Public Transport Users Association - Ballarat Branch

Those of you who've been reading this blog for a long time will know that I'm from the Ballarat region, and I often discuss the issues with public transport in and around Ballarat. (Well, I say "often" - obviously I've been quite slack with my blogging lately). However the sad fact is that none of my ramblings have really gone anywhere. Our bus network is still inadequate. The train to Melbourne is still infrequent and unreliable. The train to Geelong is still nonexistent.

RRL Roundup Part 2: Buses

In Part 1, I talked about how great the changes to the rail network were. Things are less positive when it comes to the bus network. As I said, there are a lot of changes throughout the network, both in Melbourne and in the cities that RRL trains serve - so I can't comment on all of them. Some of the changes in Geelong or Melton may be great for all I know - although one commenter on Part 1 was unimpressed with the Deer Park bus tweaks. Even some of the other routes within Ballarat may have been changed for the better - not riding them every day, I can't be sure. But the route 10 Buninyong bus in Ballarat has been messed with, seemingly for no good reason, and it has made things unequivocally worse.

Railway Archaeology: Ballarat's Phoenix Foundry

Ballarat's Phoenix Foundry began producing various iron components for local businesses in 1856, moving onto stationary steam engines and eventually steam locomotives in the coming years. Initially one of many foundries in Ballarat, it came to dominate the locomotive business in Victoria and played a key role in transforming Ballarat's economy from being based solely on gold into the more diverse economy it has today. Despite this, it seems to be relatively unknown to most Ballaratians today.

Railway Archaeology: The Buninyong Railway Line