Fw: Sat.21-Tues.24.3.26 daily digests, austerity issues

[Roderick Smith]

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To: australiant...@groups.io <australiant...@groups.io>
Sent: Tuesday 31 March 2026 at 02:22:16 pm AEDT
Subject: Sat.21-Tues.24.3.26 daily digests, austerity issues

Sat.21.3.26 Metro X
Mernda line: Buses replace trains between Parliament and Reservoir until the last train of Sunday (maintenance and renewal works).  https://tinyurl.com/2nbxk3b8
Buses replace trains between Parliament and Hurstbridge until the last train of Sunday (works).  https://tinyurl.com/2fysst6h
Lilydale/Belgrave/Alamein/ Glen Waverley lines: All trains will run direct to/from Flinders St until the last train of Sunday (maintenance and renewal works).  https://tinyurl.com/ymzfjcmv
Buses replace trains between Westall and East Pakenham / Cranbourne until the last train of Sunday (works).  https://tinyurl.com/3xbkuyhc
0.52 Craigieburn line: Major delays (police in the Moonee Ponds area).  Train services may be altered.
- 1.43 clearing.

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Sun.22.3.26

Sun.22.3.26 Metro X
Mernda line: Buses replace trains between Parliament and Reservoir until the last train (maintenance and renewal works).  https://tinyurl.com/2nbxk3b8
Buses replace trains between Parliament and Hurstbridge until the last train (works).  https://tinyurl.com/2fysst6h
Lilydale/Belgrave/Alamein/ Glen Waverley lines: All trains will run direct to/from Flinders St until the last train (maintenance and renewal works).  https://tinyurl.com/ymzfjcmv
Buses replace trains between Westall and East Pakenham / Cranbourne until the last train (works).  https://tinyurl.com/3xbkuyhc
5.35 Lilydale line: Major delays (an overhead-power fault in the Croydon area).  Train services may be altered.
- 5.41 & 6.35 Buses to replace trains between Ringwood and Lilydale, eta over 60 min.   Ringwood trains have delays.
- countdown 50-40
- 7.35  Buses are replacing trains, adding 40 min.
- 9.24 How long before that's fixed?
- 9.33  The damage is extensive.  Maintenance teams are on site, estimated repair time not known.  We have eight replacement buses in operation.  Ringwood are running close to timetable.
- 9.53 Repairs are not expected to be completed until this evening, but the timeframe may change.
- 16.00 & 23.00 Repair works are not expected to be completed until after last trains tonight (subject to updates).
- 23.08 You'd better post me an update before the first train tomorrow morning or I will be upset.
15.16 East Pakenham  Cranbourne lines: Major delays (police attending to trespasser in the Westall area).  Trains may be held at or between stations, or may terminate/originate at intermediate stations.
- 15.29 Clearing.
16.36 Sunbury line: Major delays (a trespasser).  Train services may be altered.
Buses replace trains between Newport and Werribee from 20.30 until the last train (works).  https://tinyurl.com/575v37ny

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/teen-fighting-for-life-after-train-surfing/ar-AA1Z5Zmf

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/hotel-demands-millions-in-extra-compensation-from-metro-tunnel-20260313-p5oach.html

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/paul-was-punched-on-a-train-getting-help-was-harder-than-expected-20260317-p5ob6f.html

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/sunshine-coast/pedestrian-hit-by-train-in-glass-house-mountains-sunshine-coast/news-story/9ff585dfa2b930b2d5e477318d3816fe

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/is-the-big-spike-in-public-transport-usage-in-perth-because-of-high-fuel-prices/ar-AA1Z5XHl

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/why-these-brisbane-bus-routes-are-still-not-all-that-popular-despite-being-almost-free-20260304-p5o7bf.html

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/rail-union-calls-for-free-public-transport-as-fuel-crisis-continues/ar-AA1Z9Hf5

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Mon.23.3.26

Mon.23.3.26 Metro X
Pakenham/Cranbourne lines: Buses replace trains between Westall and Berwick/Cranbourne all day (works).  https://tinyurl.com/bdcmskjf
4.24 Buses are still replacing trains Ringwood - Lilydale.  We anticipate trains to resume soon.
- 4.50 Trains are resuming.  First: 4.32 ex Lilydale.
- Whilst repair works took longer than hoped, causing a handful of early-morning trains to be impacted, you did an excellent job to ensure that peak-hour services weren’t impacted and for keeping everyone updated.
8.45 Hurstbridge line: Major delays clearing after an 'operational incident' in the Montmorency area.  Train services may be altered.
13.17 Frankston line: Major delays (a trespasser in the Glen Huntly area).  Trains may remain stationary at or between stations for extended periods of time; train services may be altered.
- 13.21 clearing.
Buses replace trains between North Melbourne, Werribee and Williamstown from 20.00 until the last train (works).  https://tinyurl.com/4f3ynk9h
Frankston line: All trains will run direct to/from Flinders St from 21.00 until the last train (maintenance and renewal works).  https://tinyurl.com/yrr4unve

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/queenslanders-pay-more-than-4-million-in-fare-evasion-fines-since-introduction-of-50-cent-fares/ar-AA1Za9ac

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/public-transport-fare-reduction-work-from-home-mandates-unlikely-as-nsw-grapples-with-fuel-price-hike/ar-AA1ZbTe8

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/we-all-whinge-about-the-buses-tourist-woes-continue-at-brighton-bathing-boxes-20260316-p5oau9.html

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9204804/woden-bus-interchange-to-open-in-april-after-costly-delays

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Tues.24.3.26

Tues.24.3.26 Metro X
7.44 Mernda line: Buses to replace trains between Reservoir and Clifton Hill (emergency services attending to a 'serious incident), eta over 60 min.  Trains each side have delays.
- 8.24 buses are in operation, adding 45 min.
- 9.50 Trains are resuming.  First: 8.52 ex Flinders St; 9.24 ex Mernda.
- 10.36 Major delays clearing after an incident requiring emergency services in the Regent area.  Train services may be altered.
8.29  Hurstbridge line: Major delays (network congestion in the Clifton Hill area).
- 9.03 Train services may be altered.
- 9.06 How can there be network congestion when one of the two lines isn’t running?
- 9.10 Mernda trains are terminating at Clifton Hill before turning back to the city, which is resulting in congestion for Hurstbridge trains.
- 9.14 So the peak services to the city are suffering due to the much lighter usage leaving the city?  Maybe prioritise people trying to get to work.
- 9.51 clearing.
8.46 Craigieburn line: Major delays (police in the Glenbervie area).  Trains may remain stationary for extended periods at or between stations, or may terminate/originate at intermediate stations.
- 8.49 Amazing that one person can stop the entire network.
- 8.57 clearing.
9.54 Sunbury line: Major delays clearing after an 'operational incident' in the Sunshine area.
11.38 Pakenham/Cranbourne lines: Major delays (a train fault in the Clayton area).  Train services may be altered.
Buses replace trains between North Melbourne, Werribee and Williamstown from 20.00 until the last train (works).  https://tinyurl.com/4f3ynk9h
Frankston line: All trains will run direct to/from Flinders St from 21.00 until the last train (maintenance and renewal works).  https://tinyurl.com/yrr4unve

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/two-boys-killed-in-crash-with-bus/ar-AA1Zd2Gg

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/outer-east/60k-bill-sparks-standoff-between-govt-and-council-over-bridge-repair-on-lilydale-to-warburton-rail-trail/news-story/ac7fe1591ab12a1063c770160349a64e

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9206474/andrew-barr-to-ask-commonwealth-for-cash-to-make-pt-free