Month completed: June 2008
I can officially say that the achieving of this goal has been fantastic for a few reasons:
1. Goal 141 is now achieved;
2. The benefits of public transport have been pushed into the public eye, at least for one day, which is important as the price of petrol continues to skyrocket;
3. Others have been inspired to start their own lists – click here to see the site for someone has started their own list to do before turning 30;
4. Project 183 has now had its 15 minutes of mainstream media fame!
Apart from achieving the goal, I learnt that there seems to be a strong interest in positive news stories. In separate posts, I will include samples of the TV, radio and newspaper articles done on Project 183.
To summarise the trip and the interest that followed, here is my 7-point summary:
1. Trains tend to run pretty much on time, shown by the fact that I arrived at the end when I said I would
2. Toilet stops and a big breakfast are vital
3. So is an iPod full of music
4. Oakleigh and Alamein are my two favourite stations
5. Werribee is the most scenic line
6. There are lots of people who want to give the trip a go
7. And an equal number that have already done it
My trip highlight? Riding in the driver’s carriage for about 5 stops. Not something everyone can say they have done. Here is me in the front carriage.
To finish with, two final points require some clarification:
1. No, I didn’t do the Stony Point section or the Showgrounds and Flemington Racecourse stations. The latter stations are only open on certain days of the year, making it hard to include them, and the Stony Point part is a diesel service. But the challenge is open to anyone to complete the network PLUS these lines. If you can do it, I take my hat off to you.
2. Connex confirmed that since the Craigieburn line started operation in September last year, no one has come forward to claim that they have done the whole network, until I did it on Tuesday. That’s why Connex made the claim that I was the first. Not that being the first was ever my objective. I just wanted to do it. In fact, if other people have already done it, that’s awesome.
Thanks again to everyone for your interest in Project 183, and I hope that you can all stay in touch and cheer me on to keep achieving. Maybe you have even been inspired to start your own list, in which case I say best of luck.
Thanks to Connex for putting out the media release that generated all the media interest, and to Telstra for the phone and laptop I used on the day.
And thanks to Nat, the love of my life, for putting up with the craziness the last week has been.
June 28th, 2008 at 2:10 am
This is a list of a trip i have planned out. I would like to do this one one day.
Frankston 4:17
Richmond 5:13 – 5:18
G. Waverley 5:51 – 5:59
Burnley 6:26 – 6:36
Lilydale 7:28 – 7:33
Ringwood 7:50 – 7:56
Belgrave 8:21 – 8:31
Camberwell 9:15 – 9:25
Alamein 9:36 – 9:42
Camberwell 9:53 – 9:55
S. Cross 10:12 – 10:23
W’gardens 10:54 – 11:09
F’scray 11:31 – 11:40
Newport 11:48 – 11:50
W’town 11:56 – 12:00
Newport 12:06 – 12:08
Werribee 12:36 – 12:46
N. Melb. 1:26 – 1:30
Upfield 1:57 – 2:06
N. Melb. 2:32 – 2:38
Craigieburn 3:12 – 3:27
Parliament 4:16 – 4:19
Epping 4:59 – 5:05
C. Hill 5:33 – 5:42
H’bridge 6:29 – 6:35
Flinders St. 7:40 – 7:53
Sandringham 8:21 – 8:32
South Yarra 8:53 – 9:13
Pakenham 10:15 – 10:18
Dandenong 10:42 – 11:22
Cranbourne 11:33
what is your opinion and what did you find the hardest also?
June 29th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
The list looks pretty solid, although you have a couple of short turnaround times (i.e. Camberwell 9.53-9.55). I think you should be OK, but just make sure to be ready to change your route, and take all the timetables.
For me the hardest section was the Watergardens/Werribee/Williamstown section, because it involved short trips with lots of quick changes. The Frankston/Dandenong/Cranbourne was the best, as it was longer trips without changing, so I was able to relax a little more.
Best of luck. I can’t wait to hear how you go!
November 21st, 2008 at 8:13 am
[...] discovered that my train journey back in June has inspired a Facebook group to do the same, but on a much bigger scale. If you are on Facebook, [...]
October 25th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
What is the Facebook page called?
October 27th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
Not sure what you mean Adrian about a Facebook page?
October 27th, 2010 at 7:54 pm
Hi Heath,
I was refering to comment 3 above that says “…discovered that my train journey back in June has inspired a Facebook group to do the same…” Do you know the name of this “Facebook Group”?
Thanks
October 29th, 2010 at 1:12 am
Aha – here is the link to that Facebook page – http://on.fb.me/cb4jSd
March 8th, 2011 at 10:59 pm
maintain at it man, your nearly there , thanks for the read!
June 21st, 2011 at 12:40 am
Hi Heath,
I’m a year 9 student and I plan to complete this as part of a project.
I would greatly appreciated if you could offer some help (i.e planning timetables etc.) or if there were easier ways to do.
Thanks,
Jack
June 21st, 2011 at 12:57 am
Hi Jack,
I can definitely try to help you with your attempt, although when I did it Connex ran the show, and now it is Metro, so the timetables I used would be different now.
You can see the route I took here (http://www.project183.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/train-trip-schedule.jpg), which might help you with the route you want to take.
I suggest starting in Hurstbridge, and finishing out in Belgrave or Lilydale (it worked for me), and try to avoid being in and around the city loop during peak times if possible.
One thing I didn’t do was have a bag full of snacks. You won’t have a lot of time between trains to try and find vending machines, so you will need to carry the food and drink you will need. And bring a good book – you will be travelling for at least 18 hours (if you unlucky, it will be well over 20). And probably see whether people want to accompany you for parts of the journey, as it will get quite boring.
Most of all – enjoy it. I still look back fondly at rolling in to the final station, and appreciating achieving something that very few people have done (probably because they are not crazy enough!).
Good luck with it – let me know how you get on.
Cheers,
Heath
June 21st, 2011 at 6:20 pm
Frankston 4:17
Flinders St 5:18 – 5:24
Upfield 5:57 – 6:06
N Melb 6:33 – 6:38
Werribee 7:09 – 7:18
Newport 7:36 – 7:42
Williamstown 7:49 – 7:57
Footscray 8:12 – 8:20
Watergardens 8:43 – 8:49
N Melb 9:17 – 9:23
Craigieburn 9:58 – 10:10
Parliament 10:51 – 11:00
Epping 11:46 – 11:51
Clifton Hill 12:19 - 12:21
Hurstbridge 1:13 – 1:20
Flinders St 2:23 – 2:26
Sandringham 2:55 – 3:05
Richmond 3:30 – 3:42
Glen waverley 4:15 – 4:26
Burnley 4:53 – 4:56
Alamein 5:16 – 5:24
Camberwell 5:36 – 5:45
Belgrave 6:33 – 6:41
Ringwood 7:08 – 7:16
Lilydale 7:34 – 7:41
Richmond 8:33 – 8:49
Pakenham 9:57 – 10:08
Dandenong 10:34 – 10:36
Cranbourne 10:48
good luck with your trip.
this is one route i came up with. some quick interchanges required so be aware and utilise the time at end stations for food and toilet.
June 22nd, 2011 at 3:40 am
Thanks for the reply Heath,
I have already started planning the timetable but I will now definetly take yours into account.
Because I don’t have long to complete this project and because the planning does take up quite a bit of time, I might only go for Zone 1 but I desperately want to do Zone 2 aswell.
My timing is a bit unfortunate is I think it is the Sydenham line is close for the next 2 or so weeks.
I will definetly attempt it tho and I will let you know how I go!
Thanks,
Jack