Sunbury Train Electrification

[Lilly]

I think the Whole town needs to sit down and have a think about this. We all know it has pro's & Cons, More or less overcrowding, Faster or slower times, more or less frequency, but these are pretty much all just common opinions. What i would like to know is how they can justify spending the money on electrification of the train line (not to mention removal of the weeping willow tree's, & pedestrian crossings that cost $40,000.00) When our roads are in disrepair, our schools NEED more funding & Our Hospital is now non existant.

This is classic smoke & Mirrors. Forget about the Real problems, as long as we can get people talking & Thinking about something else.

[James]

I think in general, Most people dont really care, Improvment is needed,  however I think we got pretty good roads,  as for rail I dont catch trains very often but when I do the only thing I complain about is The Price of the Ticket which I dont see as that big of a deal,  what does piss me off is getting a fine for not validating my ticket,  which aint that bad considering....

anyway, I'm probably not the best person to give my view on public transport mainly because i'd be lucky to use Public Transport once a year.

 

[town crier]

  There are a number of issues that haven't been clearly explained with this project.
Firstly, we are told that Sunbury people will be able to use both services but then we are told that excess V/Line carriages will be moved to the ballarat line when Metro is up and going.
Secondly, with the Metro service running every 10 minutes, how will the V/line service be able to operate without greater delays. The most logical result would be terminating V/line at Sunbury and then going to Metro.
Thirdly, no one can give an indication of how many times the gates will be down on Gap Rd when Metro is running as they still haven't got a timetable to work from. This service has the smell of Regional Rail or should we say Fast Train all over it and we know how much of a fiasco that was for 4 minutes saving.
Part of the plan says 100 extra carparks will be available but they wont. All that will be done is an agreement will be signed by the Sunbury Central Mngt and Metro for the spaces currently being used.
Finally, There are plans for a station at Jackson's Hill but nothing will happen for many years due to financial shortage. This plan would certainly have solved the pending traffic chaos we will have on Station st when metro is completed, not to mention the parking shortage. 

[JD]

I think its stupid we dont have the electric train, Sunbury Missed Out BIG TIME because if it had of gone ahead with it, we would probably have trains going to the city as often as every 15 Minutes Insted of every 45 Minutes

More Frequent trains & Faster Travel time, Seriously what was all the fuss about.
But its too late now.
 

[Intheknow]

I'm for a better public transport service to Sunbury, around Sunbury and better roads.  The Vline service has been a good service but it no longer cuts the grade in frequency and ability of VLine to put enough carriages on to meet the demand. 

[Brendy]

If it was guaranteed that the Sunbury train would maintain its current stop schedule (St Albans, Sunshine etc) then i'd be okay with electrifying, but considering it's a 45min+ trip at the moment, having to stop all stations would take us over an hour. I'm pretty happy with Vline but would be happy if the Diesels were replaced with something with a bit more guts... they move at the speed of a rhino running up a steep hill! More sprinters, more v/locities please! Another 1 or 2 services in the evening would be nice too, something around 5 o'clock would be a bit logical.

[Scarlet]

I can't see any benefits to anyone in Sunbury or Diggers, particularly Diggers where a small, quaint local station is set to become a focal point for transients (ie commuters who don't actually live in Diggers) due to the 500 spot carpark. This will bring with it an almost certain increase in out of hours noise, graffiti and violence of the sort that typifies other stations on the Sydenham line.

The other issues are time and comfort. It currently takes from 29 to 32 minutes from Diggers to Spencer St. If the rumours are true and each peak-hour Metro train will (i) stop at every station and (ii) travel via the loop, then a trip to Spencer St must take at least an hour. More if you have to change trains at Flagstaff or Flinders St.

I don't think anyone would dispute that Vline trains are more comfortable or that they are less crowded. Furthermore, most people feel more secure as there is a conductor on each train.

This whole electrification is a retrograde step foisted on us so that the people further down the line towards the CBD can have a three extra peak hour services to overcrowd. Don't plan on getting a seat any more, unless you board the train at Flinders St.

[halloweenbaby]

I think parking at the station also needs to be considered.

I do like where the station is now its not isolated, especially when there seem to be alot of kids hanging/mucking around.

I'm not a regular train traveller the few time I go into the city I have always gone to Watergardens. Parking is better and trains are more often (especially Saturday).

My husband catches the train everyday and does not want it electrified, these school holidays Vline have had problems with getting extra carriages but buses were provided. He doesn't think buses would be provided with electrified trains they would just be cancelled.  Cancelled trains are more of a nuisance.

[Mike3429]

Don't do it. We lived in Sydenham before moving to Sunbury. In the the days before the train line was electrified I used to take the train every day. The Vline trains were cleaner and more comfortable/less crowded. Then came the sprinters and these were faster. The only problem with the service is it didn't run very late and about 9:30PM was the last train from the city.

The V-Line service to Sunbury is more regular than it was back then and runs later. I would rather see them spend the money on a better car park and keep the diesel trains.

Cheers

[III]

The following is from:http://www.transport.vic.gov.au/web23/Home.nsf/AllDocs/891789FB88DA5F43CA2576D30021F804?OpenDocument

About the project

The Victorian Government is committed to electrifying the rail line from Watergardens to Sunbury. This will change the way trains in the Sydneham-Sunbury corridor currently operate to help them carry more passengers and run more reliably, which is vital to the ongoing viability of Melbourne's broader train network.
Works to electrify the network to Sunbury will commence in 2010 with metropolitan trains to run from Sunbury in 2012.

Specifically the project involves:

installation of electrical infrastructure between Watergardens and Sunbury
construction of stabling facilities at Sunbury Station
construction of an additional 500 passenger car parking spaces at Diggers Rest Station
an extra 100 car park spaces near Sunbury Station dedicated for passengers
station improvements at Sunbury and Diggers Rest stations.
Station upgrades

Sunbury Station will be upgraded to a Premium Station and will be staffed from first to last train (i.e. from 5 AM to late night). The station will be refurbished and upgraded to be compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA).

Features of the upgraded station will include:
refurbishment of existing waiting rooms
refurbishing and constructing toilet facilities for both staff and customers
installation of CCTV security cameras
improved station and platform lighting
installation of passenger information displays
additional seats and rubbish bins
installation of clocks along the platforms
platform shelters
upgraded station staff, booking office facilities and equipment.

Diggers Rest Station will be refurbished and upgraded to be DDA compliant, the refurbishment will include:
installation of CCTV security cameras
improved station and platform lighting
installation of passenger information displays showing arrival time information
improved timetable information
additional seats and rubbish bins
installation of clocks along the platforms
platform shelters.
This project will also improve service levels for passengers on the Sydenham-Sunbury corridor.

Based on the information above, the one thing I can't understand is that Diggers Rest are getting an additional 500 carparks AT THE STATION.  Sunbury are only getting an extra 100 carparks NEAR THE STATION. 

Also, I understand that these carparks at Sunbury are only going to be the changing of regular 'shoppers' carparks to 'commuter' (yellow painted) carparks.  I have nothing against Diggers Rest, and I understand that it is growing, although Sunbury is big already and needs the additional and new (not just repainted) carparks.

III

[laurie]

Based on the information above, the one thing I can't understand is that Diggers Rest are getting an additional 500 carparks AT THE STATION.  Sunbury are only getting an extra 100 carparks NEAR THE STATION. 

Also, I understand that these carparks at Sunbury are only going to be the changing of regular 'shoppers' carparks to 'commuter' (yellow painted) carparks.  I have nothing against Diggers Rest, and I understand that it is growing, although Sunbury is big already and needs the additional and new (not just repainted) carparks.

III

It is faster for me to drive to Diggers Rest Station than Sunbury, but I don't now because there aren't the trains that go from there, if there are more trains leaving from there then I'll easily drive to DR.  I think this is the rationale behind this move.

[Lilly]

Not only does it baffle me that the Council / Government / Consultants etc that were brought in on this project were not able to acknowledge or comprehend the need for a higher amount of car park's in SUNBURY rather than Diggers. The simple fact is, That although some people such as yourself Laurie are willing & able to drive to Diggers Rest to catch the train to work, there is no way unless you live just as close to there as you do to Sunbury that this will not add travel time to your day. They (and by they i mean everyone) are going on about fixing the environment - This really shows they are willing to put their money where their mouth is.

The use of Electric trains would not really counteract the environmental impacts of diesel in any way (due to the current processing techniques, although one day it may) but the insistence that people from Sunbury, that is unless they are expecting a massive population boom in Diggers, Drive all the way to Diggers Rest causing much higher levels of Traffic on our roads during peak hours, in turn causing more congestion, the simple act of 500 extra cars a day driving from Sunbury to Diggers Rest and back every day is going to do wonders for pollution.

[halloweenbaby]

I received this in a email today. Interesting 

Friday, 16 July
The State Government has announced V/Line will continue to stop at Sunbury when the electrification project is finished in 2012.

When the $270 million project is complete, passengers will have the option to either travel on a V/Line or Metro service.

At least 70 per cent of current V/Line timetabled services will stop at Sunbury, with 17 services each weekday and 25 during weekends.

Exact stopping patterns and timetabling will be finalised when the project is closer to completion.
 

[JD]

Overall, it cant be a bad thing, faster trains.... more often......   

I don't catch trains much these days, but the changes sound like good Improvements.... 

[Lilly]

Faster trains yes. Faster travel no.

Again, each service will stop at many more stations than before, even the express services, and will take longer from a - b.

I am just glad i can sticK with Vline for a little while longer. The day we loose them is the day I start to consider driving into work.

[Houdini]

In October 2007, the Diggers Rest Residents Association supported the idea to create a "Park-n-Ride" facility at Diggers Rest Station in an attempt to increase train frequency and literally force trains to stop at Diggers Rest.  The concept was aimed at providing all day parking for commuters that travel from outer lying areas that currently use Sunbury parking facilities. The idea was therefore to reduce parking pressure on Sunbury.  Remember, at this time the Minister for planning had advised that no expansion to Urban Growth Boundary was planned. Nor was the electrification of the rail ever part of those discussions...

http://www.diggersrest.com/files/pdf/2008/JustinMadden_11-11-08.pdf

[Lilly]

So would it be fair to say that they have simply been using outdated information to make decisions that have a huge impact on the community?

[Houdini]

So would it be fair to say that they have simply been using outdated information to make decisions that have a huge impact on the community?

Yes, more than fair.  The whole project in my opinion is now "adhoc" and will create a range of problems that are simply not being addressed.

[laurie]

So would it be fair to say that they have simply been using outdated information to make decisions that have a huge impact on the community?

Yes, more than fair.  The whole project in my opinion is now "adhoc" and will create a range of problems that are simply not being addressed.

Arh the negativity, take a look at the practicalities, if you are coming from Gisborne to get the train, its faster to get to Diggers than Sunbury, by the time you get a car park.  If you live in the Ashfield area, faster to drive to Diggers than Sunbury and find a park.  If there are 500 parks at Diggers it will probably save me 10-15 minutes, I may need to become more organised in my after work shopping though.  Maybe that is what the owner of Safeway is worried about

[Houdini]

No negativity here, just concerned about serious local traffic and public safety issues that are being ignored.  Sunbury and Diggers Rest now share the same Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) and the population for Diggers Rest is expected to increase from 2,000 to 10,000.  Have residents been consulted about these issues? NO!!

[JD]

must agree with Laurie,  does sond like abit of windging....             

[Houdini]

The Sunbury Electrification Project Diggers Rest Station Community Workshop last Thursday evening was well attended.  About 20 local residents offered input to the landscape design of the station improvements.  Many residents still remain concerned about traffic management issues that the "Park-n-Ride" facility will create (550 carspaces in total).  An overhead foot bridge linking pedestrian traffic to the platforms will not be constructed as part of the upgrade.  Pedestrians will be required to use the existing crossing at the railway gates.  The current plans do not allow for any formalised parking or pedestrian safety at the General Store Post Office.  The idea of a community garden within the landscape design has attracted some positive feedback.  Sunbury residents are encouraged to attend the Sunbury Station Workshop planned for Tuesday August 31st 2010.

Date: Workshop 2, 31 August 2010 (Sunbury Station Design)

Time: 7:00pm start to 9:00pm finish

Venue: Sunbury Electrification Project Site Office, School Lane, Diggers Rest (enter from Old Calder Highway next to Diggers Rest Station).

[III]

Did anyone attend the Tuesday meeting which discussed the Sunbury aspect of the Project?  I was not able to attend.  Any info would be appreciated.

Regards