Business benefits to rail
I believe it is high time for Transport Victoria and V/Line to focus on the commuter when planning for the future of regional rail.
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A 45-minute service between Ballarat and Melbourne is an idea this writer has been supporting now for three years.
Despite what is being said, the current trains can complete a 60-minute express service, platform to platform, between Ballarat and Southern Cross Station.
Back to the commuter.
I think we all agree that the current V/locity trains are comfortable; however, I continue to ask why there is no plan for business carriages as part of the rolling stock?
Yes, business carriages, for people to work in are available across the world - they're equipped with tables, power outlets and wi-fi.
As we encourage people to have a work-life balance, can you imagine the benefit of being able to work on the train, reducing time in the office, change travel times that in turn would reduce peak time loads load.
This to me is a no-brainer, as is fast efficient regional rail.
Ron Egeberg, Soldiers hill
Alternative plans
Last year a bike road was suggested, to be shared with pedestrians, down the centre of the Sturt Street gardens. The community said 'no' and state and local governments wisely abandoned the plan. Now a small Facebook group is again promoting a 3 metre wide path. There's little evidence it would be used, and we'd lose the beautiful central lawns. Safe ways for bikes to negotiate the central strip and its crossroads would have to be devised.
Whilst I love bike-riding, I enjoy this green and shady strip with its old trees and monuments as it is. These heritage gardens already have paths either side that could be sealed and made one-way for cyclists - a cheap, safe and simple option. Let us enjoy our heritage. There are plans for bike paths in parallel streets, and my cycling friends don't use bike paths - most stick to roads as a faster and perhaps safer option than bikes negotiating around pedestrians.
Merle Hathaway, Buninyong
The Poland Trip
I've just read the mayor's piece about her trip to Poland.
What a joke.
The Mayor concludes her piece by saying there's value in waste - she could have called Mr Pratt at Visy to confirm that without swanning to Europe.
She says there's value in "heritage", seriously did it take a ratepayer funded trip across the world to learn that as well?
She tells us there is value in the creative arts, the University of Melbourne could have helped there.
Damien O'Neil, Heathmont
