Simple Maths - Not nearly enough Public Transport
by Peter Cook Friday January 02, 2004 at 12:03 AM
mrpc-at-iinet-dot-net-dot-au 0425 757786

300,000 expected vs space for 60,000 on PT and Taxis - three days of media warnings convinced lots of people to drive, lightening the load for those who had to use public transport a little (and helping the state booze bus fine coffers) but lots of revellers still tried to get home using Public Transport, with predictable results

Here's some happy snaps that I just got off my video camera last night.. Incidentally it's the same footage that I gave to Channel 7 for their exclusive "amateur shots".. I'll have some clips encoded overnight too..

http://members.iinet.net.au/~mrpc/NYE0304/

Just before 1am - Small trams on Routes 55 and 57, which are run by Essendon Depot, which had more than enough B class trams sitting idle in the depot to at least provide some breathing room (irrespective of the poor frequencies)









Platforms 6 and 7 around 1.10ish



People being directed to find another way to get home by the cops



Oh, look, one measley train to Pakenham just arrived



Oh, damn, it's full.. Let me in!





Finally, a train to Frankston arrives - and is completely overwhelmed, barely making a dent in the crowd



Some people got the wrong idea.. What's the bet they were back outside as soon as the train left the platform?



Some others further up the train have the same idea but aren't caught



After those two trains leave, no info displayed about when the next ones (if any) for your line might arrive





That was enough hopelessness for me.. The people standing on the platform by now had been there for at least half an hour, and I doubt they were happy, not to mention those who couldn't even get onto the platform..

And now out to the tram stop.. Sorry, no more trams, and the taxis can't come down here.. Find some other way to get home..

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