Month: February 2007
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The Age: A Dad's Army of shunted carriages called up in crisis
In an example of the lack of foresight typical of the former Minister for Transport, Peter Batchelor, The Age has revealed that the State Government has been forced to hire back the non air-conditioned Hitachi trains due to a shortage of rollingstock. The rollingstock shortage has been further compounded due to the withdrawal of 31…
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The Age: Dangerous tracks slow rail speeds on busy lines
The Age has exposed the decrepit state of Melbourne’s rail tracks, amid ongoing negligence by both Connex and the State Government in maintaining Melbourne’s physical rail infrastructure: DANGEROUS tracks and poor maintenance on some of Melbourne’s busiest suburban rail lines are forcing trains to run at speeds as slow as 30 km/h, increasing journey times…
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Maroondah Citizens' Advice Bureau meeting schedule for 2007
The Maroondah Citizens’ Advice Bureau began in 1967 with the founding of the Ringwood Advisory Service and became the Maroondah Citizens’ Advice Bureau Inc. following council amalgamations in 1996. The Maroondah Citizens Advice Bureau provides crucial support for some of Maroondah’s most vulnerable residents through providing advice, food assistance and referral services through a largely…
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Heatherdale Community Action Group meeting
The Heatherdale Community Action Group (HCAG) represents the needs of the Heatherdale community within Maroondah and Whitehorse. Since Heatherdale is divided between the two municipalities (the boundary being Heatherdale Road) an ongoing community presence is necessary to ensure dialogue between the two councils in regard to the needs of the Heatherdale community. Since my ward…
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3AW with Derryn Hinch: Discussing Melbourne's public transport neglect
This evening I was invited to speak on the 3AW Drive program with Derryn Hinch to discuss the ongoing issues facing Melbourne’s rail system. While the Premier had announced a freeze on fare prices for months, this is nothing more than a cold comfort for Melbourne’s public transport users that have had to put up…
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The Age: Fare freeze gets cold reception
The State Government has announced a freeze on Melbourne’s public transport fares to deflect rising criticism over the latest spate of cancellations on Melbourne’s rail network. Premier Steve Bracks this morning announced the decision by the State Government to freeze the price increases, which were due on March 4. The freeze in public transport fares…
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ABC 774: Discussing Melbourne rail woes
This evening I was invited to discuss the discuss the ongoing dramas and inconvenience suffered by Melbourne’s rail passengers on ABC’s Radio 774. The interview, which included a number of talkback callers, focused on the endless excuses used by Connex to defend its ever diminishing performance in operating Mekbourne’s rail network. While it is correct…
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The Age: Commuters plan fare boycott
News of a fare boycott have reached The Age, amid ongoing reports of the latest train debacle: Frustrated commuters are planning a day of protest on March 1 in a display of anger over the number of train cancellations. Melbourne’s rail passengers are understandably upset over the latest of an ongoing saga of issues plaguing…