@BenLeverAU@aus.social

· 1mo ago

Edwin over at Hot Rails has gotten his hands on some juicy stats for the Overland.
https://hotrails.net/2026/08/the-overland-patronage-2026-update/
(h/t @ThermiteBeGiants@aus.social)

It seems clear to me that it is no longer a train in terminal decline, there is latent demand for rail travel on this corridor, and if a government (Vic, SA, Fed or some combination) invested in it, it could be a real success.

Doesn't need to be anything too wild. The investment in V/Line in the last ~25 years acts as a perfect template - just do that and watch the passenger numbers grow.

hotrails.net

The Overland Patronage – 2026 Update – Hot Rails

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Ben Lever @BenLeverAU@aus.social

· 5mo ago

The 1970s oil crises famously led the Dutch to develop their cycling network. The French went for high speed rail. Australia went back to doing things exactly as before.

The instincts of our political class have not changed. If we want to change direction we'll have to drag them kicking & screaming.

https://bsky.app/profile/roycerk2.bsky.social/post/3mktlfzxcq22f

Bluesky Social

Royce Kurmelovs (@roycerk2.bsky.social)

This is line from Chris Bowen's presser this morning is revealing. Where other governments appear to recognise this moment as something new, Australian policy has assumed (or is wishing) on mean reversion (a return to normal). As a result, there is no public discussion about how things might change.

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Ben Lever @BenLeverAU@aus.social

· 2mo ago

As the active transport advocates in this article point out, this is so stupid, and directly counter to a bunch of the City of Melbourne's own transport plans.
---
Dubai luxury comes to Collins Street: High-end valet parking service launches
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/dubai-luxury-comes-to-collins-street-high-end-valet-parking-service-launches-20260802-p60knz.html

theage.com.au

Valet on Collins: New valet parking service launches on Melbourne’s premier shopping street

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Ben Lever @BenLeverAU@aus.social

· 2mo ago

Replying to

@aj@gts.sadauskas.id.au @jamesh@aus.social @decryption@aus.social related: stations are often built very much for motorists, too. It's often planned around the idea of the suburban park-and-ride commuter going to Melbourne - the idea that someone could travel *to* these stations for shopping or whatever doesn't seem to occur to them. Much better to surround the station with a big parking lot!

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Ben Lever @BenLeverAU@aus.social

· 2mo ago

A bunch of train service upgrades around Melbourne (long planned and budgeted for) will commence on Sunday 23 August

It'll be so good to finally have Werribee and Sandringham services linked together, no more waiting in the dank basement at Flinders Street!

https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/more-trains-way-today

premier.vic.gov.au

More Trains On The Way

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Ben Lever @BenLeverAU@aus.social

· 4mo ago

Uncovered an interesting bit of @ptua@mastodon.social lore today while looking for something else - apparently Yarra Trams threatened to sue them for defo in 2003, to which the PTUA said "Yeah, nah." https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/CICrimJust/2005/6.pdf