Melbourne Herald Sun stated that numbers were down by 50% on the first
day.
I rode the last through service (18.58 down on Wed.30.4). There were
three or four 3-car sets stabled in the new compound at Upfield, in such
a way that the through mainline was clear.
Changeovers are rostered for Wednesday evenings. A light loco runs via
Albion to Broadmeadows and collects one or two sets. It then continues
to Somerton, runs round, heads to Upfield, and arrives via the new loop
siding to drop the sets. Those to be collected will be at the platform.
The loco then takes them to Broadmeadows via Somerton.
The new sidings are at the northern end of the station: one loop siding,
and one stub siding.
My Wednesday journey was something of a nightmare. The bus stop at
Upfield is not labelled. The shelter and turning circle opposite the
platform are not for the standard train-replacement service from North
Coburg tram terminus; this bus terminates east of the station. The 19.47
service to North Coburg was late. A bus did arrive at 19.55, but this
was a later service. The 19.47 arrived soon after, and left 10 minutes
late. It missed its tram at North Coburg. I had a long wait for the
next tram (the next bus also connected with this one); I then had missed
my train at Central. The result was an arrival home 30 minutes later
than intended. Met managers only ever view lateness statistics for
single services, and so do not aprreciate the problems of being an actual
passenger.
-- Regards, Roderick Smith (Rail News Victoria editor)