The "big switch" has ended up being a lot less big than originally promised. I'm really happy we now have a turn up and go service - or at least every 10 minutes - on the lines going through the Metro Tunnel (the Munnel), but feels really silly we haven't brought more drivers on board to run services at least every 10 minutes across the network, and upped all bus routes to the same frequency.
There's a great map that Taitset made showing sections of the metro network which could already do 10 minute running.
My mum, who's in her late 60s, told me of growing up in [European city]. She interchanged 2 times between 2 trains and a bus on her way too highschool. Her and her friends didn't like the bus because it only came every 10 minutes. In the 1970s.
It's a bit embarrassing to me how bad our frequency is, given our massive population.
It would be great if we could convince our government or MPs holding the balance of power at the next state election to invest in a larger workforce to achieve the frequency PTV needs to thrive.
Keen to hear others thoughts on the "Big Switch".
P.S. I've talked to multiple colleagues who live on the lines who literally didn't know about the "Big Switch" until I told them about it, 2 days beforehand.
Cross-posted to !melbourne@aussie.zone