Transport Tuesday

We have some shiny new things in Melbourne, our new Metro underground rail tunnel and a new toll road, including a bridge over the Yarra River and a tunnel under the Maribyrnong River.

I've use the Metro tunnel a number of times since it opened. It works well but does have teething problems. Both incidents happened at Anzac Station, one with the train stopping short of the platform doors and having to move forward to align the train doors with the platform doors.

The second and more disturbing one was when the train I was travelling on stopped at Anzac Station, my local, and the train doors opened but the platform doors did not. Well, this is interesting. What will happen? I did not have to be anywhere soon and the worst case was the train would leave the station and I would end up in Malvern. While in the tunnel, the train is self driving, there is a driver to drive once out of the tunnel. Of course the driver and the staff along the platform would realise what was happening, and so they did. There is a green handle on the platform doors to open the doors, but after a few minutes, no one had used any of them, which is I guess like the olden days of pulling on the filthy and rusty emergency train chain, which would automatically apply the train brakes. There was a fear of interfering with the train. 

I was in the front carriage and there about three wheelchair passengers at the very front, and one of them must have opened the doors manually.  I used the exit they opened. Staff had ensured all were off who wanted to be off. I sat on a seat to see what evolved. The train doors closed and opened a couple of times. There were a couple of announcements, apologising for the delay. 

Ok, I was getting bored and as I started to walk away, there was announcement that a reset was underway and shortly after the platform doors opened. I was home ten minutes later and I saw on my phone that the train was mobile and then past South Yarra Station.

Yesterday I asked Phyllis and Kosov if they would like to try the new road tunnel and I would take them to the biggest large green shed they had ever seen. "Phyllis, I am driving through the new tunnel." It is probably the only time I will ever drive on the new road and tunnel. It is way too early, but the tunnel was dead quiet. Will this be a failed road project? I think the toll was just under $5. 

I missed seeing the big green shed as while it once stood out, it is now surrounded by other buildings. A zip around a roundabout had me in the other direction and finding the entrance. We bought what we had to, and then drove a couple of hundred metres to the supermarket where we bought food. 

I saw no need to use the same tunnel and road to return home as it would take longer, and cost another $5. Well, it may have been faster as even on a Monday, the Westgate Bridge and Freeway was congested. "Phyllis, you drive." I really don't like driving. I concentrated on the road guidance signs and still we nearly ended up in Williamstown. I think the signage at that point was very poor. 

State Library Station is rather confusing if you are lift user. I should try the escalators to how they work...well I did on opening day and the escalator failed and I had to walk up many stairs The problem is that most stations have a platform, concourse and street level, whereas State Library has a mezzanine level in between, making it three lifts to get to ground level, and none are next to each other. 

Here are a few photos of my travels.The entrance to Arden Station is nice.

With a great building opposite. I don't know what its use is. 

Photo separation problem above, and a linking problem here. 

A bus stop with no bus. I believe a new 421 bus route will begin next year and service this stop. 

Platform paving art. 

Rather nice art at State Library. 

Train doors auto opened, but platform doors did not.

Both sets of doors closed.

Train doors reopened, but platform doors remained closed.