(no subject)

[pebblerocker]

I love using the trains and trams in Melbourne. The trains are electric so they're much quieter than the diesel engines in Auckland. They also run much more often! Today my hosts took me around on a sightseeing trip and when we were ready we just walked to the train station and got onto the next train leaving, ten minutes later -- no looking up timetables, no hurrying or waiting, no worries. When I just missed a train to the Auckland city centre I had to wait an hour for the next one. Also the trains here run on Sundays and there seems to be no panic about missing the last train of the day and being stranded. Marvellous stuff!

Trams are fun too. It's quite eerie watching cars whoosh past so close to the tram as it trundles up the middle of the road, it looks quite dangerous but I suppose trams don't swerve around unpredictably and drivers would get used to them. A pity Auckland's tram lines were all ripped up long ago; the only ones left are antiques running a very short distance to and from the zoo (not that those are not wonderful machines).

Of course the main drawback of public transport is that it is used by the public. Some people seem to have headphones that direct more sound outwards than into the user's earholes. The mouth-breathing turd opposite us on the way home must have been severely inconveniencing those among my fellow passengers who don't like death metal.

It was a most enjoyable day despite the sudden rather wet thunderstorm; I am happy to be back from my explorations and in dry clothes!

Comments

[ultrapsychobrat.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a fun time. They tore up all the trolley tracks here a long time ago, but we now have a subway system and a train service that I haven't used, but want to.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

I am glad you are enjoying yourself. I agree about the trams, they are a good means of transpor. In our town České Budějovice we have trolleybuses. There are¨two parallel electic lines above the streets and a special bus-like vehicle has two long thin trolleys that slide on the lines and collect the power from it. This means of public traffic has a long history, was cancelled in 60s and returned back in the end of the century. It works nicely!

[pebblerocker]

That's the same vehicle we call a tram -- in the old days they were drawn by horses!

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

Yes, that´s true. And these have no rails, they have norman tyres - is it the same there at your place?

[pebblerocker]

Oh, I'm sorry, I misunderstood -- trams run on rails in the road, even the horse-drawn ones used to.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

Haha, I know this sounds strange. In Prague and Brno they have the same type of the trams like yours but in České Budějovice, haha, we have to have something special:-)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Melbourne is a lovely civilised city. I'd have moved there long ago if I hadn't met Greg. Have you gone to Ligon Street for wonderful Italian food. The only canolli I've eaten since I was in Sicily were there. Yum.

It's a pity we don't have trams any more; they're so much quicker than buses stuck in the rest of the traffic. Trains aren't that useful either because you still have to get to one of the few stations and probably leave your car there which I heard isn't that safe. Public transport doesn't work that well here anyway and never will with the city so spread out and water everywhere. :-(

[luinielle.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you're having a good trip. :o)