Premier rules out short-term ticket U-turn

Posted to The Age (17/5/2013) on 17/5/2013 at 11:55 AM
Comment on "Premier rules out short-term ticket U-turn"
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/premier-rules-out-shortterm-ticket-uturn-20130516-2jpgs.html

Train fares of several cities in the world are charged by station-to-station, just like Melbourne's good old days. However, this can be more expensive than the current zone system, similar to London's. There is always a price to pay for less population, because economy of scale is thrown out of the window.

Transport users keep complaining about Melbourne's inefficient public transport systems, but look at the following statistics and they will realise Melbourne Metropolitan very low population density is to be blamed for this. I have used trains, buses and trams (in Hong Kong only) in all the cities below. They are no worse than ours during peak time, and I can assure you, it is also a nightmare trying understand their ticketing systems.

Very often, trains and buses outside the CBD are virtually empty after the peak times. It is in fact cheaper to subsidise public transport users with concession taxi vouchers.

The following statistics are extracted from various official sites:
Melbourne Metropolitan – 9,990.5 km2, 4.1 million(p) (2011), 410/km2
London – 1,570 km2, 8.1 million(p) (2012), 5,159/km2
Tokyo Metro – 2,188 km2, 13million (p) (2011), 6,026/km2
Hong Kong – 1,104 km2, 7.1 million(p) (2011), 6,431/km2
Singapore – 710 km2, 5.3 million(p) (2012), 7,464/km2

I was a frequent public transport user but I do not work full time now. When I use the public transport now, I choose to travel prior to or just immediately after the rush hours. I have not encountered serious equipment breakdown that jeopardise my trips.

Do not just whinge, write to Myki and give them your feedback. If they do not know the precise problems, they cannot fix them.

Australia the slow coach in starting fast trains

Posted to The Age (16/1/2012) on 16/1/2012 at 4:24 PM
Commenting on "Australia the slow coach in starting fast trains"
http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-news/australia-the-slow-coach-in-starting-fast-trains-20120115-1q1fg.html

This is an expensive transport system, and don't expect the fast train to stop at all stations. The crux of the matter is, why do we need such high speed train, and can the cost justify the real benefit to the Australian population and economy?

How often are our different modes of mass transport system fully booked? The ordinary mass transport systems are close to empty after the peak hours. We have shouldered enough tax burdens by all the various direct and indirect taxes, and a fast train system will send most Australians below poverty line.

Fast train will cannibalise other industries, and in fact send many country towns broke. Some towns rely on the passing trades from tour coaches and self-drive tourists travelling to other major cities.

I am always fascinated by the argument on the security aspects of air travel versus rail travel. Any idiot having the determination to blow up a plane can do likewise to a train or important venue. We cannot constantly subject ourselves to such fear, or else life is not worth living! So what if I have to go through all the checks at an airport; I spend more time sitting at the waiting lounge than just a few minutes of inconvenience!

Any Australian government or private consortium dare to introduce it are likely have rocks in their heads.

Risk-taking commuters caught out and stung

Posted to Herald Sun (11/11/2011) on 11/11/2011 at 2:04 AM
Commenting on "Risk-taking commuters caught out and stung"
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/m-in-transport-user-fines/story-fn7x8me2-1226191936152

How much does it cost to put conductors on, more than or less than $80 million? At $40000 per conductor per year, $80 million is equivalent to 2000 conductors. That means 2000 people can bring home the bacon, pay taxes and mortgage, less family conflict, reduce unemployment and CentreLink payout. Who were the idiots that proposed the removal of human conductors?

$100 ticket to ride the high-speed rail to Sydney

Posted to The Age (4/8/2011) on 4/8/2011 at 10:46 AM
Commenting on "$100 ticket to ride the high-speed rail to Sydney"
http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-news/100-ticket-to-ride-the-highspeed-rail-to-sydney-20110803-1ibp8.html

Is this a replacement of air travel? If so, why stops at other towns between Melbourne and Sydney. There is no transit stops between Melbourne-Sydney by plane. People drive to Sydney not because they just stop at the airport or train station. Car provides the convenience and mobility once they arrive in Sydney.

By my calculation, $108 billion is $61 billion plus another 77% variance. What a great estimation! Can we extrapolate this to say that the project could be delayed by 77% in time to complete or 77% more bureaucrats to oversee the project?

V/Line and railway union battle over allowing pets on trains

Posted to Herald Sun (21/4/2011) on 22/4/2011 at 12:39 PM
Commenting on “V/Line and railway union battle over allowing pets on trains”
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/vline-and-railway-union-battle-over-allowing-pets-on-trains/comments-fn7x8me2-1226042452743

That's nothing backward about Australia not allowing pets to travel on public transport, such as train. A pet can be as poisonous and small as a spider, and as well-behave and big as a bull. Where do we draw the line?

We don't need to follow what the Europeans do, because we are Australians NOT Europeans. Economically we are better than many European countries, because we are a better nation. In short they should follow our example. It is sorry to see so many Australians have the me-too mentality.

I don't belong to any union, but I don't like to knock any unionist for the sake of doing so. Train workers have a job to do, and their role is to look after the human passengers. Having pets on the train is like asking RSPCA pet shelters to accommodate homeless people.

If pets are allowed on the trains, that is going to set a precedence in allowing pets in food premises, movie theatres, aeroplanes, public swimming pools, and list just goes on.

Hasn't Mulder got better things to do? Perhaps he needs a bit more "training" for his position!

Bill for myki rises again

Posted to The Age (26/11/2010) on 26/11/2010 at 10:04 AM

Commenting on “Bill for myki rises again”

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/state-election-2010/bill-for-myki-rises-again-20101125-1895g.html?comments=47

MyGod, it's myki in the news again! The money spent on the modernisation of ticketing system could have been spent on new trains and tracks