After an escalation yesterday, the parking out of the front of The Botanica has now been re-instated. The bays should remain until at least June
Ironic that they removed the parking near Anzac Station for Anzac Day
Category Archives: Metro Rail
Tram screech update
When the temporary tram track was designed in St Kilda Rd, we were told the curve had been designed to ensure no tram screech.
When it went live last week and the screeching was terrible we were told – it will settle down in 2-3 days
When it didn’t settle down in 2-3 days, we were told – it needs another 2-3 days
When that didn’t happen we were told – We are currently investigating the cause of the noise and solutions to mitigate noise impacts to surrounding residences and businesses.
One of the big frustrations is that sometimes it is northbound trams, sometimes southbound, some mornings are good and afternoons bad, sometimes model x trams are bad sometimes they are fine. It is clearly more than one issue. Surely this is not the first time? Something is different to the work that Fulton Hogan did on Toorak Rd – that is a tighter curve and had zero screech. Surely John Holland did a ‘standard install’???
So how bad is it?
This was earlier in the week
This was 9pm last night
This was this just now
If you live at The Botanica and it is causing you grief, call 1800 105 105 and politely complain
High tech stuff
We were promised some high tech stuff on the Cross Yarra Project – is this it??
Today near the old Domain Interchange I spotted two people working very diligently with a brush pan and brush!! Almost looked like an archaeological dig??
Tram screech as bad as ever
Here is a short video of tonight’s trams – after a peaceful morning when things seemed better, it is now as bad as it has ever been.
Something must be different to the new tracks on the Toorak Rd corner…are the sleepers, clips, rail different?????
Tram squeal much better – what changed?
I’ve just got back and the squeal is much better today – interesting…what has changed?? I’ve been told that Yarra Trams seemed to do a lot of cleaning last night and again this morning (running their cleaning machine over the tracks).
Does cleaning really make that much difference? If it does, why did they wait until it was soooo bad??? How often will they do it?
Sounds much more like an alignment issue but I am no tram expert
At least I may be able to sleep here tonight
Tram squeal returns
We were told that the squeal would diminish over 2-3 days. That did happen but this evening it has returned, and it is bad. This video shows consecutive trams coming out of the city in the evening peak. City bound trams are almost all squeal free….could it be load related??
If you are not happy then call 1800 105 105 and politely explain your concern
Hopefully this guy also is ‘hearing’ the problem
Now for something different
The tram works are done for now, the tunnel digging hasn’t started and the noise from the trams has subsided a lot…so I thought I’d turn the time lapse camera to the city last night.
Getting in and out of our St Kilda Rd driveway
You should received this document in your letterbox today. This will be the set up until at least June
Some breaking news
I have just come back from the Community Reference Group and have some news.
- The road part of the works being done out the front are a bit behind schedule. To finish that work, they will be working at night for the next 3 nights. Some more details are here
- Bowen Lane was to be closed in the next week. It will now be kept open until at least June, perhaps longer. This will make is easier to exit our lower car park.
..and yes I have raised the issue of the trams being very noisy on the new tracks. There is some hope that it will improve as the tracks ‘bed in’ and the drivers take a little more care. It is only some trams – not all.
If it is causing you grief – feel free to ring 1800 105 105 and lodge a complaint.
How much can be done in St Kilda Rd in 12 days??
Wow – what a busy couple of weeks. Really it was more than two weeks but the intense stuff with road closures has been 12 days.
There has been some high tech
and low tech
There has been shortage of decision makers
…and no lack of people giving directions
Some appeared to be looking for divine assistance
..others phoning a friend
The award for the most friendly and helpful person was Sammy
..but this guy helped the Melbourne Grammar students recover their footy
The weather was great to start with but became cold and wet. One morning it was spectacular
Here is my favourite time lapse for the week – the night the tracks went down at the Southern End
Here is short video of the successful test run and a couple of photos
The Botanica 
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