Love all the train footage, and the chance to learn about transit in other cities. Two suggestions. At the end, you mention related videos from other users. Maybe have a link to them in the description? Also, would love to see more maps. Maybe start with an overview map of the service/line, then have more detailed views showing the specific area you're talking about and what is changing about it. A Google Map or OSM with a few lines over it would be fine; just something to show where around greater Melbourne this all is.
I actually have the videos linked in the top right corner (click the i button), youtube just stuffed up how they appeared. I will definitely try to use more maps in future as well.
Just for comparison: in the late 1950s I used the 17.10 steam-hauled "Geelong Flyer" from Spencer Street. Laverton was passed in 30 minutes, and Geelong was reached at 18.05. 55 minutes end to end. Of course, it was a prestige train. More recently, the 7-car Vlocity set evening peak express took the same time to do North Melbourne to North Geelong. Which brings me to - longer trains. It may well be more practical to extend platforms at intermediate stations to accommodate 9-car Vlocitys. This increased accommodation would compensate for train frequency. Thanks for your thoughtful examination of the situation.
Just keep in mind that back in the 50s that train was one of only 2 in the evening peak. That’s an hourly average time between trains for a half hour average wait. Today there’s one every 10 minutes or better. So at that point it’s a 1.5 hour trip (if you include the other service it averages out about 100 minutes) compared to a 1 hour 10 minute trip today. The overall travel time has only improved.
Technically the project was complete by October 2014 (construction on the Deer Park-West Werribee section started in June 2012) and was supposed to open in early 2015, however due to rolling stock shortages didn't open till 21st June. I would have also briefly touched on the chaos of early 2016 which was partly caused by sharp curves on the Regional Rail Link, mainly the North Melbourne Flyover. But other than that a great video about an interesting project that I spent a lot of time around, both when it was being built and since it's completion and opening.
it's been quite busy in the train space in Victoria, got on a vlocity train from Shep today for first time, nice train but do miss the buffet and it's not running max speed yet
Very nice! I managed to see a shep vlocity on the weekend, unfortunate they don’t have food but 9 trains per day and faster speed will be great next year
@@MetroManMelbourne They're all very far away. The easiest "proof of concepts" that they could do with existing fleets are reinstating the Barossa Valley line resembling the Stony Point line and extending metro trains to the new developments at Roseworthy township and Buckland Park which are right next to existing rail corridors.
@@Nick-kz6dg sure but the population is there (20k at each terminus and additional amounts along the routes) and they aren't exactly thousands of kilometres from Adelaide. Even if it was only 1 train a day or 3-4 per week that would be a massive improvement over the current coach service.
The Regional Rail Link was a great project as it allowed for trains to run more frequently, which as mentioned in the video is usually more important than speed. I always wondered why they bothered to build a flyover near the old Manor station, given that the Werribee tracks are no longer in use. I thought it could've been for speed improvements (trains go over that flyover much faster than they would if it wasn't grade separated), but a planned extension of the Werribee line to Wyndham Vale makes a lot more sense as this would help stop trains from getting tanged up when that gets built.
They built the flyover for a few reasons; 1) future provision for passenger trains running Werribee-Geelong again, 2) to avoid broad gauge freight and other movements, 3) to avoid standard gauge freight and other movements. The third reason is the main one.
Love all the train footage, and the chance to learn about transit in other cities.
Two suggestions. At the end, you mention related videos from other users. Maybe have a link to them in the description?
Also, would love to see more maps. Maybe start with an overview map of the service/line, then have more detailed views showing the specific area you're talking about and what is changing about it. A Google Map or OSM with a few lines over it would be fine; just something to show where around greater Melbourne this all is.
I actually have the videos linked in the top right corner (click the i button), youtube just stuffed up how they appeared. I will definitely try to use more maps in future as well.
Just for comparison: in the late 1950s I used the 17.10 steam-hauled "Geelong Flyer" from Spencer Street. Laverton was passed in 30 minutes, and Geelong was reached at 18.05. 55 minutes end to end.
Of course, it was a prestige train.
More recently, the 7-car Vlocity set evening peak express took the same time to do North Melbourne to North Geelong.
Which brings me to - longer trains. It may well be more practical to extend platforms at intermediate stations to accommodate 9-car Vlocitys. This increased accommodation would compensate for train frequency.
Thanks for your thoughtful examination of the situation.
Just keep in mind that back in the 50s that train was one of only 2 in the evening peak. That’s an hourly average time between trains for a half hour average wait. Today there’s one every 10 minutes or better. So at that point it’s a 1.5 hour trip (if you include the other service it averages out about 100 minutes) compared to a 1 hour 10 minute trip today. The overall travel time has only improved.
@@MetroManMelbourne It certainly has. I haven't been to Melbourne for two years but, living next to the line, I'm aware of the frequency. It's good.
Technically the project was complete by October 2014 (construction on the Deer Park-West Werribee section started in June 2012) and was supposed to open in early 2015, however due to rolling stock shortages didn't open till 21st June. I would have also briefly touched on the chaos of early 2016 which was partly caused by sharp curves on the Regional Rail Link, mainly the North Melbourne Flyover. But other than that a great video about an interesting project that I spent a lot of time around, both when it was being built and since it's completion and opening.
it's been quite busy in the train space in Victoria, got on a vlocity train from Shep today for first time, nice train but do miss the buffet and it's not running max speed yet
Very nice! I managed to see a shep vlocity on the weekend, unfortunate they don’t have food but 9 trains per day and faster speed will be great next year
Soo, are regional and metro services on different gauges?
only the Albury line is on standard gauge (for now). Come back in 20 years and things might (and hopefully will) have changed.
So, if you invest in trains you... (gasp)... will draw in new passengers?
Sounds like a lesson South Australia needs to learn.
would be good for SA to put in a whyalla and broken hill line and maybe mt gambier in the future.
@@MetroManMelbourne They're all very far away. The easiest "proof of concepts" that they could do with existing fleets are reinstating the Barossa Valley line resembling the Stony Point line and extending metro trains to the new developments at Roseworthy township and Buckland Park which are right next to existing rail corridors.
@@Nick-kz6dg sure but the population is there (20k at each terminus and additional amounts along the routes) and they aren't exactly thousands of kilometres from Adelaide. Even if it was only 1 train a day or 3-4 per week that would be a massive improvement over the current coach service.
The regional rail link from Sunshine to Werribee will be fully electrified - thus putting regional trains back into the metro system
Great video. The regional rail link is quite an interesting one. Look forward to the next one.
John Brumby approves
The Regional Rail Link was a great project as it allowed for trains to run more frequently, which as mentioned in the video is usually more important than speed. I always wondered why they bothered to build a flyover near the old Manor station, given that the Werribee tracks are no longer in use. I thought it could've been for speed improvements (trains go over that flyover much faster than they would if it wasn't grade separated), but a planned extension of the Werribee line to Wyndham Vale makes a lot more sense as this would help stop trains from getting tanged up when that gets built.
They built the flyover for a few reasons; 1) future provision for passenger trains running Werribee-Geelong again, 2) to avoid broad gauge freight and other movements, 3) to avoid standard gauge freight and other movements. The third reason is the main one.
@@MetroManMelbourne Thanks for the explanation. That was very future-proof of them.
Wow what a video! As a train I approve this video!
Think you'll find that the Flyover already had a BG Track. It was 1 SG and 1 BG.
Nice one. Very informative. 👌
video idea why the sangriham line should be grade sperated
Great video you put together!
Niceeeeeeeeeeee
Great post again very interesting. Well done
nice video loved the intro
God I love this series
Great video :)
Is it worth considering an Eastern RRL for Gippsland services to be separated from Metro services?
Yes, but it would have to be shared with suburban express trains to be viable.
Where would it go though?
Since they built all the new sky rail stations as double track (with no potential to quadruplicate), I say it’s very unlikely, unfortunately