick journey times which will in turn make interchange more attractive.

Tony P

TP

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Nov 17, 2020, 4:33:01 AM11/17/20
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Richard, the cross-regional bus services you need to compare with are not the local ones, but the Smartbus orbital routes. Some of these have the highest patronage of any bus service in Australia (except maybe 333 to Bondi).

Tony P

Richard Youl

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Nov 17, 2020, 6:38:28 AM11/17/20
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That’s the reason I posed the question. Essentially I wanted to know if anybody rides any present ring service type bus routes.


Regards,


On 17 Nov 2020, at 7:33 pm, TP <histor...@smartchat.net.au> wrote:



espee8800

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Nov 17, 2020, 7:51:10 AM11/17/20
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Prior to C-19 I used the 902 on and off also the 901 but less often.  The 902 was usually very well patronised, the 901 slightly less so but the it was mid morning.  A lot of traffic was local, 3 or 4 stops, local shopping strips were well used as expected but the best traffic spots were railway stations, Nunawading, Glen Waverley and Springvale.

TP

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Nov 17, 2020, 7:05:50 PM11/17/20
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From reading the background on the project, I gather this line will be like a Sydney metro line - self-contained with dedicated driverless trains and platform screen doors. Good to see. The quicker and quieter journeys will be appreciated.

Tony P
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