trains

Myki allows you to load your card with days of travel (pass) or value (money), or both. But the information available does not clearly identify when it is most economical to use pass or money. For the common case (adult travelling at least twice a day within Zone 1), myki money is better value for anything up to 4 days of travel a week. Any more than that, you're better off getting a 28 day+ myki pass. 7 day myki passes cost the same as 5 days worth of myki money travel, so unless you plan to travel at least 6 days in a single week, but not the following week, they are poor value. The above also applies for travel with Zone 2. For travel within Zones 1 & 2, the break point is at 3 days, i.e. myki money is better value for up to 3 days travel a week, after that you're better off with a 28 day+ myki pass. The comments about 7 day myki passes still apply, though.

Posted by Ian Donaldson

In the recent Melbourne heatwave, track buckling was one of the many problems that contributed to problems on the network. Buckling is an issue with modern continuous welded rail (CWR) as it lacks expansion gaps. The traditional method of trail construction was to use lengths of rail joined with fishplates. These could be left slightly loose one one side so that the rail could expand and contract a little bit in response to the prevailing conditions. The correct way to lay CWR is to stress (stretch) it to its length at the hottest expected temperature and then fix it to the sleepers, preventing it from contracting. However, this requires heavy concrete sleepers firmly fixed in the road bed, wooden sleepers wont take the strain. So with that in mind, its good to see that maintenance work at Pascoe Vale Station has been done with an eye to the future. No wait, that would be what happens in some city with competently-run public transport.

Posted by Ian Donaldson