It hasn't even been four weeks since my last update, so I must be doing good.
Since my last update, I've done routes 367, 414, 431, 561 and 570. Five routes is better than nothing, right?
Yeah, I thought so.
Showing posts with label kefford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kefford. Show all posts
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Some More Randomness 10
It's been just barely over three weeks since my last post, so I'm doing reasonably well I'd like to think.
Since my last update, I've sadly only gotten one day specifically for gunzelling (which was Thursday just past). However, I did do routes 279 (to Templestowe), 401, 409, 432 and 704. It's not all that many, but it's still a few off my list.
I had been intending to do routes 927, 928 and 929 since I went to Pakenham during the day, but I decided to give that a miss and do 704 instead, so I could head home slightly earlier. After all, gunzelling after waking up at 4:40am with sweet FA sleep is hard. ;)
I have some free time coming up in the next few weeks, though, so I might get out a bit more. I need to concentrate more on the northern and outer eastern suburbs, which account for about two thirds of the routes I haven't done yet. I'll get around to them eventually, though.
Since my last update, I've sadly only gotten one day specifically for gunzelling (which was Thursday just past). However, I did do routes 279 (to Templestowe), 401, 409, 432 and 704. It's not all that many, but it's still a few off my list.
I had been intending to do routes 927, 928 and 929 since I went to Pakenham during the day, but I decided to give that a miss and do 704 instead, so I could head home slightly earlier. After all, gunzelling after waking up at 4:40am with sweet FA sleep is hard. ;)
I have some free time coming up in the next few weeks, though, so I might get out a bit more. I need to concentrate more on the northern and outer eastern suburbs, which account for about two thirds of the routes I haven't done yet. I'll get around to them eventually, though.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Randomness 25
Apologies for the lack of seven weeks of updates.
In that period, I've done routes 219, 438, 439, 441, 530, 531, 538, 542, 552, 555, 572, 577, 699, 844 and 895 (off-peak), and a few others which I'll add later if I remember them. I've also done irregular deviations/extensions of routes 409 to Sunshine Park, 697 to Fountain Gate and 848 via Coolavin Rd.
I only have 89 regular routes left to do, give or take a few. In addition to that, I also have six Nightrider routes and five Telebus routes to do.
That's also in addition to dozens of extensions, variations, deviations, etc. - a couple of major ones being route 279 to Templestowe and route 695 to Dandenong.
Still, progress is good so far......
In that period, I've done routes 219, 438, 439, 441, 530, 531, 538, 542, 552, 555, 572, 577, 699, 844 and 895 (off-peak), and a few others which I'll add later if I remember them. I've also done irregular deviations/extensions of routes 409 to Sunshine Park, 697 to Fountain Gate and 848 via Coolavin Rd.
I only have 89 regular routes left to do, give or take a few. In addition to that, I also have six Nightrider routes and five Telebus routes to do.
That's also in addition to dozens of extensions, variations, deviations, etc. - a couple of major ones being route 279 to Templestowe and route 695 to Dandenong.
Still, progress is good so far......
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Randomness 21
Interestingly enough, instead of actually gunzelling in the last week, I've been completing more planning to go gunzelling.
I've now completed planning for another Ballarat trip to go bunzelling, which will mean I'd have done all regular Ballarat routes.
The plan:
0557 422 - St Albans 0608
0614 Train - Sunshine 0622
0639 Train - Ballarat 0803
0808 City Loop - Lt Bridge St (via University of Ballarat) 0850
0855 15 - Sturt/Vale - Curtis St 0929
0935 8 - Eureka - Lt Bridge St 0954
1000 12 - Sebastopol - Curtis St 1044
1100 7 - Brown Hill - Lt Bridge St - 1124
1130 1 - Wendouree West - Wendouree Village 1153
1200 17 - Miners Rest - Wendouree Village 1225
1230 6 - Webbcona Loop - Wendouree Village 1244
1255 2 - Curtis St 1324
(Lunch)
1420 14 - Delacombe - Peel St 1454
1455 5 - Black Hill - Lt Bridge St 1520
1550 13 - Delacombe - Peel St 1624
Walk to Lt Bridge St, approx 10 min
1645 3 - North Creswick 1713
1715 3 - Doveton/Mair Sts 1738
Walk to Ballarat Station, approx 10 min
1757 Train - Sunshine 1917
Now I just need to decide when to do it. :)
I've now completed planning for another Ballarat trip to go bunzelling, which will mean I'd have done all regular Ballarat routes.
The plan:
0557 422 - St Albans 0608
0614 Train - Sunshine 0622
0639 Train - Ballarat 0803
0808 City Loop - Lt Bridge St (via University of Ballarat) 0850
0855 15 - Sturt/Vale - Curtis St 0929
0935 8 - Eureka - Lt Bridge St 0954
1000 12 - Sebastopol - Curtis St 1044
1100 7 - Brown Hill - Lt Bridge St - 1124
1130 1 - Wendouree West - Wendouree Village 1153
1200 17 - Miners Rest - Wendouree Village 1225
1230 6 - Webbcona Loop - Wendouree Village 1244
1255 2 - Curtis St 1324
(Lunch)
1420 14 - Delacombe - Peel St 1454
1455 5 - Black Hill - Lt Bridge St 1520
1550 13 - Delacombe - Peel St 1624
Walk to Lt Bridge St, approx 10 min
1645 3 - North Creswick 1713
1715 3 - Doveton/Mair Sts 1738
Walk to Ballarat Station, approx 10 min
1757 Train - Sunshine 1917
Now I just need to decide when to do it. :)
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Randomness 19
I need to get out more. I also need to update this bitch more, but I'm too damn lazy.
Anyway: random ranting time.
I am officially not in love with Watergardens as much as I was previously, currently anyway. For one, the shopping centre expansion isn't even finished yet despite having been open for four weeks now. Two, the interior is too tacky. Three, Westrans has already withdrawn services from the former shopping centre interchange, meaning access from the station to the shopping centre is shithouse at the moment.
Route 461 is okay, but it is indirect, and I hate loops. I want to run it along Community Hub instead of Catherine Dr and split it into two routes (461 along Hume Dr, 462 via Community Hub) in both directions. Its frequency is adequate for its purpose and current patronage level, but both my 461 and 462 should be every half-hour.
Add to that route 460 is too indirect for my liking considering it could be a major route. The deviation through the backstreets of Sydenham is stupid and should be a local route (463, every 30 minutes). 460 can then run direct along Melton Hwy and Gourlay Rd, and should be progressively upgraded to every 15 minutes.
That'll do; enough ranting. ;)
Anyway: random ranting time.
I am officially not in love with Watergardens as much as I was previously, currently anyway. For one, the shopping centre expansion isn't even finished yet despite having been open for four weeks now. Two, the interior is too tacky. Three, Westrans has already withdrawn services from the former shopping centre interchange, meaning access from the station to the shopping centre is shithouse at the moment.
Route 461 is okay, but it is indirect, and I hate loops. I want to run it along Community Hub instead of Catherine Dr and split it into two routes (461 along Hume Dr, 462 via Community Hub) in both directions. Its frequency is adequate for its purpose and current patronage level, but both my 461 and 462 should be every half-hour.
Add to that route 460 is too indirect for my liking considering it could be a major route. The deviation through the backstreets of Sydenham is stupid and should be a local route (463, every 30 minutes). 460 can then run direct along Melton Hwy and Gourlay Rd, and should be progressively upgraded to every 15 minutes.
That'll do; enough ranting. ;)
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Proof that I am a loser
It's awesome to know that for the first time ever, I ushered in the new year while gunzelling.
A time-less trip log for NYE/NYD:
Leave home approximately 0915
425 - St Albans
Train - Flinders Street
Train - Mentone
811 - Springvale
Train - Dandenong
V/Line - Pakenham
V/Line - Flinders Street
75 - Vermont South
732 - Knox City
664 - Lilydale
Train - Ringwood
Train - Flinders Street
Train - Upfield
Train - Coburg
Train - Flinders Street
(roam around Swanston St for about 45 minutes)
Nightrider - Croydon
Train - Ringwood
Train - Box Hill
Train - Blackburn
Train - Laburnum (last up to stop there)
Train - Blackburn (last down to stop there)
Train replacement - Camberwell
Train - Flinders Street
Train - St Albans
Arrive home approximately 0630
So, I was officially the last person to get off an up train at Laburnum, and get on a down train, before it got demolished. :D
What's worse is that I was gunzelling for 21 hours, without falling asleep.
A time-less trip log for NYE/NYD:
Leave home approximately 0915
425 - St Albans
Train - Flinders Street
Train - Mentone
811 - Springvale
Train - Dandenong
V/Line - Pakenham
V/Line - Flinders Street
75 - Vermont South
732 - Knox City
664 - Lilydale
Train - Ringwood
Train - Flinders Street
Train - Upfield
Train - Coburg
Train - Flinders Street
(roam around Swanston St for about 45 minutes)
Nightrider - Croydon
Train - Ringwood
Train - Box Hill
Train - Blackburn
Train - Laburnum (last up to stop there)
Train - Blackburn (last down to stop there)
Train replacement - Camberwell
Train - Flinders Street
Train - St Albans
Arrive home approximately 0630
So, I was officially the last person to get off an up train at Laburnum, and get on a down train, before it got demolished. :D
What's worse is that I was gunzelling for 21 hours, without falling asleep.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Randomness 10
I did even more bus gunzelling yesterday. It involved getting:
- 425 to St Albans
- train to Southern Cross
- train to Cranbourne
- 791 to Karingal Hub
- 769 to Frankston
- train to Parliament
- train to Greensborough
- 569 to Epping
- train to Flinders Street
- train to St Albans
I must say I'm pleased with the level of patronage the 425 is getting on Sunday, even though its first ever Sunday service was yesterday. The trip I was on in the morning had a total of 11 passengers on it when it arrived at St Albans.
Otherwise it was a fairly uneventful day.
But I'm still a loser. :)
Monday, September 18, 2006
Randomness 9
I rode the new route 418 from St Albans to Caroline Springs this morning, then walked about a km and got route 456 to Melton (Woodgrove Shopping Centre). From there I got route 457 to Melton to finish the part of the route that I hadn't yet done, then after having a quick lunch and racing back to the Palmerston St interchange, I got route 459 to Melton station.
And for the first time today, I rode a V/Locity at full speed. It was almost orgasmic, somehow.
(Do I sense a hint of train-wankerism here?)
And for the first time today, I rode a V/Locity at full speed. It was almost orgasmic, somehow.
(Do I sense a hint of train-wankerism here?)
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Randomness 5
I went to Rockbank yesterday, finally. The station itself sucks. It's useless, and I wouldn't want to wait there for more than the half hour I did. I have now been to all stations except Flemington Racecourse, and all stations between Leawarra and Morradoo.
Here goes a random partly-sensical rant about activity centres around me, mixed with some more gunzelling.
I also went to Sunshine yesterday for no real reason. Well, I did have a reason sort of. I decided to randomly do a photographic tour, which involved taking the longest possible route between Sunshine and Albion on foot. I realised that Sunshine has tremendous amounts of open and underutilised, and therefore developable, space.
Due to a lack of low-density housing surrounding the core activity centre, Sunshine could easily accommodate taller (ten to twelve storey) buildings without much of a problem. But I already knew that anyway. It just seems more surreal to actually look at the whole centre specifically in terms of development space.
So, I eventually got to Albion station, opposite which there is a massive (unused?) flour mill, which would look completely awesome if it was converted into apartments. I was thinking of how a possible redevelopment of that one building would fit in with Melbourne 2030, and I came to the conclusion that it's a perfect example, and is also in a perfect location:
Sydenham (in particular around Watergardens) isn't much of a principal activity centre at the moment, despite being a Transit City. Something worth noting, though, is the level of development that is now under construction and/or approved. Sydenham is going through a construction boom (of sorts) right now, including a new "Learning Centre" and a large shopping centre expansion. It is eventually going to have a town square linking the shopping centre to the train station. So, after taking a couple of photos, I got the 421 to Centro Keilor.
Centro Keilor is just an everyday supermarket-based shopping centre. No real description is required for that reason. I transferred to route 418, to St Albans.
St Albans is a major activity centre. It's very busy, and has significant numbers of people arriving by public transport (although also significant amounts of car traffic). I wasn't there for very long. Just long enough, in fact, to walk from the Alfrieda St bus terminus to the train station, to buy a Sunday Saver, and then get on the 423 a few minutes later.
Route 423 goes through Cairnlea, one of Vicurban's flagship "sustainable" suburbs. The only problem is, Cairnlea only has a single bus route which runs every 40 minutes on weekdays, every hour on Saturdays, and not at all during evenings or on Sundays. True sustainability (I assume) would include reducing reliance on cars, which certainly hasn't happened. But enough about that.
I got to Brimbank Central, which is currently the largest shopping centre in Brimbank (but is going to be overtaken by Watergardens very soon). It is nominated as a major activity centre, and will eventually have the Green Orbital Smartbus running through it. I had lunch there, while thinking about how PT to it should be improved. It would involve running at least routes 423 and 451 on Sundays.
But, enough compulsive ranting for now. Main points for today:
Here goes a random partly-sensical rant about activity centres around me, mixed with some more gunzelling.
I also went to Sunshine yesterday for no real reason. Well, I did have a reason sort of. I decided to randomly do a photographic tour, which involved taking the longest possible route between Sunshine and Albion on foot. I realised that Sunshine has tremendous amounts of open and underutilised, and therefore developable, space.
Due to a lack of low-density housing surrounding the core activity centre, Sunshine could easily accommodate taller (ten to twelve storey) buildings without much of a problem. But I already knew that anyway. It just seems more surreal to actually look at the whole centre specifically in terms of development space.
So, I eventually got to Albion station, opposite which there is a massive (unused?) flour mill, which would look completely awesome if it was converted into apartments. I was thinking of how a possible redevelopment of that one building would fit in with Melbourne 2030, and I came to the conclusion that it's a perfect example, and is also in a perfect location:
- It preserves the early-20th century heritage-listed building
- It's right next to a train station and a few bus routes
- Nearby residents couldn't complain about the height of the building, because it's been there the whole time (this is actually an important point in my opinion, considering how anti-development people in Brimbank, unlike me, tend to be)
Sydenham (in particular around Watergardens) isn't much of a principal activity centre at the moment, despite being a Transit City. Something worth noting, though, is the level of development that is now under construction and/or approved. Sydenham is going through a construction boom (of sorts) right now, including a new "Learning Centre" and a large shopping centre expansion. It is eventually going to have a town square linking the shopping centre to the train station. So, after taking a couple of photos, I got the 421 to Centro Keilor.
Centro Keilor is just an everyday supermarket-based shopping centre. No real description is required for that reason. I transferred to route 418, to St Albans.
St Albans is a major activity centre. It's very busy, and has significant numbers of people arriving by public transport (although also significant amounts of car traffic). I wasn't there for very long. Just long enough, in fact, to walk from the Alfrieda St bus terminus to the train station, to buy a Sunday Saver, and then get on the 423 a few minutes later.
Route 423 goes through Cairnlea, one of Vicurban's flagship "sustainable" suburbs. The only problem is, Cairnlea only has a single bus route which runs every 40 minutes on weekdays, every hour on Saturdays, and not at all during evenings or on Sundays. True sustainability (I assume) would include reducing reliance on cars, which certainly hasn't happened. But enough about that.
I got to Brimbank Central, which is currently the largest shopping centre in Brimbank (but is going to be overtaken by Watergardens very soon). It is nominated as a major activity centre, and will eventually have the Green Orbital Smartbus running through it. I had lunch there, while thinking about how PT to it should be improved. It would involve running at least routes 423 and 451 on Sundays.
But, enough compulsive ranting for now. Main points for today:
- Sunshine should get lots of high rise buildings. It's in a perfect location
- West Sunshine (particularly around Glengala Rd) is a hole, and should disappear from the face of the earth
- Shopping centres in Brimbank are too small, and should be massively expanded
- I think I'm a bus gunzel......
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Gunzel Update
Okay, so I ended up going to Ballarat. I just about stuck to my plan, but I ended up getting an earlier train to Melton, then back to Bacchus Marsh, then to Sunshine, then went home.
I still need to get around to going to Rockbank though. Maybe I can do it on Monday before uni, at least I'd only have a 30 minute wait for the train back.
I might also change my blog layout some time soon.
Hmm, I'm going to Sunbury tomorrow. Yeah.
I still need to get around to going to Rockbank though. Maybe I can do it on Monday before uni, at least I'd only have a 30 minute wait for the train back.
I might also change my blog layout some time soon.
Hmm, I'm going to Sunbury tomorrow. Yeah.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Randomness 3
So, I ended up just about sticking to my plan, right up to North Geelong anyway. After getting off the train at North Geelong, my trip went something like this:
1543 North Geelong - Little River 1603
1640 Little River - Footscray 1712
then as normal.
So, I've now been to every station between Melbourne and Geelong. Woot.
I'm going to Ballarat on Thursday. My full plan is as follows:
0557 Route 422 - St Albans 0608
0614 St Albans - Sunshine 0622
0639 Sunshine - Ballarat 0816
0914 Ballarat - Ballan 0936
1042 Ballan - Ballarat 1111
1130 Route 1 (Lt. Bridge St) - Wendouree Village 1149
1232 Route 16 - Ballarat City 1249
1520 Ballarat - Deer Park 1629
1642 Route 451 - Brimbank Central 1700
1726 Route 424 - Arr home 1745
1543 North Geelong - Little River 1603
1640 Little River - Footscray 1712
then as normal.
So, I've now been to every station between Melbourne and Geelong. Woot.
I'm going to Ballarat on Thursday. My full plan is as follows:
0557 Route 422 - St Albans 0608
0614 St Albans - Sunshine 0622
0639 Sunshine - Ballarat 0816
0914 Ballarat - Ballan 0936
1042 Ballan - Ballarat 1111
1130 Route 1 (Lt. Bridge St) - Wendouree Village 1149
1232 Route 16 - Ballarat City 1249
1520 Ballarat - Deer Park 1629
1642 Route 451 - Brimbank Central 1700
1726 Route 424 - Arr home 1745
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Randomness 2
Latest station update. I haven't been to:
Rockbank
Flemington Racecourse
Leawarra
Baxter
Somerville
Tyabb
Hastings
Bittern
Morradoo
Woot, only nine stations to go till they're all done (but unfortunately Flemington Racecourse might have to wait a while, perhaps Melbourne Cup Day). I might go to Rockbank tomorrow, since I'll be out anyway.
I'm probably going to go to Geelong/Marshall on Thursday; purely a station-hopping trip. Since I've basically finished the suburban area, I think it's just about time to start going further out. I'm planning to go to all stations between Lara and Marshall, and perhaps wander around Geelong CBD for a while taking photos.
So, full plan for Thursday:
0605 Leave home
0617 Route 424 - St Albans 0628
0634 St Albans - Flagstaff 0659
0706 Flagstaff (pl. 1) - Southern Cross 0708
0747 Southern Cross - South Geelong 0856
0925 South Geelong - Geelong 0928
0947 Geelong - Marshall 0955
1005 Route 15 - Geelong City 1044
1130 Geelong - Corio 1139
1151 Corio - North Shore 1154
1228 Route 10 (Melb Rd) - Geelong City 1244
1453 Geelong - Lara 1506
1526 Lara - North Geelong 1538
1620 North Geelong - Footscray 1712
1728 Footscray - St Albans 1745
1750 Route 424 - Arr home 1810
Rockbank
Flemington Racecourse
Leawarra
Baxter
Somerville
Tyabb
Hastings
Bittern
Morradoo
Woot, only nine stations to go till they're all done (but unfortunately Flemington Racecourse might have to wait a while, perhaps Melbourne Cup Day). I might go to Rockbank tomorrow, since I'll be out anyway.
I'm probably going to go to Geelong/Marshall on Thursday; purely a station-hopping trip. Since I've basically finished the suburban area, I think it's just about time to start going further out. I'm planning to go to all stations between Lara and Marshall, and perhaps wander around Geelong CBD for a while taking photos.
So, full plan for Thursday:
0605 Leave home
0617 Route 424 - St Albans 0628
0634 St Albans - Flagstaff 0659
0706 Flagstaff (pl. 1) - Southern Cross 0708
0747 Southern Cross - South Geelong 0856
0925 South Geelong - Geelong 0928
0947 Geelong - Marshall 0955
1005 Route 15 - Geelong City 1044
1130 Geelong - Corio 1139
1151 Corio - North Shore 1154
1228 Route 10 (Melb Rd) - Geelong City 1244
1453 Geelong - Lara 1506
1526 Lara - North Geelong 1538
1620 North Geelong - Footscray 1712
1728 Footscray - St Albans 1745
1750 Route 424 - Arr home 1810
Saturday, March 18, 2006
The Speed Factor
Just something that popped into my head while I was posting on ATDB earlier: just how fast is public transport (in relation to my trips anyway)?
Assumptions
- It takes me six minutes to walk to the bus stop at Gillespie Rd/Allandale Rd (route 422).
- It takes me six minutes to walk to the bus stop at Kinterbury Dr/Balnarring Dr (route 424).
- It takes me nine minutes to walk to the bus stop at Gillespie Rd/Cheleon Way (routes 422, 424, 425).
- There is a two minute wait between arriving at the stop and boarding the bus.
- All trips to Victoria University Footscray will be made in the morning peak (arrival before 08:30), and all trips from Victoria University Footscray will be made in the evening peak (departure after 15:00).
- All other trips will be made off-peak.
Trip 1
Kings Park to St Albans station, driving time 10 minutes
10:29 Leave home - arr Gillespie/Allandale 10:35
10:37 Route 422 - arr St Albans 10:48
Total Time: 19 minutes
Time Difference: +9 minutes
St Albans station to Kings Park
11:30 Route 422 - arr Gillespie/Allandale 11:41
Walk home - arr 11:47
Total Time: 17 minutes
Time Difference: +7 minutes
Trip 2
Kings Park to Brimbank Central, driving time 10 minutes
10:35 Leave home - arr Kinterbury/Balnarring 10:41
10:43 Route 424 - arr Brimbank Central 10:52
Total Time: 17 minutes
Time Difference: +7 minutes
Brimbank Central to Kings Park
11:26 Route 424 - arr Kinterbury/Balnarring 11:35
Walk home - arr 11:41
Total Time: 15 minutes
Time Difference: +5 minutes
Trip 3
Kings Park to Sunshine station, driving time 20-25 minutes
10:29 Leave home, walk to cnr Gillespie Rd/Allandale Rd, arr. 10:35
10:37 Route 422 - arr St Albans 10:48
10:54 Train - arr Sunshine 11:02
Total Time: 33 minutes
Time Difference: +8 to +13 minutes
Sunshine Station to Kings Park
11:20 Train - arr St Albans 11:27
11:30 Route 422 - arr Gillespie/Allandale 11:41
Walk home - arr 11:47
Total Time: 27 minutes
Time Difference: +2 to +7 minutes
Trip 4
Kings Park to Footscray station, driving time 40-45 minutes
10:29 Leave home, walk to cnr Gillespie Rd/Allandale Rd, arr. 10:35
10:37 Route 422 - arr St Albans 10:48
10:54 Train - arr Footscray 11:11
Total Time: 42 minutes
Time Difference: -3 to +2 minutes
Footscray station to Kings Park
11:51 Train - arr St Albans 12:07
12:10 Route 422 - arr Gillespie/Allandale 12:21
Walk home - arr 12:27
Total Time: 36 minutes
Time Difference: -9 to -4 minutes
Trip 5
Kings Park to Flinders Street station, driving time 45-50 minutes
10:29 Leave home, walk to cnr Gillespie Rd/Allandale Rd, arr. 10:35
10:37 Route 422 - arr St Albans 10:48
10:54 Train - arr Flinders Street 11:25
Total Time: 56 minutes via City Loop, 53 minutes direct
Time Difference: +3 to +11 minutes
Flinders Street station to Kings Park
11:40 Train - arr St Albans 12:07
12:10 Route 422 - arr Gillespie/Allandale 12:21
Walk home - arr 12:27
Total Time: 47 minutes direct, 50 minutes via City Loop
Time Difference: +2 to +5 minutes
Trip 6
Kings Park to Highpoint, driving time 30-35 minutes
10:29 Leave home, walk to cnr Gillespie Rd/Allandale Rd, arr. 10:35
10:37 Route 422 - arr St Albans 10:48
10:54 Train - arr Sunshine 11:02
11:05 Route 408 - arr Highpoint 11:29
Total Time: 60 minutes
Time Difference: +25 to +30 minutes
Highpoint to Kings Park
12:10 Route 408 - arr Sunshine 12:30
12:40 Train - arr St Albans 12:47
12:50 Route 422 - arr Gillespie/Allandale 13:01
Walk home - arr 13:07
Total Time: 57 minutes
Time Difference: +22 to +27 minutes
Trip 7
Kings Park to Victoria University, Footscray Park, driving time 30-40 minutes
07:27 Leave home - arr Kinterbury/Balnarring 07:33
07:35 Route 424 - arr St Albans 07:48
07:55 Train - arr Footscray 08:13
08:20 Route 406 - arr VU Footscray Park 08:24
Total Time: 57 minutes
Time Difference: +17 to +27 minutes
Victoria University, Footscray Park to Kings Park
15:31 Route 406 - arr Footscray 15:42
15:48 Train - arr St Albans 16:04
16:10 Route 422 - arr Gillespie/Allandale 16:21
Walk home - arr 16:27
Total time: 56 minutes
Time difference: +16 to +26 minutes
Observations
- If no connecting bus is used at the other end of the trip, travel time is close to driving time, in some cases less.
- Train travel on its own is significantly faster than driving.
Assumptions
- It takes me six minutes to walk to the bus stop at Gillespie Rd/Allandale Rd (route 422).
- It takes me six minutes to walk to the bus stop at Kinterbury Dr/Balnarring Dr (route 424).
- It takes me nine minutes to walk to the bus stop at Gillespie Rd/Cheleon Way (routes 422, 424, 425).
- There is a two minute wait between arriving at the stop and boarding the bus.
- All trips to Victoria University Footscray will be made in the morning peak (arrival before 08:30), and all trips from Victoria University Footscray will be made in the evening peak (departure after 15:00).
- All other trips will be made off-peak.
Trip 1
Kings Park to St Albans station, driving time 10 minutes
10:29 Leave home - arr Gillespie/Allandale 10:35
10:37 Route 422 - arr St Albans 10:48
Total Time: 19 minutes
Time Difference: +9 minutes
St Albans station to Kings Park
11:30 Route 422 - arr Gillespie/Allandale 11:41
Walk home - arr 11:47
Total Time: 17 minutes
Time Difference: +7 minutes
Trip 2
Kings Park to Brimbank Central, driving time 10 minutes
10:35 Leave home - arr Kinterbury/Balnarring 10:41
10:43 Route 424 - arr Brimbank Central 10:52
Total Time: 17 minutes
Time Difference: +7 minutes
Brimbank Central to Kings Park
11:26 Route 424 - arr Kinterbury/Balnarring 11:35
Walk home - arr 11:41
Total Time: 15 minutes
Time Difference: +5 minutes
Trip 3
Kings Park to Sunshine station, driving time 20-25 minutes
10:29 Leave home, walk to cnr Gillespie Rd/Allandale Rd, arr. 10:35
10:37 Route 422 - arr St Albans 10:48
10:54 Train - arr Sunshine 11:02
Total Time: 33 minutes
Time Difference: +8 to +13 minutes
Sunshine Station to Kings Park
11:20 Train - arr St Albans 11:27
11:30 Route 422 - arr Gillespie/Allandale 11:41
Walk home - arr 11:47
Total Time: 27 minutes
Time Difference: +2 to +7 minutes
Trip 4
Kings Park to Footscray station, driving time 40-45 minutes
10:29 Leave home, walk to cnr Gillespie Rd/Allandale Rd, arr. 10:35
10:37 Route 422 - arr St Albans 10:48
10:54 Train - arr Footscray 11:11
Total Time: 42 minutes
Time Difference: -3 to +2 minutes
Footscray station to Kings Park
11:51 Train - arr St Albans 12:07
12:10 Route 422 - arr Gillespie/Allandale 12:21
Walk home - arr 12:27
Total Time: 36 minutes
Time Difference: -9 to -4 minutes
Trip 5
Kings Park to Flinders Street station, driving time 45-50 minutes
10:29 Leave home, walk to cnr Gillespie Rd/Allandale Rd, arr. 10:35
10:37 Route 422 - arr St Albans 10:48
10:54 Train - arr Flinders Street 11:25
Total Time: 56 minutes via City Loop, 53 minutes direct
Time Difference: +3 to +11 minutes
Flinders Street station to Kings Park
11:40 Train - arr St Albans 12:07
12:10 Route 422 - arr Gillespie/Allandale 12:21
Walk home - arr 12:27
Total Time: 47 minutes direct, 50 minutes via City Loop
Time Difference: +2 to +5 minutes
Trip 6
Kings Park to Highpoint, driving time 30-35 minutes
10:29 Leave home, walk to cnr Gillespie Rd/Allandale Rd, arr. 10:35
10:37 Route 422 - arr St Albans 10:48
10:54 Train - arr Sunshine 11:02
11:05 Route 408 - arr Highpoint 11:29
Total Time: 60 minutes
Time Difference: +25 to +30 minutes
Highpoint to Kings Park
12:10 Route 408 - arr Sunshine 12:30
12:40 Train - arr St Albans 12:47
12:50 Route 422 - arr Gillespie/Allandale 13:01
Walk home - arr 13:07
Total Time: 57 minutes
Time Difference: +22 to +27 minutes
Trip 7
Kings Park to Victoria University, Footscray Park, driving time 30-40 minutes
07:27 Leave home - arr Kinterbury/Balnarring 07:33
07:35 Route 424 - arr St Albans 07:48
07:55 Train - arr Footscray 08:13
08:20 Route 406 - arr VU Footscray Park 08:24
Total Time: 57 minutes
Time Difference: +17 to +27 minutes
Victoria University, Footscray Park to Kings Park
15:31 Route 406 - arr Footscray 15:42
15:48 Train - arr St Albans 16:04
16:10 Route 422 - arr Gillespie/Allandale 16:21
Walk home - arr 16:27
Total time: 56 minutes
Time difference: +16 to +26 minutes
Observations
- If no connecting bus is used at the other end of the trip, travel time is close to driving time, in some cases less.
- Train travel on its own is significantly faster than driving.
Saturday, September 03, 2005
Monthly Plan 1 Update
I only wrote my monthly plan yesterday, and I've already deviated from it. Which isn't surprising. I thought it would be better to get every station on the Lilydale and Belgrave lines over and done with, which is made possible by the outer extremities of these two lines having a higher service frequency on weekends than weekdays.
After getting a direct service from Flinders Street to Belgrave just after 9am and getting to Belgrave in search of a route 695 timetable which could not be found, I decided to roam the area. In order of stops, I went from Belgrave to Upwey to Tecoma to Heathmont to Ferntree Gully to Boronia to Croydon (737 bus) to Ringwood East (367 bus). I have now been to every station on the Lilydale and Belgrave lines past Blackburn, which has reduced my non-visited stations count from 93 to 88.
I will be going to the rest (Laburnum, Mont Albert, Chatham, Canterbury, East Camberwell) some time this week probably, along with Burwood, Hartwell, Willison, Heyington and Darling, which will complete the whole Burnley group. Also coming this week will be Newmarket, Middle Brighton and Hampton, which will complete all host stations as well as the Sandringham line.
Considering the comparitively low number of buses (compared to trains, anyway) I use (mainly due to their low service level), riding parts of two routes is an achievement for me. The lack of timetable information at major stops is another main reason. For example, one of the busiest stops on my own route 422, outside Kings Park Secondary College, does not have a timetable. Even though it is serviced by three routes and is a timing point. A timetable here would be useful definitely, particularly on weekends when the three routes (422, 424 and 425) combined give the stop departure times of 07, 32 and 47 past the hour (an overall frequency of 25-15-20 minutes), and not all services to St Albans stop on the same side of the road.
Maybe I need to stop complaining and get a life. But that probably won't happen in a hurry.
After getting a direct service from Flinders Street to Belgrave just after 9am and getting to Belgrave in search of a route 695 timetable which could not be found, I decided to roam the area. In order of stops, I went from Belgrave to Upwey to Tecoma to Heathmont to Ferntree Gully to Boronia to Croydon (737 bus) to Ringwood East (367 bus). I have now been to every station on the Lilydale and Belgrave lines past Blackburn, which has reduced my non-visited stations count from 93 to 88.
I will be going to the rest (Laburnum, Mont Albert, Chatham, Canterbury, East Camberwell) some time this week probably, along with Burwood, Hartwell, Willison, Heyington and Darling, which will complete the whole Burnley group. Also coming this week will be Newmarket, Middle Brighton and Hampton, which will complete all host stations as well as the Sandringham line.
Considering the comparitively low number of buses (compared to trains, anyway) I use (mainly due to their low service level), riding parts of two routes is an achievement for me. The lack of timetable information at major stops is another main reason. For example, one of the busiest stops on my own route 422, outside Kings Park Secondary College, does not have a timetable. Even though it is serviced by three routes and is a timing point. A timetable here would be useful definitely, particularly on weekends when the three routes (422, 424 and 425) combined give the stop departure times of 07, 32 and 47 past the hour (an overall frequency of 25-15-20 minutes), and not all services to St Albans stop on the same side of the road.
Maybe I need to stop complaining and get a life. But that probably won't happen in a hurry.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Introduction
Now, the compulsory introduction.
My name's Matt, and I'm 17 years old but not for that much longer. I'll be 18 in December. I'm located in the western suburbs of Melbourne. I live in a 1980s-90s subdivision of a (fairly) major suburb, St Albans, that has three reasonably well patronised bus routes (422, 424 and 425, which all run roughly every 40 minutes Monday to Friday, every hour on Saturday and not at all on Sunday or during the evening) servicing it (although, route 422 is less frequent in peak than off-peak due to increased running times to the terminus and back). I live closer to route 422 than the other two. I like trains, trams and buses if you didn't already know.
I'm studying Civil Engineering at Victoria University, in Footscray. My four-day-a-week commute involves taking a bus, a train, then another bus. I've had my learner's permit for over a year, but I hardly ever drive. I end up taking public transport almost every time I go somewhere. That'll be the main focus of what will eventually be here - my public transport adventures, most of which will occur on Saturdays.
I've been to/through every train station in the Metcard area, except Flemington Racecourse. I've gotten off a train at every single premium station in Melbourne, and almost every host station. I've been almost everywhere by tram too, except route 5 past Glenferrie/Wattletree Rds and route 57 past Maribyrnong/Rosamond Rds. I've been on a whole pile of bus routes that I couldn't possibly list all of off the top of my head.
I like to collect train/tram/bus timetables. I'll probably do a lot of ranting about them here. Probably what changes should be made to them, in particular.
So yeah, that's the introduction. Hopefully I can update this regularly, which shouldn't be too hard considering the amount of suburban travelling I do.
My name's Matt, and I'm 17 years old but not for that much longer. I'll be 18 in December. I'm located in the western suburbs of Melbourne. I live in a 1980s-90s subdivision of a (fairly) major suburb, St Albans, that has three reasonably well patronised bus routes (422, 424 and 425, which all run roughly every 40 minutes Monday to Friday, every hour on Saturday and not at all on Sunday or during the evening) servicing it (although, route 422 is less frequent in peak than off-peak due to increased running times to the terminus and back). I live closer to route 422 than the other two. I like trains, trams and buses if you didn't already know.
I'm studying Civil Engineering at Victoria University, in Footscray. My four-day-a-week commute involves taking a bus, a train, then another bus. I've had my learner's permit for over a year, but I hardly ever drive. I end up taking public transport almost every time I go somewhere. That'll be the main focus of what will eventually be here - my public transport adventures, most of which will occur on Saturdays.
I've been to/through every train station in the Metcard area, except Flemington Racecourse. I've gotten off a train at every single premium station in Melbourne, and almost every host station. I've been almost everywhere by tram too, except route 5 past Glenferrie/Wattletree Rds and route 57 past Maribyrnong/Rosamond Rds. I've been on a whole pile of bus routes that I couldn't possibly list all of off the top of my head.
I like to collect train/tram/bus timetables. I'll probably do a lot of ranting about them here. Probably what changes should be made to them, in particular.
So yeah, that's the introduction. Hopefully I can update this regularly, which shouldn't be too hard considering the amount of suburban travelling I do.
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