News Public Transport Users Association www.ptua.org.au

ISSN 0817 – 0347 Volume 41 No.3 July 2017 Metro’s 13 July Meltdown, and Contract Future

The train control system failure that brought the assured of full financial transparency and value for entire suburban rail system shuddering to a halt money. one Thursday evening peak hour highlights that for all the effort our government is expending on This latest meltdown on the train system reminds us new infrastructure, the system continues to we continue to have a systemic problem with the struggle with failure-prone equipment that too whole management chain for public transport - it often leaves passengers in the lurch. can’t be laid solely at the feet of one private operator or even one Transport Minister, but implicates the On the train system, operation and maintenance of entire system of governance. Just as with , the this legacy equipment is entrusted buck ultimately stops with to private operator Metro Trains. A government and its capacity for decision on Metro’s contract is competent, strategic planning. imminent: renew, re-let to a new operator or return to public The train control room we now use operation. finally went live in 2014 after a long drawn out process that lasted The Rail Tram Bus Union, a decade and a half and spanned supported by the PTUA, has been five Ministers and three private calling for a return to public operators. Prior to this latest ownership. Overseas experience incident it had failed on three attests that public operation with a separate occasions - in October dedicated, competent planning 2014, June 2015 and November authority is a straightforward way 2016 - due to false fire alarms. to promote good passenger Unlike equivalent control rooms outcomes, and in ’s case elsewhere, ours does not reside in could spur PTV to acquire the an isolated facility but occupies a discipline to take charge of a floor in a Collins Street office publicly responsive rail operation. building where it is vulnerable to disruption. Nonetheless, it appears far more likely that a new The latest failure, however, appears to have a contract will be offered to Metro Trains. It would be different cause and more troublesome implications. a disappointment if the government were simply to We’re yet to learn the outcome of the root-cause do so without - at least - taking the opportunity to investigation, but in our view, given the history of substantially improve system management. this facility, the real problem is one that goes further than Metro Trains. Private or public ownership aside, the critical factor in well-run systems is careful, competent Whether the new contractor is Metro Trains, another management by a planning authority like PTV or operator or a public entity like V/Line, there needs to Transport for . This should also include be accompanying reform to ensure stronger agreement to full ‘follow the money’ powers for the passenger outcomes both operationally, and in the Auditor-General, so that Victorian taxpayers can be provision, design and maintenance of the underlying infrastructure. PTUA News – July 2017 – Page 1! PTUA office Committee Member meetings Ross House, Anthony Morton – President Melbourne: 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Tim Long – Secretary Meetings will be advertised in PTUA e-mail: [email protected] Phil Bourke – Treasurer News and on our website www.ptua.org.au Michael Bell Internet Daniel Bowen Geelong: First Saturday of every month (except Our web site is at www.ptua.org.au Anna Morton January), 10:30am The PTUA runs email lists for member David Robertson Mary MacKillop Room, St Mary's discussions, and to stay up to date with Bruce Sutherland Parish Offices,cnr. Little Myers and PTUA events. Members can also view Jennifer Williams Yarra streets, Geelong archived newsletters online: www.ptua.org.au/members/resources Geelong Branch: Ballarat: Paul Westcott – Convenor Second Thursday of each month (except January), 7pm Membership Enquiries Ballarat Branch: Freight Bar, corner Mair and Peel Streets E-mail the office (see above). Ben Lever – Convenor PTUA members can obtain cheap yearly Myki passes – see www.ptua.org.au/ members/offers

Rail Futures Institute Geelong Forum

In this issue Rail Futures, in collaboration with Deakin University School of Architecture and RMIT Centre • Metro meltdown - p1 for Urban Studies, are sponsoring a panel discussion on the key issues for future rail travel, and public • Road rules - p3 transport generally, on the Geelong corridor. Panellists will provide an independent perspective • Metro signalling - p3 on these issues, and discuss short, medium and longer term solutions that need to be adopted to • Airport rail - p4-5 ensure that Greater Geelong and Wyndham can deal with population growth and emerging travel • Metro tenders - p5 preferences. • Branch reports - p 6,7 Come along and hear what can and should, be done. Speakers • South rerouting - Elaine Carbines, CEO, G21 Group of Geelong p7 Regional Councils Edited by Anna Morton. Griff Davies (TBC) , Manager City Transport, City of Wyndham Newsletter contributors - Ben Lever, Tony Morton, John Hearsch, President, Rail Futures Institute Paul Westcott Paul Westcott, Convenor, PTUA Geelong Branch Printed by Kosdown, Port Melbourne. Date: Wednesday, 9 August 2017 Our thanks to Margaret Pullar and the dedicated Time: 7:30pm to 9pm mailout team. Venue: Costa Hall, Deakin University Waterfront Campus, 1 Gheringhap Street. Geelong

PTUA News – July 2017 – Page 2! Road rule changes: PT users, cyclists take note.

A number of changes to services. In Victoria the same powered vehicles). Although this Victoria’s road rules came into private companies generally has actually been unlawful since force on 1 July with little fanfare. operate both public bus and private 1999, on-the-spot fines can now be Many of these are simply coach services, but these should not given to cyclists who operate a clarifying provisions or technical necessarily be seen as equivalent mobile phone (other than in a changes of no import to most functions. prescribed hands-free manner) on a road users. However, as reported Regarding use of bus lanes by bicycle that is moving, or is by The Age and the RACV, some cyclists, there is often a practical "stationary but not parked". There of these rules may have necessity for cyclists to use the left has been much debate on what it important flow-on effects for lane of roads with no dedicated actually means to ‘park’ a bicycle: public transport services (in cycling facilities, whether this is it appears the rule is intended to particular buses) and for cycling. reserved for buses or not. The new prevent phone use while stopped at For public transport, the most rule appears to recognise this a red light, but not when a motorist significant change relates to bus necessity; however we would hope or cyclist is legitimately ‘pulled lanes. Previously, these lanes were that it does not become a pretext to over’. A clarifying provision for restricted strictly to public buses delay the wider provision of safer motorists was recently inserted, unless signed otherwise (although alternatives. We believe that stipulating that a vehicle could be other vehicles could use them when cyclists, public transport users and considered ‘parked’ even if its turning). As of 1 July, there is now bus operators have a shared interest engine is still running. (This was blanket permission for use of bus in ultimately making the use of bus apparently removed by accident lanes by cyclists and by private lanes by cyclists unnecessary, from the latest rules and is to be re- coaches. The latter is of some through the wider deployment of inserted.) By analogy, we would concern to the PTUA as we do not protected bike lanes as an integral not expect that a cyclist needing to necessarily see a public-interest part of the road network. make a phone call would be first justification for private vehicles - required to lock up their bike, or Cyclists, meanwhile, are most even necessarily dismount, even those with higher than affected by a new rule tightening average occupancy - to use lanes provided they had pulled over and restrictions on the use of mobile stopped. This debate evidently has whose purpose is maximising the phones on bicycles (or other non- efficiency of public transport some way to run, however.

High capacity signalling for MetroTunnel corridor

On 18 July the State extension of train services to Control Standard (ETCS) which government announced the Rowville, the restoration of V/ we understand is favoured by successful tenderer for Line service to South Gippsland, local rail planners. Whatever the signalling technology on the new and provision of additional peak technology used, we would insist Metro Tunnel corridor linking services to meet demand in these on assurance that it will achieve the Sunbury, Pakenham and significant growth corridors. the ‘best practice’ standard of 30 Cranbourne lines. As further details of Bombardier’s or more trains per hour. Bombardier has been selected to scope of work emerge, we expect The current high-capacity provide high-capacity signalling to learn more about the signalling trial on the outer in the corridor, which is expected technicalities: in particular reaches of the South Morang line to allow trains to run every two whether the system is to be a (moved from the Sandringham minutes or better at the busiest version of the CityFlo technology line a year or so ago) is expected times. This represents an (proposed but withdrawn for the to inform the development of the improvement of between 25% and London Underground), or a newly Bombardier technology. We look 100% on present capacity, and developed technology based on forward to learning more about should allow (for example) the the more recent European Train the outcomes of this trial. PTUA News – July 2017 – Page 3! Airport Rail: What do we really want? On 31 May, RMIT hosted a line, this must be subject to strong and provides a strategic public forum on options for a planning by a central agency. This interchange point with suburban rail link. extends to the need for convenient and regional lines at Sunshine. President Tony Morton spoke on interchange and timetable Options that function as extensions behalf of the PTUA. coordination with other train lines to the conventional suburban rail and relevant bus services, and network are also specifically Given the continued inaction on includes consideration of suburban excluded from triggering airport rail and the plethora of interchange points between the compensation to Transurban under options and questions that have airport and the city consistent with the CityLink concession deed. All arisen to fill the void, it’s worth a strategic regional land use plan. these facts should be given clarifying the PTUA’s position on appropriate weight in a final route airport rail. We acknowledge several route decision. options for airport rail exist, and Firstly, we support the offer different trade-offs between We don’t believe insurmountable construction of a rail line between cost and overall public benefit. technical or financial barriers exist Melbourne Airport and the city The ultimate route chosen must to progressing airport rail ahead of centre, as soon as reasonable permit a travel time between the or in parallel with construction of planning and funding provision airport and the city competitive the Metro tunnel. In the timeframe will allow. A station and with private car travel: preferably before this additional capacity is complementary bus interchange less than half an hour. A variety of available, airport trains as part of should be conveniently and rail technologies and construction the suburban network may use d i r e c t l y paths made accessible from available by the main terminal the Regional building. Rail Link, Provision of a and the rail connection is surplus justified by the platform airport’s strategic c a p a c i t y role as one of the available for largest single terminating destinations in trains at the metropolitan S o u t h e r n area outside the Cross. city centre; by For many So when will Melbourne get one? Photo from Daniel Bowen. forecast growth in airport travellers, air travel and other airport- including the large based activities; and by the need methods may be considered workforce based at the airport, an for a mass transit alternative to car subject to broad public acceptance, airport-to-city link will not travel, to address chronic cost and practicality. However, function well as (part of) a congestion in the Tullamarine experience has shown that isolated competitive travel route between Freeway corridor. point-to-point, bespoke technology the airport and their ultimate origin solutions tend to perform poorly Airport rail must be fully or destination. For this reason, when not compatible with the complementary mass transit integrated with the existing balance of the network. multimodal transport network options must be developed as part Meanwhile, the already planned of a complete airport rail and when it comes to service planning, route via Albion (using interchange facilities and ticketing. transport package. This should conventional suburban rail include the provision of frequent While the private sector may technology) is not expected to potentially be involved in bus services to Sunbury, involve substantial land Continued on p5 construction and operation of the acquisition or right-of-way costs, PTUA News – July 2017 – Page 4! Airport Rail: What do we really want?

Continued from p4 keeping with the airport’s 24-hour occupant car or taxi travel. In operation. Other than between assessing airport rail options, cost improvements to frequency, midnight and 6am, frequency on must be given appropriate reliability and right-of-way for the the airport line should not drop weighting to ensure fares remain existing 901 and 902 orbital bus below one train every 20 minutes. competitive. Consideration may services, and the provision of the Design of the infrastructure must be given to special financing ‘missing portion’ of the 902 orbital ensure that 10 minute headways methods such as value capture or route between Airport West and are possible at any time of the day. improvement rates to help achieve Werribee via Keilor, as originally this objective. No fare premium planned in 2006. An extension of Passengers must be able to travel should apply for travel on services the 59 tram route to the airport on airport rail and complementary other than the airport rail line. interchange should be considered services using Myki cards, with on its merits. Plans for airport rail regular adult and concession Prior to airport rail being built and should also contemplate the future Mykis being available for purchase available, we agree with extension of rail from the airport to at all airport line stations. While a Infrastructure Victoria on the need a junction with the existing rail premium may be charged on the for immediate improvements to network at Sunbury. regular Myki fare for train travel right-of-way provision for SkyBus between the airport and the city, and public bus routes that serve the Service frequency on an airport this must not be set at such a high airport. This should include rail line should match that of level as to thwart the strategic provision of permanent SkyBus equivalent train services in objective of achieving a substantial lanes on a widened CityLink/ Melbourne. This should include mode shift to trains from single- Tullamarine Freeway corridor. some level of overnight service in

Metro Tunnel tender announcement

The government announced on force the issue with its ‘side letter’ drain” when the contracts were 16 July that the major “design in the leadup to the 2014 election. cancelled. The value of the actual and build" contract for the There are two useful observations compensation was closer to $900 Metro Tunnel has been awarded from this successful outcome. million - the rest being the value to the Cross Yarra Partnership. The first is that there was, after all, of the real estate acquired, which This is a consortium that includes no substance to fears in 2014 as of February this year is being Lendlease Engineering, John about ‘sovereign risk’ in regard to gradually re-sold. This $900 Holland, Bouygues Construction cancelling the East West Link million included, according to and Capella Capital. Readers may contract. The parties to that deal Treasurer , a ‘finance recognise these as the same were not only compensated, but facility’ that was drawn down on companies that were awarded the have now won a substantial and contract signature. Is it Napthine Government’s rushed lucrative construction tender from conceivable that this same facility contract for the East West Link - the same State government. might now be at least partially usable on the Metro Tunnel and with whom the Andrews The second observation goes back Government had to negotiate the project, further reducing the sunk to the ‘side letter’ compensation cost of the East West Link contract’s cancellation after the itself. It was an exaggeration to previous government attempted to debacle? The question is an speak of “$1.3 billion down the interesting one.

PTUA News – July 2017 – Page 5! Geelong branch report

In a sad irony, a much-needed Integration Act, which has the There are only two ways the increase in weekend Geelong rail stated aim of creating a problem can be solved. Both frequencies, scheduled for "framework for the provision of an involve spending extra money. The August, will cause a fundamental integrated and sustainable simplest is for V/Line to run 30- problem for the local public transport system in Victoria". V/ minute weekend headways. transport network as a whole. Line's decision will result in Another is for the current hourly V/Line has chosen a 40-minute transport disintegration. weekend bus services to be frequency for its weekend services. No doubt, only a minority of increased to 40-minute Trains will therefore not be able to people use buses to connect with frequencies, although that won’t link with our hourly or (a few) trains, so most rail passengers will solve the problem with the routes half-hourly weekend bus services. benefit from the increased running 30-minute headways. Our convenor was alerted to the weekend frequencies. However We have spoken or written to all problem a couple of months ago by there will be hardship, confusion relevant politicians and the timetabler for McHarry's, one and annoyance for those who are bureaucrats, and got quite good of two local route bus operators, most reliant on public transport, local media coverage about the who was annoyed that he couldn’t particularly because weekend problem. The Minister has replied achieve the desired coordination of services are already less frequent, with a vague assurance that TfV weekend bus and train schedules. and it will clearly decrease the "has advised that coordination was 40-minute headways are number of people who might use a happening", and that "many buses deprecated in timetabling practice, bus-train connection. will coordinate with train for obvious reasons. They are only We have been told that CDC services", although that seemed to able to match 20 or 40-minute Geelong, the other local bus be news to our local TfV office. schedules for other services, and company, proposed changing all its We note that V/Line is they aren't "clockface" - they can't weekend frequencies to 40 dissembling, by saying that form a repeated hourly pattern. minutes. However, the Minister's schedules of bus services that office rejected that because it connect with trains will be Since 2010, the principal adjusted "to reflect the new legislation governing public involved a frequency reduction on a few routes. timetable", rather than "to ensure transport has been the Transport that connections are maintained".

South Yarra trams re-routed

As of Monday 10 July a So far there’s been no official Melbourne with South Yarra significant change has occurred word whether the re-routing is through the construction of 400 to tram routes in South Yarra. going to be permanent, or only for metres of ‘missing track’ in Park The tram to Toorak, which for the duration of the works. The Street, South Melbourne. This the past century has followed a PTUA considers that while there would potentially provide a pure route via Domain Road and are some directness and legibility east-west route connecting Albert Park Street, thence along advantages to a direct route along Park and South Melbourne direct Toorak Road, now runs direct Toorak Road, there is also to , then via St Kilda Road and Toorak important value in the existing proceeding via Domain Road to Road, using new track built for Park Street route (serving the South Yarra station. Such a route the purpose. Botanic Gardens and shops and would be a convenient offices near Domain Road). complement to the existing route This rerouting was necessary due 58, providing convenient linkages to the closure of Domain Road to We believe there is in fact an between the City of Port Phillip allow for construction of the opportunity presented here to and the Frankston train line. Metro Tunnel over the next implement another long-standing several years. proposal, linking South

PTUA News – July 2017 – Page 6! Ballarat branch report

June 21 was the anniversary of goods shed and surrounding further down the line. The project the Ballarat branch's first carpark, to include a hotel and is an important first step towards meeting, and it's been a very convention centre. Drafts both electrification to Melton and interesting year for the region. presented during earlier full duplication of the Ballarat line consultations had included – both high priorities. A preferred In January 2017 a new bus significant upgrades to pedestrian consortium was recently network was implemented in and DDA access and an on-site bus announced, and construction will Ballarat. Several of the new routes interchange, but both were notably occur in 2018-19. are a big improvement, but several absent from the December plans. are less useful than the old routes. The project has alarmed many, and A group of western Victorian All the routes have severe issues in groups like Save Our Station councils have commissioned a the CBD, with circuitous and (SOS) Ballarat have actively Passenger Services Feasibility counter-intuitive Study and are now pathways through making a the city, and a c o o r d i n a t e d controversial lobbying push to layover arrangement provide extra at Ballarat station. services to Ararat, The new timetables return trains to were plagued with Horsham and issues too; late Hamilton, and running is common improve a number in some sections, o f c o a c h while in others connections. They timetables have have had some great been padded out, success already, forcing drivers to with extra services stop and wait at to Ararat recently major timing points. announced – it will Frequencies are a be interesting to see mixed bag; some how they fare with routes had services the more ambitious cut while others had A Ballarat bus requests. improvements. After many years of poor mobile Six months in, the drivers have campaigned for a more PT-user coverage along regional lines, in become more familiar with the focused redevelopment – thus far, April 2017 the government routes and punctuality issues are the government has announced announced that less severe, but none of the funding to bring forward telecommunication providers will systemic issues have been construction of the bus build 35 new towers along the addressed. We are expecting PTV interchange, but little else has lines, and Vlocity carriages will to review the implementation of changed. have repeaters installed to the new network, but it's not clear The Ballarat Line Upgrade project counteract the carriage body when that will happen – or whether was announced shortly after the weakening ambient signals. The anyone but PTV will get a say. branch launched, and represents project is expected to be completed in 2018. In December 2016, the plans for one of the most significant projects the Ballarat Station Precinct in the line's history – duplicating Redevelopment were revealed to the track between Deer Park West the public. The redevelopment will and Melton, and providing a revamp the historic bluestone number of long crossing loops

PTUA News – July 2017 – Page 7! PTUA News Newsletter of the Public Transport Users Association, Org. No. A-6256L Print Post: Publication No. PP 100002658 If undeliverable, return to: PTUA Office, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 3000

Inside:

Metro meltdown Airport rail Road rule changes Metro tunnel tenders and signalling

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PTUA News – July 2017 – Page 8!