Category: Transport
The hidden way to access platforms at Melbourne Central Station
Everyone knows about the lifts and escalators to access the underground Melbourne Central Station. But it seems that far fewer people know about the ‘manual’ way to access your train. In the north-west corner of the concourse for the Elizabeth Street entrance to the station, you will find a small entrance to a set of…
Melbourne bus route patronage data for 2008 – 2019
Download and view the data here. The latest installment of my ongoing publication of transport data for Victoria is two more years of usage data for all bus routes in Melbourne for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 financial years. The Department of Transport obliged with my request quickly and no FOI was needed, so thanks to them…
Road under yacht level crossing removal
In 2005, a level crossing was pre-emptively removed in Melbourne. This is not noteworthy in itself – there have been tens of these types of projects completed in the city over the past few decades. What makes this one different is that instead of involving trains, it grade separated road traffic from boats and fish.…
Things to be grateful for
It’s the beginning of a new year, and sometimes I think that us gunzels complain about things just a little too much. Often these are perfectly valid and being introspective is a very important thing. However, we should also take the opportunity to appreciate what we have as well. Remember – “public transport is always…
Tram roundabouts of Melbourne
With 85 percent of Melbourne’s tram network mixed with general traffic, it is inevitable that they will have to pass through some interesting intersections. In Melbourne, there are 19 roundabouts that have tram track running through them. They are almost all located in the inner south-east (Middle Park, St Kilda, South Melbourne, etc.) or the…
Station patronage in Melbourne for 2005-2019
While accountants may be excited by the end of a financial year, gunzels get excited for another reason – new station patronage data! Using the same method as last year, I have asked for and obtained the latest 2018-19 patronage data from the Department of Transport. I’m still waiting for V/Line station data, although I…
Bicycle parking at Melbourne’s railway stations
I have previously done some work on car parking at railway stations in Melbourne, including this map. Others have also written extensively on this important topic. However, parking at stations covers more than just cars, as accessing public transport by bicycle becomes increasingly popular in parts of Melbourne. Bicycles are discouraged on trains during peak…
What is the shortest bus route in Melbourne?
Working on my public transport map for Melbourne has made me discover a whole lot of bus routes that I never previously knew about. It did make me wonder which one of the roughly 350 bus routes in metropolitan Melbourne have the shortest distance. At 115 kilometres, the 901 is already well known for being…
Where to find the cheapest croissant at Melbourne Airport
After an unnecessarily niche transport post? Read on! The context Terminal 4 at Melbourne Airport was rebuilt in 2015. It includes expanded passenger capacity, self-service kiosks and a large new shopping and dining area just inside the security checkpoint. The 30 outlets here vary from cafes to clothes shops. The need Croissants are a staple…
Melbourne’s level crossing for aeroplanes
During a browse through my Melway a few months ago, I came across a point in Essendon Airport which was labelled ‘jet crossing’. Turns out that this is one level crossing that the LXRP (ex-LXRA) probably won’t be removing any time soon. In the north-western area of Essendon Airport, Wirraway Road crosses a taxiway heading…