36 Minutes. One of the two extensions beyond Dandenong. The line had gone on to Leongatha but that closed in 1993 but a diesel suburban service then started, electrified in 1995.
Gotta say, as a rail engineer on the other side of the world, credit to you, the amount of thought put into passive provision for double tracdking is impressive.
Double tracking has been the intention for a few years although ridership probably does not require it at this stage. So it was sensible to do little bits of it during the present work. Much less smart was the crossing removals closer to the city. While the viaducts were built with minimal disruption to regular service, the way it was done has made it almost impossible to add a third track, let alone the more useful option of a fourth track which would allow the long distance trains a clear run. With a suburban train headway of every 10 minutes during the day on weekdays, and those trains stopping at all stations, it does not take long for the express train to catch up and have a rather slow run to Dandenong.
@@tressteleg1 Yes, while I'm rapt with the skyrail, they should have at least put in the pylons that could take the extra tracks. It will cost a fortune to do it in the future. When I bought it up at a public meeting in Carnegie, the reply was that they are the Level Crossing Removal Authority and not a rail planning group. So short sighted.
@@blueycarlton Mate, that’s the sort of moronic thinking that got us the level crossings in the first place. Dictator Dan and his cronies from the other side of politics only want to do enough to get themselves reelected. I agee that the Skyrail solution along the Dandenong line has really pigeoned holed us with providing more frequent suburban and country services in future. I go back to my original comment. The politicians we have in this state do NOT GIVE a stuff about anything beyond the next election and remaining in cosy positions. The money that has been wasted on overspent projects is appalling. Just a pack of effing imbeciles!!!
@@peterfromgw4615 Agree, but at least they are doing something, removing at least 50 level crossings. Now Glenhuntly and Neerim road crossings are going. The Liberals said the water table was too high to trench these two and spent the money doing a crossing in Brighton that was not on the list of the worst crossings. Funny that happened to be in a Liberal minister's electorate. This is a catch up of almost not doing anything to improve the network since the 1930's. Residents were urging for the Carnegie crossing to be removed in 1950! Bet they didn't think it would take nearly 70 years for it to happen.
@@tressteleg1 I think it will happen either way, but its more of a 10 year plan. Liberal wanted to build it right now without even duplicating the track to dandenong which would just delay trains even more than already is the case. It was their major public transport promise in 2018. Meanwhile in the background labor were quietly acquiring land and duplicating the line for it to happen in due time with high capacity. With cranbourne being the states largest seat and labor only up y a couple percent at the time no wonder they wanted to cause a ruckus
Starting later this year they are finally going to duplicate the line all the way to Cranbourne and it will become Victoria's first Level Crossing free line by 2025.
Bocca013 I always thought of it being the Dandenong line, which is already crossing-free, and Cranbourne being just a branch. Maybe locals see it differently. Anyway the sooner the better.
tressteleg1 the main line between Caulfield and Dandenong is considered the Dandenong line but I think they consider the line all the way to Cranbourne as the Cranbourne. I’m pretty sure Dandenong to Cranbourne does operate as a branch line during the off-peak.
Bocca013 All you have to do is check the timetable like I did. Very early in the morning and after approximately 8 pm, the line is a shuttle to Dandenong. Daytime trains run through to the city.
Nathan Hallisey Parcel services went a long time ago, quite possibly because courier companies pressured the governments to stop rail competing with their companies
Yes, I don’t think any state has sold off the tracks but in some cases leased it out (which went badly in some cases). Melbourne suburban trains are privately operated and Adelaide went the same way not long ago. Sydney and Brisbane still are government operated. VLine longer distance trains are government operated. The private contractors gave up some time ago.
I wish they would keep the design elements the same all over the network. Stanchions in-between dual tracks annoys me! It's a great way to save money but just decide... Either on the outside or the inside. Pick one!
I don’t recall. Normally I put the train type when another similar train is passed. The horn is one clue, also the sound of the gears instead of the electronic whining of later trains.
tressteleg1 Well what can I say I love Melbourne trains and trams drive view. Since I was little I always love transport every year when I go to city with my dad I always take train to city it's really amazing I loved it 😊
Hassan Sayyab Before Real long I will be doing one on the Bankstown line in Sydney. This will be converted to Metro in a few years from now. I trust that you will watch it to get some comparative ideas of the 2 cities.
More exploration you need to do! All of Lilydale is single track, but some may be duplicated with the crossing removals underway at present. The last bit of Alamein is single track. The line through Altona has plenty of single track. As for Cranbourne, some if not all of the single track is gradually being replaced at present. Hurstbridge has some single track. There could be others which I can’t think of at present.
Đặng Hoàng Nguyên More or less. Freight traffic to lineside customers ended years go but this looks like it is still in use. So it must be some sort of freight for the railways, maybe concrete, ballast or whatever.
Most have been only covered in one direction. In due course I will do both directions. The driver gave me 468 GB of video. I have only looked at a little bit of it so far.I don’t know what I’ll do after that but hopefully the Sydney driver will start feeding me with videos of lines there. I have the Bankstown line already so it can be done before long.
