Seems like the construction business end of the Geelong line at the moment. Great to see the investment in Geelong, it’s important to strengthen our regional cities too! Will be interesting to see the next steps after this current regional rail revival program! Maybe a local metro service is on the cards? Not expecting too much though, state paying off all that debt!
If you had to guess, how much use is there of this corridor by locals as a suburban service to travel within the greater Geelong area rather than further to Melbs?
@@driver667 is there more potential of this kind of trip profile in future do you think with a better frequency once the new pieces of infrastructure are finished?
@@driver667 any idea what the typical frequency will be along the corridor through the various stations in Geelong once all the infrastructure in works is done?
@@BigBlueMan118 at the moment the 20 minute interval runs to South Geelong with a 40 minute interval for Marshall and Waurn Ponds. After duplication I think the plan is for a 20 minute interval right through to Waurn Ponds. 👍😀
Totally ignorant foreigner here, but I have many questions, so I'll just rattle them off as we go. Running into the tunnel, it looks like a bit of a tight curve. Combined with the tight clearances of the tunnel with questionable room for electrification (never mind double track!), is there a plan to possibly rebuild/reconfigure the line in that area? The tunnel is uphill to a grade crossing, followed by a downhill to another grade crossing. Could all three obstacles be eliminated with a single, longer tunnel along the east side of the alignment emerging after Kilgour Street? There's a downhill from the bridge at Moorabool to a grade crossing in front of the station at South Geelong. Followed just 1 kilometer later by the massive Evans Street grade separation project. Wouldn't it have been much easier and more effective to just build a single Skyrail over the whole distance instead of the mess of embankments and re-alignments that have to be made at Evans Street? It could even be extended to the far side of Barwon Terrace, where the tracks run uphill, making it easier to tie the Skyrail in to the existing alignment. Relatedly to Barwon Terrace, is there any thought of reopening Geelong Racecourse station? There appears to be growing development around there. Also relating to Evans Street, there appears to be a respectable amount of development going on down the Bellarine Peninsula. Is there any thought towards reopening any or all of the Queenscliff line? At Barwon Heads Road overpass, there is an adjacent grade crossing that appears to have quite a bit of dirt piled on it, but also still has gates and lights working. What is the plan with that? Is it going to be closed or kept open for local traffic or what? It looks like they are getting ready to do a grade separation at Reserve Road. Between that, and the need to rebuild Marshall Station to accommodate double track, why did they not simply put in another Skyrail to eliminate the grade crossing at Marshalltown Road at the same time? Yes, all of these Skyrails would be expensive, but the cumulative benefits (including the ability to develop buildings underneath to recoup the costs more effectively) would be massive. What is the plan with Grovedale? You said "site of", but is that a former station? A planned station (it certainly seems to be in a place where a station could be demanded)? A station that is to be reopened? Could you please be a little more clear with that? Do any of the curves in the Grovedale-Waurn Ponds area represent any sort of speed restriction? If so, how could they be remedied? I don't have much to say about Waurn Ponds, other than that the tracks seem to dip down on both sides to Ghazeepore Road. Given the location of the stabling yards on the far side of said road, it looks to me like a fairly obvious candidate for grade separation. Perhaps much of the costs of these grade separations could be recouped by developing station areas, converting parking lots into garages with surrounding commercial facilities, or simply building the commercial facilities on top of the parking.
For a 'totally ignorant foreigner' you are well versed in the happenings here 😀😀 Site of Grovedale is were there was once a station. There are no plans for new stations along the line at this stage. The curves should be without speed restriction Marshall to Waurn Ponds when finished. The line out along the Queenscliff corridor was rumoured to be possibly reopened for commuters in the 1980's but at this stage there are no plans I know of for that. However there are plans for a line from past Marshall to run to Torquay. Who knows what the time line would be if it goes ahead. As for the sections of skyrail, I guess they have there reasons for skyrail in some places and not in others. I have not seen the full plans for the whole project so am also watching it progress as I drive through and surmising as it progresses. The tunnel is obviously to tight for electrification and as far as I know, there are no concrete plans for a new tunnel. There are also no plans at this stage to electrify the Geelong line. Thanks for your comment. You have been obviously doing a lot of thinking about the project. 👍😀
I find these videos incredibly relaxing. Keep them coming!
Thank you. I'll keep em coming. 👍😀
Great seeing the 3 stages of Southern Cross to WP. Thanks for posting them 👍
You're welcome. Glad you enjoyed the ride 👍 😀
That gives meaning to the expression,there's always light at the end of the tunnel at 0.46
One would hope so 🤣🤣👍😀
Off topic but do you know why there is a huge barrier on the platform at West footscray?
That platform is not in use at this stage. I'm guessing it is to stop people walking off the edge while not in use. 👍😀
4:28 Let's hope that it will veer again in the future.
I would love to see that 😀👍
VL111 was on the Werribee line today with the destination set to Albury. Also when is the skyrail over the Surf Coast Highway going to be complete?
VL111 sounds like it may have been out there for testing. I haven't heard when the Surf Coast Highway skyrail will be open. 🤔👍😀
Once again its going to be a nice day here, Putty Cat and driver 667 vary well done.
Thank you. One day closer to your cruise 🛳 👍😀🐈🐈
Seems like the construction business end of the Geelong line at the moment. Great to see the investment in Geelong, it’s important to strengthen our regional cities too!
Will be interesting to see the next steps after this current regional rail revival program! Maybe a local metro service is on the cards? Not expecting too much though, state paying off all that debt!
They have certainly been doing a lot of work on the line. It is great to see it happening. 👍😀
If you had to guess, how much use is there of this corridor by locals as a suburban service to travel within the greater Geelong area rather than further to Melbs?
I think most people are to / from Melbourne. There is a small percentage of local trips. 👍😀
@@driver667 is there more potential of this kind of trip profile in future do you think with a better frequency once the new pieces of infrastructure are finished?
@@BigBlueMan118 it's possible. I guess we shall see how it pans out once the project is finished 😀👍
@@driver667 any idea what the typical frequency will be along the corridor through the various stations in Geelong once all the infrastructure in works is done?
@@BigBlueMan118 at the moment the 20 minute interval runs to South Geelong with a 40 minute interval for Marshall and Waurn Ponds. After duplication I think the plan is for a 20 minute interval right through to Waurn Ponds. 👍😀
9:03... where is the line deviating to? And also, why were some of the stations demolished?
Level crossing removal and line duplication.
The line is bypassing the level crossing and joining back in at the curve with the 80 shown on it a little further along. 👍😀
Totally ignorant foreigner here, but I have many questions, so I'll just rattle them off as we go.
Running into the tunnel, it looks like a bit of a tight curve. Combined with the tight clearances of the tunnel with questionable room for electrification (never mind double track!), is there a plan to possibly rebuild/reconfigure the line in that area? The tunnel is uphill to a grade crossing, followed by a downhill to another grade crossing. Could all three obstacles be eliminated with a single, longer tunnel along the east side of the alignment emerging after Kilgour Street?
There's a downhill from the bridge at Moorabool to a grade crossing in front of the station at South Geelong. Followed just 1 kilometer later by the massive Evans Street grade separation project. Wouldn't it have been much easier and more effective to just build a single Skyrail over the whole distance instead of the mess of embankments and re-alignments that have to be made at Evans Street? It could even be extended to the far side of Barwon Terrace, where the tracks run uphill, making it easier to tie the Skyrail in to the existing alignment.
Relatedly to Barwon Terrace, is there any thought of reopening Geelong Racecourse station? There appears to be growing development around there.
Also relating to Evans Street, there appears to be a respectable amount of development going on down the Bellarine Peninsula. Is there any thought towards reopening any or all of the Queenscliff line?
At Barwon Heads Road overpass, there is an adjacent grade crossing that appears to have quite a bit of dirt piled on it, but also still has gates and lights working. What is the plan with that? Is it going to be closed or kept open for local traffic or what?
It looks like they are getting ready to do a grade separation at Reserve Road. Between that, and the need to rebuild Marshall Station to accommodate double track, why did they not simply put in another Skyrail to eliminate the grade crossing at Marshalltown Road at the same time?
Yes, all of these Skyrails would be expensive, but the cumulative benefits (including the ability to develop buildings underneath to recoup the costs more effectively) would be massive.
What is the plan with Grovedale? You said "site of", but is that a former station? A planned station (it certainly seems to be in a place where a station could be demanded)? A station that is to be reopened? Could you please be a little more clear with that?
Do any of the curves in the Grovedale-Waurn Ponds area represent any sort of speed restriction? If so, how could they be remedied?
I don't have much to say about Waurn Ponds, other than that the tracks seem to dip down on both sides to Ghazeepore Road. Given the location of the stabling yards on the far side of said road, it looks to me like a fairly obvious candidate for grade separation.
Perhaps much of the costs of these grade separations could be recouped by developing station areas, converting parking lots into garages with surrounding commercial facilities, or simply building the commercial facilities on top of the parking.
You expecting too much from an anglophone country mate
For a 'totally ignorant foreigner' you are well versed in the happenings here 😀😀 Site of Grovedale is were there was once a station. There are no plans for new stations along the line at this stage. The curves should be without speed restriction Marshall to Waurn Ponds when finished. The line out along the Queenscliff corridor was rumoured to be possibly reopened for commuters in the 1980's but at this stage there are no plans I know of for that. However there are plans for a line from past Marshall to run to Torquay. Who knows what the time line would be if it goes ahead. As for the sections of skyrail, I guess they have there reasons for skyrail in some places and not in others. I have not seen the full plans for the whole project so am also watching it progress as I drive through and surmising as it progresses. The tunnel is obviously to tight for electrification and as far as I know, there are no concrete plans for a new tunnel. There are also no plans at this stage to electrify the Geelong line. Thanks for your comment. You have been obviously doing a lot of thinking about the project. 👍😀
@driver667 the tunnel probably would be heritage protected anyway.
@@DaleDix probably 👍😀
The tunnel is heritage protected, asked that at an information session.
The first tunnel, it looked like warp speed.
🤣🤣👍😀
At 10.22 more expensive job move power box and Signal to put in second track
👍😀
Have you driven VL115? Yet
Not yet. I'm sure it won't be long. 👍😀
👍
Very happy to hear you enjoyed it 👍😀