MELBOURNE | Metro Train Melbourne

[gappa]

Melbourne still runs some old Hitachi trains from the 1960's. They are probably our most 'metro' style trains in that they have straps to hold on to for standing passengers and a fair bit of standing space. They don't have air con however, so they're not the most comfortable trains to ride.

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr

[city_thing]

I'm guessing that's you Gappa?

[allurban]

Originally Posted by gappa

There has been alot of talk over the years about covering all lines and platforms with one giant roof, or even a shopping centre or market. Obviously nothing has come of it yet.

I'm sure that Melbourne isnt lacking greenspace...but hey, how about a(nother) park?

Cheers, m

[gappa]

Originally Posted by city_thing

I'm guessing that's you Gappa?

Nope, gappa's taking the photo not appearing in it.

[invincible]

Originally Posted by allurban

I'm sure that Melbourne isnt lacking greenspace...but hey, how about a(nother) park?

Cheers, m

It's probably unlikely that anything will ever be built over the station in the next couple of decades. I don't think an elevated park would look quite right anyway.

Here's a photo by Planks & Sticks - immediately east of Federation Square, which will be most likely be the next section of railway south of the CBD to be built over.

The gantries holding the overhead lines are also a more modern design which don't extend as high as the original 1920s design used on the other side of the bridge in the background.

To the west of the CBD, there are sections of railway line (and a major road) which are slated to be built over in a similar fashion as part of the Docklands project, with plenty of progress being made so far. The plan is that eventually, the bridge over the railway will just look like a small hill.

[Hybrid 87]

Good combination of text and pic

Originally Posted by gappa

They don't have air con however, so they're not the most comfortable trains to ride.

Followed by such pic

Originally Posted by gappa

image hosted on flickr

With such face it looks really "Comfortable"

[allurban]

Originally Posted by invincible

It's probably unlikely that anything will ever be built over the station in the next couple of decades. I don't think an elevated park would look quite right anyway. <> The plan is that eventually, the bridge over the railway will just look like a small hill.

taking a look at your photo, the railway lines are lower than the road and buildings on both sides...

so the park "if built" would look like a gentle rolling hill, rising slightly like an embankment/...

ah well, some green space then, and some development...

green roofs will be very beneficial to all cities.

Cheers, m

[invincible]

Yeah, but that's not the area above Flinders St station that we were talking about before - as I said, that area is planned for redevelopment but it's unlikely that there will be a park there since a new park was opened a few years ago immediately to the south (right) of that photo, behind the carpark.

It would look weird at Flinders St station because that's where the elevation changes as the railway lines move closer to the river bank and actually becomes an elevated railway. It's not that noticeable, but at the main entrance under the dome, you have to go down escalators to reach the platforms whereas at the other entrance under the clock tower, you walk straight onto the platform from the street and have to use underground passageways to access the other platforms.

Reference - gappa's photo - the main entrance is behind the location where the photo was taken.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2239/...652678d3_b.jpg

There's already quite a lot of parkland in the nearby area anyway (prev. area marked in red)

[allurban]

good point.

thanks for the info.

Cheers, m

[gappa]

Here's some photos of Parliament Station:

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


Rumour has it that it is the deepest station and has the longest set of escalators in the southern hemisphere. Maybe someone can check that out?

[AG]

It must be pretty close to being the deepest in the southern hemisphere, the lowest platforms are 38m below street level, by no means close to the surface.

[gappa]

Here's some more photos of train stations. In this case Prahran and South Yarra.

Prahran:

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


South Yarra:

image hosted on flickr


Oh yes, and one of the interior of the entrance to Flinders St:

image hosted on flickr

[fishcatdogbird]

^ awww i miss Melbourne!

[gappa]

This is Camberwell Station showing a part of platform 1 and the adjacent train stabling yard.

image hosted on flickr

[gappa]

Here's a few randoms from the last week or so.

These two show a three car Xtraplois train on the Alamein line. The Alamein line is a short spur line and therefore has a greater percentage of it's tiemtable serviced by three car trains In the distance in the second photo you can see a second Xtrap on the Lilydale line:

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


This photo shows the interior of an Xtrap door. Note the push button for opening:

image hosted on flickr


And this one is at Flinders St Station at around midnight:

image hosted on flickr

[city_thing]

Your pictures make me happy Gappa

[gappa]

Originally Posted by city_thing

Your pictures make me happy Gappa

Did you notice the button that you push to exit? It's a button!

Good to hear c_t. When are you moving here - March wasn't it?

[Svartmetall]

Which of the newer rolling stock do you actually prefer? The Siemens or the Xtrap? Sorry if this has already been asked earlier in the thread.

[gappa]

Originally Posted by Svartmetall

Which of the newer rolling stock do you actually prefer? The Siemens or the Xtrap? Sorry if this has already been asked earlier in the thread.

I prefer the design of the Siemens to that of the Xtrapolis. It's smoother lines and blunter nose have a much better aesthetic if you ask me. However they only have two (albeit wider) doors per carriage and are therefore less efficient, not too mention the hight difference between them and existing platforms and the breaking debacle. I guess that's why the government has decided on the Xtrap to fill it's order for twelve new trains (not that they're without issues).

[city_thing]

Originally Posted by gappa

Did you notice the button that you push to exit? It's a button!

Good to hear c_t. When are you moving here - March wasn't it?

I did notice the button! I remember using it when I was last in Melbs. I only used the trains there a few times actually. Once was from South Yarra station though, so the picture you posted was well appreciated.

I will officially be living in Melbourne as of the beginning of April (I had to change dates due to work contracts etc.) - I'll be in Fitzroy North.