Three big issues as the future of the Interislander ferry services

Posted on December 11, 2024 by Guest authors

A year after sinking KiwiRail’s plans to get new larger ferries, it’s decision time for the Government. Cabinet must decide what will happen to the Interislander.

A decision on the future of the main Cook Strait connection could arrive within the next 24 hours, but the prime minister is remaining tight-lipped about key details – or even timings – for replacing the ageing Interislander fleet.

The coalition ministers met to discuss the Interislander issue on Monday, a year after Finance Minister Nicola Willis dramatically cancelled the multi-billion upgrade project.

Melbourne Storm scraps regular Welcome to Country ceremonies

Bardy Bigglesworth
December 15, 2024
0

This is really good news and a much needed step in the right direction for removal of divisive and harmful rhetoric undertaken for profit and political purposes.

Regional towns set to boom with Victoria’s rail revival

Brian Evans
December 14, 2024
1

Under the $4 billion boost, every regional passenger train line has been upgraded to make services more frequent and reliable.

Sampling the Warrnambool Vlocity ex 13:10 up to Melbourne on Wed 11 Dec 2024

Snuffle Nose
December 13, 2024
0

I was sampling the new working time table and after nice comfortable ride on 17:06 which was tabled as loco haul on VN19 I hoped off and met up with the 3 car Velocity.

Trial Operations begin on the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines

Bardy Bigglesworth
December 12, 2024
0

Trial Operations are a ‘dress rehearsal’ for the project that involves station staff, operators, maintenance staff and drivers rehearsing the operation of the Metro Tunnel and its stations.

Tests commence for Cherbourg-Bayonne rolling highway

Marco Raimondi
December 12, 2024
0

The launch of a rolling highway service in France between the port of Cherbourg, in the north, and Bayonne-Moguerre in the southwest, is one step…

707 Operations Inc Weekend tour 6-8 December 2024

Snuffle Nose
December 12, 2024
0

visiting and riding the Vintage Railmotors of Daylsford Tourist Railway.

How To Return Trains To Horsham

Bardy Bigglesworth
December 9, 2024
0

Momentum is really starting to build on this again, and I suspect we’ll see some of service returned within the next 5-10 years.

V/Line upgrading Warrnambool line, I think not!

Bardy Bigglesworth
December 9, 2024
2

V/Line are short on substance and large in window dressing.

Lidia Thorpe continues to divide this great nation

Helen Carrie
December 9, 2024
2

They are not her family and they don’t care about her one bit.

Experts break down the benefits and costs of Victoria’s Suburban Rail Loop project

Bardy Bigglesworth
December 9, 2024
0

The government is not backing down, and contracts are signed.

Train overcrowding shows infrastructure shortfalls, V/Line commuters say

Brian Evans
December 5, 2024
8

On the Warrnambool line, these trains have been only three-carriages long due to the station platforms not being long enough for six-carriage services.

Heavy haulage roads in regional WA labelled ‘atrocious’ amid calls for better maintenance

Brian Evans
December 5, 2024
1

All across Australia we are seeing the outcome of poor transport policy with road being the preferred mode of transport and the pollution and the major on-costs associated with it.

Carnarvon’s NASA satellite dish receives first signal in almost 40 years

Brian Evans
December 5, 2024
2

This week, the 29-metre-wide parabolic antenna received its first radar signal since 1987.

A Warrnambool 13:10 Service was impacted by yet another train fault on 2-12-2024

Snuffle Nose
December 3, 2024
0

Shouldn’t they keep those older train for substitutes set to cover these newer trains to cover the newer train in a event they fail?

First passenger trips onboard new intercity trains locked in as $4b fleet green-lit

gobstopper
November 30, 2024
2

The first passengers will depart Newcastle for Sydney onboard one of the state’s new $4-billion intercity train fleet.

707 Operations Inc. Member’s special to Ballarat a Day Tour

Snuffle Nose
November 28, 2024
0

On Saturday I was riding the 707 Operations Members train, this historical Volunteer non profit organisation.

Maybe a MSM Journalist should investigate why V/line management failed to manage these events

Snuffle Nose
November 28, 2024
0

I am was riding around the system recently and note a few sets were reduced from 5 cars to 4 cars for the older N sets.

Labor has ignored Melbourne’s fastest growing communities for a decade

Bardy Bigglesworth
November 26, 2024
5

The North East Link will cost more than the SRL East project.

Interesting scenes on Warrnambool run 13:08 on 20th November 2024

Snuffle Nose
November 25, 2024
15

Was roused from a deep sleep by a phone conversation next from one the two guys that the one seat next to his work mate closer to aisle of the carriage.

Bendigo Rail Line a shambles under V/Line Management

Bardy Bigglesworth
November 23, 2024
4

Where is the Minister for Public Transport when you need her?

Minns Govt Tightens Penalties for Rail Obstructions

gobstopper
November 22, 2024
1

Strengthening the penalty aims to deter extremely dangerous conduct that puts train driver, rail worker and passenger safety at risk.

US government pushes to break up Google to fix search monopoly

Brian Evans
November 22, 2024
0

Being forced to sell Chrome and Android would be among the worst possible outcomes for Google.

Sydneysiders to avoid huge transport disruptions over weekend

gobstopper
November 21, 2024
0

Major industrial action which threatened to shut down Sydney’s rail network over the weekend has been called off after the state government and rail union successfully negotiated an impasse.

Metro Tunnel fires back at ‘bad planning’ accusations from opposition

gobstopper
November 21, 2024
1

Metro Tunnel Project Director Ben Ryan said the $13.4 billion project was built in line with other underground train tunnels globally.

Trains unable to use Metro Tunnel in labor’s latest stuff up

Bardy Bigglesworth
November 21, 2024
7

The Department also confirmed that Melbourne’s newest suburban rolling stock, the Xtrapolis 2.0 – which are currently under construction – will also be unable to use the new tunnel.

Swan Hill line and more information on Sunday 17/11/24

Snuffle Nose
November 21, 2024
9

All I can say is what a dog’s breakfast for all those involved.

10:13 Warrnambool Velocity N sets and events on the rail system

Snuffle Nose
November 15, 2024
9

I am curious to know if this is so called seemly deliberate act cutting of maintenance funds for older rolling stock maintenance is a stealth tactic.

Rail spur required for major grain facility in Western Victoria

Bardy Bigglesworth
November 11, 2024
2

This 8 km spur directly to the interstate network would be very useful introducing truck movements from the surrounding roads which have already fallen into disrepair.

Petition to prevent the introduction of substandard Vlocity trains on the Warrnambool Line

Bardy Bigglesworth
November 9, 2024
22

This petition of residents in Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Assembly.

Observations on the Warrnambool Line on 13:08 service on 7th November 2024

Snuffle Nose
November 9, 2024
4

One thing some can’t grasp is the reasoning why the management is so hasty getting rid of N set in middle of rolling stock shortage.

Intermodal terminal owner teams up with interstate and regional rail freight operator

Guest authors
November 8, 2024
3

TC is delighted to have entered into an agreement with highly respected and experienced rail freight operator SSR for the provision of interstate, regional and port shuttle haulage services

Cost of no 3G now clear with airports and transport systems affected

Bardy Bigglesworth
November 8, 2024
1

The shutting down of 3G services across Australia will leave many without viable cellular coverage and carriers are aware. Gone are signal connections on long […]

Riding the Loco haul 10:13 Warrnambool before the change of the type train in use on 31 Nov 2024

Snuffle Nose
November 2, 2024
2

Suck and See happens in most situations I understand but when things doesn’t go to plan it can be rather expensive to rectify!

Potholes continue to cause problems in regional Victoria

Bardy Bigglesworth
November 1, 2024
2

Roma Britnell joined 3AW Drive to talk about the skyrocketing pothole problem in Regional Victoria.

The union buster and the unionist – an unlikely friendship

Helen Carrie
October 30, 2024
4

Albanese puts over that he is some kind of working-class hero.

A busy Sunday Morning and 07:40 Swan Hill was reduced from a 5 car loco haul to a 3 x1 car Velocities DMU!

Snuffle Nose
October 30, 2024
15

I will say it was terribly cramped on board and passengers who are taller and broader in stature may have problems with tightly spaced seating areas.

Metro Trains lunacy continues with lack of services on game day

Bardy Bigglesworth
October 28, 2024
0

As a result there were crush scenes at Jolimont Railway Station.

Australia’s fibre backbone race picks up speed

Brian Evans
October 28, 2024
0

Digital data is created every time someone takes a photo on their mobile phone, sends an email or saves a document to the cloud.

The Management of V/line

Snuffle Nose
October 24, 2024
15

Let’s take a closer look at who these people are and their level of experience in relation to their very important role.

Speeding trucks imperil safety around Footscray

Bardy Bigglesworth
October 24, 2024
0

Yarraville residents are demanding speed and red light cameras be installed at a pedestrian crossing where they claim speeding truck drivers are putting lives at risk.

What the British really think of Lidia Thorpe and her antics

Helen Carrie
October 23, 2024
1

I think this is the truth telling Australian’s are really looking for.

Warrnambool – V/Line to trash your long distance rail service

Bardy Bigglesworth
October 22, 2024
15

From Friday 1 November, communities in the south-west will have access to more modern, reliable and accessible VLocity trains running on the Warrnambool Line for […]

The stench of corruption in the Victorian Labor Govt has reached a new level

Helen Carrie
October 20, 2024
4

This is such a miscarriage of morals and poor judgement.

Barnaby Joyce is right about Anthony Albanese

Helen Carrie
October 20, 2024
1

We have created a nation where the state can order you to be locked up in your flat and we accept it.

Housing plan profoundly supports Suburban Rail Loop development

Bardy Bigglesworth
October 20, 2024
5

Changing the demographic landscape of Melbourne.

Victorian Opposition considers reviving East West Link project

Bardy Bigglesworth
October 18, 2024
0

They never learn and will not get back into government again.

Julie Inman Grant should resign immediately over failed X litigation

Helen Carrie
October 18, 2024
1

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has admitted she got it wrong.

Dan Andrews appointed chair of youth mental health service

Helen Carrie
October 18, 2024
2

This man has no shame to even accept this job he is an unmitigated disaster for this state both for mental health and fiscally.

Heatherton resident beats up SRL works engages in misinformation

Bardy Bigglesworth
October 15, 2024
6

Residents of a southeast Melbourne suburb are up in arms after being told of significant disruption for a major government project just days before works begin.

ARTC ignores community and despite protests destroys historic Euroa Goods Shed

Bardy Bigglesworth
October 15, 2024
8

Thanks to everybody who got behind this #campaign to save our 1873 shed.

Vlocity trains are not the answer for Regional Victoria

Snuffle Nose
October 14, 2024
12

Seems some Victorian’s are waking up to V/Lines poor management of rolling stock across the network.

Meta’s $2 Billion Mother Of All Submarine Cables For AI Will Forever Change India

Brian Evans
October 7, 2024
0

With a billion users on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, India is already Meta’s largest market in terms of users surpassing the US.

Opposition leader to try cancel Suburban Rail Loop if elected

Bardy Bigglesworth
October 2, 2024
1

Opposition leader John Pesutto has pledged to try cancel the Suburban Rail Loop project if his government is elected in 2026.

Level Crossing Removal Programme misses the point of why we are doing this

Bardy Bigglesworth
September 30, 2024
2

Why has the Victorian ALP sold this multi-billion dollar programme of work as a must do for rail services when it primary outcome is the better flowing traffic after the level crossing has been removed?

Regional trains in NSW are old, slow and half-empty – but I still enjoy the ride

gobstopper
September 30, 2024
0

The ageing fleet of Xplorer trains are running late half the time and can’t get up to speed on single tracks, but the 10-hour journey still has much to recommend it.

Discussions underway to build SA’s next generation rail fleet with battery electric trains

gobstopper
September 30, 2024
1

The future of South Australia’s rail network has been the topic of discussions between some of the world’s biggest rail companies at InnoTrans 2024.

Preserving cane train history before Australian rail buffs run out of puff

gobstopper
September 27, 2024
0

Railway enthusiast Brad Peadon is convinced time is running out to preserve remnants from the glory years of Australia’s cane trains.

Metro Tunnel faces ANOTHER massive cost blowout

Bardy Bigglesworth
September 27, 2024
5

Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Danny Pearson, announced a cost blowout of $837 million today, with the project now expected to cost $15 billion, $4 billion more than the original cost.

MP says capacity won’t be reduced on trains with 50 per cent less seats

Bardy Bigglesworth
September 20, 2024
9

A roll-out of more weekend services will mean overall capacity won’t be reduced when the region’s VLocity trains operate with half as many seats, Warrnambool-based […]

Onboard the R707 day tour to Maldon on 14th September 2024

Snuffle Nose
September 17, 2024
7

A rare occasion behind R 707 and T413 and using the same train to ride on the Maldon Branch Line toward Maldon from Castlemaine and pulled by J Class Oil Burning Locomotive to Maldon

Melbourne has been named the most congested city in Australia

Bardy Bigglesworth
September 13, 2024
3

Melbourne has been named Australia’s most congested city with Victorians spending an estimated 92 hours a year stuck in traffic according to data released by Novated Lease.

V/Line reduces seating capacity on Warrnambool line with Vlocity services

Bardy Bigglesworth
September 13, 2024
31

V/Line just cannot run a rail service that is fit for longer distance passengers and routes.

Full steam ahead for rail trail with no business case

Bardy Bigglesworth
September 9, 2024
7

Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards seems hell bent on pushing through a rail trail removing a key rail line between two large regional cities in Victoria.

Second western freight hub shelved in six months

Bardy Bigglesworth
September 6, 2024
4

The Victorian government has defended the state’s logistics capacity after a freight giant scrapped plans for a new rail terminal.

The cost of the SRL will be huge, not building it will cost us more

Bardy Bigglesworth
September 5, 2024
2

The argument that we are saddling future generations with debt doesn’t wash.

Workers evacuated after fire in Metro Tunnel near Town Hall

Bardy Bigglesworth
September 5, 2024
0

The fire believed to have been small in size created a substantial amount of smoke and has been extingushed.

The changing face of the former Spencer St Railway Station

Snuffle Nose
September 2, 2024
5

Spencer St Station was renamed Southern Cross Station after it was redesigned.

Resumption of passenger rail services between Ballarat and Geelong long overdue

Bardy Bigglesworth
September 1, 2024
6

For reasons unknown the government and V/Line have refused to return services for the travelling public despite requests from the Ballarat and Geelong regional councils.

Introduce a Trial Shuttle Passenger Train Service between Maryborough and Mildura

gobstopper
September 1, 2024
2

More than 75000 residents live in the Sunraysia and in communities along the Mildura rail line and they have not had a passenger train service since it was axed under the Kennett government

Bairnsdale line train services just became a whole lot worse

Bardy Bigglesworth
August 31, 2024
17

In continuing to take the network back to the 1950’s a new time for the Bairnsdale Line starting September 15th 2024 will remove the final locomotive hauled services from the line.

Katie Hall MP does not like to be questioned on her press releases and performance

Brian Evans
August 30, 2024
7

Katie Hall MP the ALP Member for Footscray recently placed a press release on her page but also shared it on social media namely Facebook and Instagram.

Poor and outdated transport policy is adding to air quality issues at Southern Cross

Brian Evans
August 30, 2024
7

We need urgent electrification of Geelong, Ballarat and a plan for Bendigo. Don’t be fooled the government is well aware of this.

Riding the upgraded Warrnambool Line on 29th August 2024

Snuffle Nose
August 29, 2024
5

Line closed at 14th June for upgrades to 25th of August on the Warrnambool line and I decided to ride it to observe for myself the riding quality of the train.

A trip to Waurn Ponds with new rail works at South Geelong

Brian Evans
August 28, 2024
8

Resumption of trains on the new line upgrades, a trip from Melbourne to Waurn Ponds was in order.

Does Eureka Stadium in Ballarat need a railway station?

Bardy Bigglesworth
August 26, 2024
4

Ballarat’s Eureka Stadium is in desperate need of a railway station and underpass connecting the ground to the rail network.

The significantly flawed Westgate Tunnel Project a blight on Melbourne

Bardy Bigglesworth
August 25, 2024
7

Billions of dollars and millions of hours of labour to make the city worse.

Is a political U-turn on the cards for the Suburban Rail Loop?

Bardy Bigglesworth
August 21, 2024
3

Concerns have reached political fever pitch over the $34.5bn political albatross strangling the Allan government.

Passengers review Cranbourne Railway Station and Cranbourne Line (warning)

gobstopper
August 14, 2024
4

Then you get on the train 7.40am and there is vomit all through a carriage.

Reopening of the Warrnambool Line with DMU testing to commence

Snuffle Nose
August 13, 2024
11

Understand testing will commence this week for the newer Velocities DMU rail cars 3×2 layout.

Victoria’s freight task to reach 900 million tonnes per annum in 2051

Bardy Bigglesworth
August 8, 2024
6

Over the next 20 years, the freight task in the state of Victoria is expected to experience significant growth.

Why does Vicroads permit road trains to use suburban streets in Melbourne?

Brian Evans
July 31, 2024
21

How could any government be so poor at rail freight that almost every rail freight project is over budget or not delivered at all.

Time to reduce Australia’s reliance on Road Freight and reduce emissions

Brian Evans
July 22, 2024
4

A properly run series of national passenger trains is exactly what Australia has been seeking and will do a lot for the tourism industry

Continuously welded rail on the Victorian Railway System

Snuffle Nose
July 13, 2024
2

Trying understand the pros and cons of Continuous Weld Track Joins Technology use in the Vic Regional Railway System

A walk around Princes Park the home of the Carlton Football Club

Brian Evans
July 11, 2024
5

Princess Park even hosted the 1945 Grand Final to a packed crowd. Sadly the last AFL game to be played this ground was against Melbourne in I think 2005.

The Darebin Council deception continues in Northcote

Guest authors
June 12, 2024
3

Now under scrutiny over decisions to remove many 50+ year old trees from Clarke Street a further review over the past few days reveals they […]

How Darebin Council failed the environment and Northcote

Guest authors
June 3, 2024
3

Tree canopies keep neighbourhoods cool in summer, provide shade, create habitat for wildlife, and help support cleaner air and waterways.

Darebin Council removes 600 years of trees from Clarke Street Northcote

Guest authors
May 23, 2024
3

This inner city area needs more canopy trees not less and no consultation with residents has been undertaken. Simply a disgrace.

Exploring the rail freight opportunity in Australia

gobstopper
April 28, 2024
2

Prological’s Peter Jones explains in this MHD op-ed the benefits of rail freight and how adopting aspects of the European model can help us decrease our reliance […]

Only 2% of freight between Melbourne and Sydney goes by rail

gobstopper
February 16, 2024
5

Exclusive: rail use dwindles to minuscule levels amid over-reliance on heavy and polluting trucks, industry warns

Jan 15, EMD “E9” Locomotives

January 16, 2024
0

The E9 saw only marginal sales as rail travel was losing interest among the public. It was the final model in the series with several […]

financial

Union Pacific Reports First Quarter 2024 Results

Guest authors
April 25, 2024
0

– Union Pacific Corporation today reported 2024 first quarter net income of $1.6 billion, or $2.69 per diluted share. This compares to 2023 first quarter net income of $1.6 billion, or $2.67 per diluted share.

financial

Union Pacific Corporation Announces 3% Dividend Increase for Third Quarter 2024

Guest authors
July 18, 2024
0

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) announced that its Board of Directors today voted to increase the quarterly dividend on the Company’s common shares by 3% to $1.34 per share. The dividend is payable September 30, 2024, to shareholders of record…

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