Really enjoy the videos from half a world away. Really like the written narration, especially since it allows me to view the location on Google maps and get a better idea on the direction of travel, the surrounding areas, etc.
I’m pleased you like my captions. I find there is nothing worse than watching a video of maybe even a place I have visited some time ago and there is no explanation at all of what we are seeing, where we are going etc. Some viewers my not like my style but too bad for them. I thought that maybe some people will have some sort of map to get a better feel. You prove my guess is correct 😊
Very interesting watch, I've been commuting on the Pakenham line to Melbourne daily since mid-2021, however the last time I went to the city by train before that was in 2016, as I had driven there any times in between, so I hadn't seen the skyrail until 2021 and it looked so foreign to me, same with Noble Park and Clayton which also looked foreign since the last time I used the train to Melbourne was in 2016 right before any of the works began on any of the Skyrail projects, think the only station that had been rebuilt at that point was Springvale which was done as a trench a few years earlier. I totally forgot Hughesdale had the curved platform and that Oakleigh had the third track, which is now a concourse or bus hub I think. Luckily I started commuting right as the Hallam skyrail was being built so I could see the progress in real time, and now the same is true for Pakenham and Narre Warren which are still in progress as of writing this comment as of March 2024 (Narre Warren looks close to completion though) I completely forgot how run down those old stations were by the time they were getting rebuilt, we seem to forget how bad the Pakenham/Cranbourne line actually was for a long time, people still complain about it but honestly with the new HCMT trains, the nine station rebuilds over the last decade + the new Palenham East station also in progress + the Metro tunnel opening at the end of the year, it's actually becoming one of the better lines on the network and was long overdue for some love.
I’m pleased you like the video. Did you know that some HCMT trains on your line are operating automatically without the driver actually driving between South Yarra and Clayton, Huntingdale to South Yarra (may recently have been extended) on the run to town? You can tell if your train is automatic in those sections by sitting on the left side of the carriage and looking out to see whether the signals are lit up or completely dead. Completely dead in that section, your train is being driven by a computer. Also if waiting at any intermediate station, if the signals are out, the next train will be at HCMT in the automatic mode. Not all HCMT trains are equipped yet. The driver is there, but I think he just tells the train when it’s time to go. I have taken video scenes to produce a video on the subject before too long.
@@tressteleg1 Yeah I knew there would be automated driving through the metro tunnel and that it would extend to Caufield, but if it goes all the way to Hughesdale that would be neat. Haven't noticed it so far but I'll check it out next time I get the train.
Great video! Although I live in Carnegie, I walk to work and rarely travel by train anymore. It was great to see the various stages of the Skyrail from the driver's POV. BTW what's with all the home signals? I see most of them are numbered like automatics (Dxxx). Are these controlled by Metrol or by passage of trains? Is this to add an extra level of safety?
Your earlier question about rheostatic brakes has been answered. The driver was using it but does not know why it is not often heard. He thinks it may be because sometimes he had the side window open, sometimes closed. One thing I have noticed with scenes is that his camera seems to be quite close to the windscreen where air is blown onto the glass to stop internal fogging and this could be making so much noise that nothing much else is heard. In fact in one clip the wind noise all but ruined the sound.
add me to the list of those who enjoyed this before and after vid. at 25:29 you mention dynamic electric brake. is this a feature of newer train types or have trains always had it? do trams have it?
Yes I did mention dynamic braking as it could be heard. I don’t know if the driver used it all the time or just this once. Maybe on some Comeng trains it does not work any more.
@@tressteleg1 I notice a lot of trains stop on air these days. Are rheostatic/dynamic brakes still used? I remember that air alone take much longer/further to stop a train. Now, the 4D could do some serious braking. Pity they had to virtually cripple it so it would couple with a Comeng.
tressteleg1, i left an important word out. i'm thinking about suburban passenger trains. i'm aware diesel electrics have had dynamic braking for 70 years or thereabouts.
Do you know why the third line through Oakleigh and the access from Dandenong line to platforms 1 and 2 at Caulfield were removed? Is it just opportunity for removal of redundancy? Or was it necessary?
In an earlier email the driver did mention the removal but mentioned no reason. Only weeks ago the entire Sandringham line was closed in the evening peak because of a death at the second last station but there was nowhere at all along the line where trains could be temporarily terminated. I guess Metro is not interested. He did mention the Caulfield track 'simplification' and I think he said that this meant that the VLine trains from beyond Pakenham had now lost access to the Frankston express tracks into the city. Those passengers sure got shafted with all of this as adding one or two extra tracks in this Carnegie section is now effectively impossible.
@thelionking219 I don’t ask him to do anything in particular. I know that he will get anything new if and when he gets a chance. As for the East Pakenham mention, I suppose you mean the maintenance Depot that has been built there. All I know is that some parts of it are strictly Downer, and Metro drivers are not allowed to walk in there.
If you mean rather than lower them into a cutting or tunnel; it was claimed that lowering the tracks would be more expensive and problematic due the high water table in the area. Also, due to the existence of a major gas main which would troublesome to get under/around.
Unfortunately I have received nothing at all on Williamstown and for Cranbourne only have a short clip taken when a new road bridge was at an early stage. Maybe I will get something from there next year when I go south again.
malcolmone, probably not. if you visit their youtube videos, very few have been there. and some of those views were by me. and i couldn't be counted as one of their supporters.
Driver’s View Moorabbin to Caulfield is already published. When I have finished with Cranbourne/Dandenong/Caulfield I expect to do Frankston. I have some Skyrail of that +??
Without a doubt this must have been asked before, but what is the intent of putting those white horn-instructing crosses along the middle of a track segment? It looks a bit arbitrary.
If I have you right, between-stations whistles must be blown a little before all foot and road crossings. In the Mernda video the whistle is blown approaching a station as a warning that the train is approaching faster than normal as it will not be stopping.
Exactly. Few if any of those foot crossings are illuminated at night and would be almost impossible to see. Due to curves and differing train speeds, the distance the whistle must be blown from crossing will vary. Those X posts take the guesswork away from the driver.
The motorists who used to get stuck at the crossing gates would see it as a good investment even if the complicated traffic lights controlling the intersections delay them just as long. Sometimes the new track is located above or below the old location, but when beside the old location it is usually station car parks or grassy parklands mostly.
Many serious mistakes were made with the Dandenong Skyrail, especially in that a 3rd or 4th overtaking track for Gippsland line trains is now almost impossible.
@@tressteleg1 they claim to have considered track quadruplication and discussed future plans with PTV and claim it can work with the existing stations, but we will see. I think the Dandenong Skyrail is ok for a stopgap solution because no politician seems to be willing to fund the expensive, disruptive, 4 track cut and cover solution which would clearly be best.
TheGoldTitan The current Skyrail viaducts are here forever. There has never been any interest in extra tracks for the V line trains to get a faster run. There are other sections on the line where overtaking tracks could be built but the government is not interested. In fact they removed a few short sections of three tracks.
Really enjoy the videos from half a world away. Really like the written narration, especially since it allows me to view the location on Google maps and get a better idea on the direction of travel, the surrounding areas, etc.
I’m pleased you like my captions. I find there is nothing worse than watching a video of maybe even a place I have visited some time ago and there is no explanation at all of what we are seeing, where we are going etc. Some viewers my not like my style but too bad for them. I thought that maybe some people will have some sort of map to get a better feel. You prove my guess is correct 😊
@@tressteleg1 - Your captioning is great and keep using it. Stuff the moaners:-)
I don’t think anyone has complained about the captions but a couple said they did not last long enough so I run them a bit longer now.
Very interesting watch, I've been commuting on the Pakenham line to Melbourne daily since mid-2021, however the last time I went to the city by train before that was in 2016, as I had driven there any times in between, so I hadn't seen the skyrail until 2021 and it looked so foreign to me, same with Noble Park and Clayton which also looked foreign since the last time I used the train to Melbourne was in 2016 right before any of the works began on any of the Skyrail projects, think the only station that had been rebuilt at that point was Springvale which was done as a trench a few years earlier. I totally forgot Hughesdale had the curved platform and that Oakleigh had the third track, which is now a concourse or bus hub I think. Luckily I started commuting right as the Hallam skyrail was being built so I could see the progress in real time, and now the same is true for Pakenham and Narre Warren which are still in progress as of writing this comment as of March 2024 (Narre Warren looks close to completion though)
I completely forgot how run down those old stations were by the time they were getting rebuilt, we seem to forget how bad the Pakenham/Cranbourne line actually was for a long time, people still complain about it but honestly with the new HCMT trains, the nine station rebuilds over the last decade + the new Palenham East station also in progress + the Metro tunnel opening at the end of the year, it's actually becoming one of the better lines on the network and was long overdue for some love.
I’m pleased you like the video. Did you know that some HCMT trains on your line are operating automatically without the driver actually driving between South Yarra and Clayton, Huntingdale to South Yarra (may recently have been extended) on the run to town? You can tell if your train is automatic in those sections by sitting on the left side of the carriage and looking out to see whether the signals are lit up or completely dead. Completely dead in that section, your train is being driven by a computer. Also if waiting at any intermediate station, if the signals are out, the next train will be at HCMT in the automatic mode. Not all HCMT trains are equipped yet. The driver is there, but I think he just tells the train when it’s time to go. I have taken video scenes to produce a video on the subject before too long.
@@tressteleg1 Yeah I knew there would be automated driving through the metro tunnel and that it would extend to Caufield, but if it goes all the way to Hughesdale that would be neat. Haven't noticed it so far but I'll check it out next time I get the train.
@@JackStavris Well unless you check to see if the signals are on of off, you would not notice the difference.
Very impressive the Skyrail no more worries about level crossings and motor traffic.
Level crossings never bothered the trains much. Their removal was largely to please motorists.
I always enjoy then and now videos/photos.ps Great video.
👍 Domain Interchange Then and Now is being worked on at the moment...
Great video! Although I live in Carnegie, I walk to work and rarely travel by train anymore. It was great to see the various stages of the Skyrail from the driver's POV. BTW what's with all the home signals? I see most of them are numbered like automatics (Dxxx). Are these controlled by Metrol or by passage of trains? Is this to add an extra level of safety?
That question is far beyond my knowledge. I’ll seek an answer.
I am advised that they are automatically operated home signals. This was done as a safety measure but in itself created compliance issues 😊
Your earlier question about rheostatic brakes has been answered. The driver was using it but does not know why it is not often heard. He thinks it may be because sometimes he had the side window open, sometimes closed. One thing I have noticed with scenes is that his camera seems to be quite close to the windscreen where air is blown onto the glass to stop internal fogging and this could be making so much noise that nothing much else is heard. In fact in one clip the wind noise all but ruined the sound.
24:23 would that second train up there delayed by the one on the right
I can’t think of any reason that it might have been.
Has this skyrail kinda reduced the speeds on the new sections due to gradients and sharper curves?
No. They are nowhere near as sharp as they look on the video. Steepest grades seem to be around 1:40. Gentle curves too.
No. They “zoomed in” in the final two videos so the train appeared to move slower.
add me to the list of those who enjoyed this before and after vid. at 25:29 you mention dynamic electric brake. is this a feature of newer train types or have trains always had it? do trams have it?
Yes I did mention dynamic braking as it could be heard. I don’t know if the driver used it all the time or just this once. Maybe on some Comeng trains it does not work any more.
@@tressteleg1 I notice a lot of trains stop on air these days. Are rheostatic/dynamic brakes still used? I remember that air alone take much longer/further to stop a train. Now, the 4D could do some serious braking. Pity they had to virtually cripple it so it would couple with a Comeng.
I’ll try to find out.
@@Zyxak , your knowledge is a level above me. i wikipedied rheostatic so i'm full bottle on that. but what is a 4d?
tressteleg1, i left an important word out. i'm thinking about suburban passenger trains. i'm aware diesel electrics have had dynamic braking for 70 years or thereabouts.
Do you know why the third line through Oakleigh and the access from Dandenong line to platforms 1 and 2 at Caulfield were removed? Is it just opportunity for removal of redundancy? Or was it necessary?
In an earlier email the driver did mention the removal but mentioned no reason. Only weeks ago the entire Sandringham line was closed in the evening peak because of a death at the second last station but there was nowhere at all along the line where trains could be temporarily terminated. I guess Metro is not interested. He did mention the Caulfield track 'simplification' and I think he said that this meant that the VLine trains from beyond Pakenham had now lost access to the Frankston express tracks into the city. Those passengers sure got shafted with all of this as adding one or two extra tracks in this Carnegie section is now effectively impossible.
Love your vids man
Can he do East Pakenham to Flinders Street once that new station is open in 2024 as part of the extension of the Pakenham Line?
@thelionking219 I don’t ask him to do anything in particular. I know that he will get anything new if and when he gets a chance. As for the East Pakenham mention, I suppose you mean the maintenance Depot that has been built there. All I know is that some parts of it are strictly Downer, and Metro drivers are not allowed to walk in there.
@@tressteleg1 Bro what?
@@thelionking219 The 2 stations you are forever going on about - Bell and Preston!!!
What was the thinking behind raising the tracks from ground level ?
You obviously don't drive on Melbourne roads that cross this line, no hold ups for cars
levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/
If you mean rather than lower them into a cutting or tunnel; it was claimed that lowering the tracks would be more expensive and problematic due the high water table in the area. Also, due to the existence of a major gas main which would troublesome to get under/around.
👍
@@alancampbell8760 Sorry Alan I should have mentioned I'm in the UK.
Can you please either do Williamstown or cranbourne?
Unfortunately I have received nothing at all on Williamstown and for Cranbourne only have a short clip taken when a new road bridge was at an early stage. Maybe I will get something from there next year when I go south again.
@@tressteleg1 ok. What about hurstbridge or something
Yes I have a some files of it but have not looked at it yet. I expect that it covers track upgrades but I will get to it in due course.
@@tressteleg1 thx
did it affect property prices
malcolmone, probably not. if you visit their youtube videos, very few have been there. and some of those views were by me. and i couldn't be counted as one of their supporters.
Can you do videos of all Stations on Frankston Line please
Driver’s View Moorabbin to Caulfield is already published. When I have finished with Cranbourne/Dandenong/Caulfield I expect to do Frankston. I have some Skyrail of that +??
Without a doubt this must have been asked before, but what is the intent of putting those white horn-instructing crosses along the middle of a track segment? It looks a bit arbitrary.
If I have you right, between-stations whistles must be blown a little before all foot and road crossings. In the Mernda video the whistle is blown approaching a station as a warning that the train is approaching faster than normal as it will not be stopping.
Ah, so I take it they put those signs down to prevent the driver from missing a foot crossing, as they're less easily seen than road crossing?
Exactly. Few if any of those foot crossings are illuminated at night and would be almost impossible to see. Due to curves and differing train speeds, the distance the whistle must be blown from crossing will vary. Those X posts take the guesswork away from the driver.
Hughesdale closure in the Spring 2017’s!
What is the purpose of the work and why does the Victorian government think it is necessary?
To get rid of level crossings, I. believe mainly to please motorists.
@@tressteleg1 wow, such colossal waste of money and an eyesore to boot. Now what do they use the old road bed for?
No worries just found a bloke on a push bike ruclips.net/video/mtNehrCoufg/видео.html
The motorists who used to get stuck at the crossing gates would see it as a good investment even if the complicated traffic lights controlling the intersections delay them just as long. Sometimes the new track is located above or below the old location, but when beside the old location it is usually station car parks or grassy parklands mostly.
‘but’ Oakleigh Station removal Platform 3 in the Late 2018’s thats why we bringing double tracks for only 2 platforms!
Many serious mistakes were made with the Dandenong Skyrail, especially in that a 3rd or 4th overtaking track for Gippsland line trains is now almost impossible.
@@tressteleg1 they claim to have considered track quadruplication and discussed future plans with PTV and claim it can work with the existing stations, but we will see. I think the Dandenong Skyrail is ok for a stopgap solution because no politician seems to be willing to fund the expensive, disruptive, 4 track cut and cover solution which would clearly be best.
TheGoldTitan The current Skyrail viaducts are here forever. There has never been any interest in extra tracks for the V line trains to get a faster run. There are other sections on the line where overtaking tracks could be built but the government is not interested. In fact they removed a few short sections of three tracks.
Hi
😊