Comments on: Dynamic directional signs at Melbourne railway stations

By: Marcus Wong

Marcus Wong — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 02:56:05 +0000

In reply to Sean Kelly. Thanks for that - I've also noticed that the current PTV signs are just coverplates glued over the original Metlink signs. :-P

By: Marcus Wong

Marcus Wong — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 02:54:04 +0000

In reply to Alan.

I’m guessing the reason for this is that the solo escalators to platform 1 and 2 are tucked away behind the main escalators at platform level – so it makes sense to direct downward passengers to use them, as they are somewhat visible at concourse level.

The bonus is that passengers exiting trains in morning peak form a single queue for the paired escalators, which is more efficient that two separate queues.

By: Marcus Wong

Marcus Wong — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 02:47:40 +0000

In reply to Chris Gordon. I'd forgotten about those - this 2005 photos shows the first LED version:

By: Alan

Alan — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 09:39:55 +0000

At Melbourne Central in the morning peak, the lone escalators usually operate in the downward (non-peak) direction, providing a way for passengers to get down to Platforms 1 and 2 while the paired escalators both run upwards.

By: Chris Gordon

Chris Gordon — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 06:44:08 +0000

Don’t forget the “sporting exits” at the Up end of Richmond for the Swan St subway. They had rotating signs for years, then onto the 2nd version of electronic ones now.

By: Sean Kelly

Sean Kelly — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 22:10:40 +0000

Dear Marcus,

Since at least 1920 nearly ALL Victorian Station metal signs and the majority of both 2 and 3 position semaphore signal blades (those not made in the US directly by General Railway & Signal equipment – a.k.a. G.R.S.) have been made of enamelled (baked) glass on metal pressings. These have ALL been manufactured by “Glass Metal Industries” at Moolap south east of Geelong on the Bellarine Peninsular.

Approximately 15 years ago, in order to save money, the then “Connex” had another company make the metal signs more cheaply and the surface was merely “screen-printed” with paint on the metal. These signs were first installed on the Alamein Line.

The results were totally disastrous with the first application of graffiti! As soon as the cleaning contractor applied graffiti remover to remove the vandalism, the station name screen-print came off! So Connex had to go back to Glass Metal Industries and have ALL the Alamein line station signage re-made and replaced!

I am now very reliably informed by one of my spies that either PTV or Metro is experimenting again with screen printed metal signs made at lower cost…..not by GMI.

One wonders how long it will take for the “penny to drop” again and PTV or Metro have to return to Glass Metal Industries at Moolap to have the inferior and non-vandal proof signage replaced yet again by proper baked (glass) enamel on metal signage?

Thought this might be of some interest?

Sean Kelly.