Daniel Bowen

@danielbowen
1.2K Followers
194 Following
2K Posts
Transport blogger / public transport advocate / campaigner and spokesperson for @ptua / professional geek.
Opinions are all my own.
Boonwurrung country, Melbourne, Australia
Bloghttps://danielbowen.com/
Daniel Bowen1d ago
Public Transport Users Assoc1d ago
Weekends are the busiest shopping days... but most buses are hopelessly infrequent. Some routes don't run at all, despite the demand. No wonder the car parks are packed. #TimeWastingTimetables #MoreServicesNow
Daniel Bowen1d ago
Blog: a quick look at the timetables for the next big Metro tunnel test on 15-16 August.
If the test timetable is an indication, West Footscray to Dandenong will have trains every 10 minutes until midnight when the tunnel opens (more in peak). https://danielbowen.com/2025/08/09/metro-tunnel-another-big-test-aug-15-16/ #Melbourne
Metro tunnel: another big test Aug 15-16

There is another big Metro tunnel test next weekend, August 15-16. Like last time, trains will run between Sunbury and Cranbourne/Pakenham, but passengers will be offloaded between Footscray and Caulfield onto other trains. Leaving aside the faux peaks, similar to last time, the timetables show these daytime (interpeak) and evening frequencies: The outer sections from [...]

Daniel Bowen
Daniel Bowen1d ago
🚌❤️👋
Daniel Bowen3d ago
This must be a branch line🌿 #Melbourne
Daniel Bowen4d ago
Public Transport Users Assoc4d ago
New suburbs need better transport options, so everybody isn't forced to drive to get anywhere.
Daniel Bowen4d ago
Augustus Brown 🌈Aug 1

Thanks to my tireless efforts (spotting a mapping error late one night), the "arterial road" designation on Google Maps has been removed from Barkly Street and Hopkins Street through Footscray's activity centre.

The route is not a state government arterial, it's a local council road and, strategically, it should not be considered a through route for motor traffic.

Daniel Bowen5d ago
Public Transport Users Assoc5d ago
Gunzel giraffes gracefully gazing upon the Geelong line.🚆🦒🙂
Daniel Bowen5d ago
Interesting story pointing out the advantages of charging electric car batteries from solar, then using them to power homes after the sun goes down.
Also a reminder of the huge amount of power it takes to move a car along a road! https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-04/v2g-vehicle-to-grid-charging-faces-roadblocks/105586552
EV batteries are fit to run a home or even power the grid – but some car brands say 'no'

EV batteries have the potential to power a household for days and could even play a part in our future electricity grid. But not everyone supports the technology.

ABC News
Daniel Bowen5d ago
Last week, I found a Lego #Melbourne tram!
It's in the Lego shop in Melbourne Central.
Daniel Bowen6d ago
Public Transport Users Assoc6d ago
Upgrades are good, but months and months of bus replacements aren't much fun. Authorities need to ensure they're minimised, and there are enough buses and staff and information provided to make them as smooth as possible. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-04/gippsland-vline-timetable-bus-replacement-no-trains/105503728
V/Line commuters fed up after two months without trains to east Gippsland

More services will be added to the Gippsland line later this year, but commuters' patience is running short after battling disruptions since 2018, when upgrades began. 

ABC News
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Daniel BowenJun 27

Here's a more youthful version of me, noting that the #Melbourne Metro tunnel needs to provide a high frequency service, especially through the CBD, to really be effective. Not just the mostly 10-20 minute service seen during the test last Saturday.

Full article (paywall): https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/major-disruptions-plague-metro-tunnels-landmark-sunbury-to-cranbourne-pakenham-test-run/news-story/69bb465926068bf25c36065870459815

Show threadDaniel BowenJun 27
The other Metro Tunnel news is the idea that it would open in stages, with off-peak services first.
Can see the logic if some stations aren't ready to cope with peak crowds. Hopefully only short term. They'd need to take great care on passenger info/comms. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/metro-tunnel-s-promise-to-commuters-pushed-out-to-2026-20250627-p5mavb.html ($)
Metro Tunnel’s promise to commuters pushed out to 2026

The $15 billion tunnel and five new stations are expected to open in November but only with limited off-peak services due to construction and testing delays.

The Age
Show threadHamish MJun 28
@danielbowen that would be extremely confusing for passengers wouldn't it? Trains taking the loop in peak hour but the new tunnel otherwise. Bad luck if you turn up at Flagstaff or Parliament expecting a train.
Show threadArfmanJun 28
@danielbowen if they want to trial it, why not run it on weekends first?
Show threadjedJun 27

@danielbowen we're stuck with 10 minute headways on weekends and after 8pm on Sydney metro which is right on the other limits of 'turn up and go'. Hardly appropriate for the country's best piece of PT infra and less frequent than alternative services: offpeak there's 8tph between chatswood and cbd, about the same from sydenham and 16ph between Wynyard and central.

I'm hoping the Bankstown extension gets at least 7.5 Minute Max headways during open hours. 6 would be better!