NSW Railway Observations 2019

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boronia
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by boronia »

I realise that longitudinal seating improves (standing) capacity, but I'd rather sit facing backwards than sideways, looking at people's bums instead of out a window.
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by tonyp »

boronia wrote:I realise that longitudinal seating improves (standing) capacity, but I'd rather sit facing backwards than sideways, looking at people's bums instead of out a window.
The trouble is that a lot of people can't ride backwards, particularly women because of vertigo, and of course nobody will offer a seat to such a person because the ailment is "invisible" and likely dismissed as a whinge.

The hypocrisy of a lot of people is that they say they don't care which way the seats face, then they rush and fill all the forward-facing seats when first boarding. The designers could meet their objectives on suburban trains by having more longitudinal seating, but I really can't see any alternative to reversible seating on interurban and country trains. We can look forward to more costly seat replacement projects on long distance trains well into the future I imagine. They'll never learn.
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by Swift »

Funny enough I've noticed people, particularly young women, choose to sit in reversible seats facing backwards with plenty of free seats. Is it a phenomenon that has taken a hold of late?
I personally don't mind sitting backwards but I prefer to sit forward if I have the choice.
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by tonyp »

It's like the proportion of people with mobility issues to the proportion without in the general population. Just because the majority of people don't have an issue, it doesn't mean that the concerns of those with issues should be ignored. Of course, in fact there are many forward facing seats (about 50%) for those who need them. So in theory, those without issues or who don't mind should go for the rear facing seats first if it's not an issue for them. But do they? Not on your Nellie! Solution: reversible seats!
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by J_Busworth »

Swift wrote:Funny enough I've noticed people, particularly young women, choose to sit in reversible seats facing backwards with plenty of free seats. Is it a phenomenon that has taken a hold of late?
I personally don't mind sitting backwards but I prefer to sit forward if I have the choice.
When the H or ex-G sets arrive into Bondi Junction with all the seats facing one direction, people naturally just sit the way the seats are facing, with most passengers inevitably facing backwards. I guess it must be a habitual thing for people who nearly always get T-sets with non reversible seating.

Its something I've only ever encountered en-masse out of Bondi Junction, but I have seen isolated cases of it happening elsewhere.
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by tonyp »

J_Busworth wrote:
When the H or ex-G sets arrive into Bondi Junction with all the seats facing one direction, people naturally just sit the way the seats are facing, with most passengers inevitably facing backwards. I guess it must be a habitual thing for people who nearly always get T-sets with non reversible seating.
Because they think the train is going to continue in the same direction. I've seen groups of kids get on the train at Bomaderry do this, then as soon as the train starts moving they all rise up as one and flip the seats over. Some people's situational awareness isn't all that great!
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by Swift »

^ Hopeless.
It was the Central Coast Newcastle line that I saw this but the ESR is probably where I saw some as well.
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Linto63
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by Linto63 »

tonyp wrote:We can look forward to more costly seat replacement projects on long distance trains well into the future I imagine.
The powers that be have already been given the history lesson re the XPTs having their original fixed seats replaced with reversible seating, as well as it being noted by those who viewed the mock-up. But have elected to stay the course as that is the way things are done back in the old country, so unlikely that their minds will be changed after they enter service.
J_Busworth wrote:When the H or ex-G sets arrive into Bondi Junction with all the seats facing one direction, people naturally just sit the way the seats are facing, with most passengers inevitably facing backwards. I guess it must be a habitual thing for people who nearly always get T-sets with non reversible seating.
That's because many people are just sheep and blindly follow what everybody else is doing. Come up or down the stairs on a train and face the doors that will not be opening and watch how many others follow suit. It's only when somebody else faces the correct set of doors that the cogs start to click over and they begin to turn around. And this is on commuter services where people are making the same journey daily.
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by Transtopic »

Linto63 wrote:
tonyp wrote:We can look forward to more costly seat replacement projects on long distance trains well into the future I imagine.
The powers that be have already been given the history lesson re the XPTs having their original fixed seats replaced with reversible seating, as well as it being noted by those who viewed the mock-up. But have elected to stay the course as that is the way things are done back in the old country, so unlikely that their minds will be changed after they enter service.
The problem is that there are too many Poms running our rail services, God knows why, when through no fault of their own they haven't yet adapted to what Sydney commuters demand and expect, which isn't necessarily the same as they would be used to in the Motherland. Too many Poms spoil the broth, so to speak.

Surely the NSW Transport bureaucracy, including the Rail agencies, are not bereft of competent home-grown administrators who would be more familiar with the preferences of local commuters. As you say, the powers that be have already been given the history lesson re the XPTs and later the Tangaras (another Pommie designed train), which in the case of the latter led to the reintroduction of reversible seating in the later suburban Millennium and Waratah rolling stock. As tonyp said, they'll never learn. There's an old adage in business, that you give the customer what they want, or suffer the consequences and it's as true today when it comes to transport services.

It will be interesting to see the reaction of commuters on the Bankstown Line to longitudinal seating when it is converted to metro operation. Unlike the Metro Northwest, which is a new rail line, they would be used to mostly transverse reversible seating. IMO, longitudinal seating is as much a turn-off as fixed seating. I hate it. I can't see the logic for including it on Intercity trains, when it's a different market to suburban services. All of you Pommie imports out there, take note.

I fear that the current government's strategy of trying to change the culture within the rail bureaucracy in particular, by importing more outside management in key positions, especially from the UK, is misguided. By way of example, look how disastrous Phillip Shirley's tenure was as Chief Commissioner of the Public Transport Commission (PTC) during the Askin LNP government's reign in the early 1970s. He was a retired executive from the Cunard Line as well as being a major influence in the Beeching Report's recommendation to close down many of the UK's rail lines. Nothing can replace local knowledge and expertise. The one exception I will make is Howard Collins, who I think is more than well across the priorities of upgrading the Sydney Rail network as a whole, but is stymied by his political masters, who for whatever reason are more inclined to have the ear of those less qualified.
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by Swift »

^ rampant mediocrity reigns supreme in NSW as usual.
I guess the local thinking isn't stuffy and stale enough to the arrogant pollies liking, and what better fountain of that thinking than stale old stuffy British Isles? Poor Howard who really wants to make a positive impact, being sabotaged by utterly worthless parasites with selfish agendas.
In surprised he hasn't packed his bags to get away from this filth ridden basket case of a state. The premature ageing is starting to show. It must be the money that keeps him in the position. It certainly isn't a sense of accomplishment. What a pity we waste his talents just to be a figurehead for this scam of a government.
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tonyp
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by tonyp »

Transtopic wrote: It will be interesting to see the reaction of commuters on the Bankstown Line to longitudinal seating when it is converted to metro operation. Unlike the Metro Northwest, which is a new rail line, they would be used to mostly transverse reversible seating.
Given the complete lack of negative public feedback on seating in the NW, the fact that Sydney suburban trains have always had some longitudinal seating since the 1920s and Bankstown being only 30 minutes from the city, I don't expect there will be any negative feedback. However, I agree that longitudinal seating is an undesirable feature on interurban trains - except that if those trains are going to have fixed seating, then some longitudinal will offer a third choice for the heap of unhappy customers. It all points to the obvious conclusion that interurban trains should have reversible seating throughout, but with plenty of accessibility and luggage space in the end saloons (which isn't much space actually).
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by Linto63 »

As the NIFs will more or less have the same floorplan as the Oscars, there will be 20 or so longitudinal seats in the non-driving cars, less the number dedicated to bike / wheelchair spaces and loos.
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

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Fleet Lists wrote:https://transportnsw.info/news/2019/nsw ... s#homepage
NSW TrainLink Grafton and Casino service changes
Friday 20 September 2019

Over the past few weeks the Sydney to Grafton return train service has been replaced by coaches to accommodate essential maintenance on the XPT fleet.

As a result, from Sunday 29 September 2019, one leg of the Casino service, as well as one leg of the Grafton service will be replaced with coaches.

The daily Sydney to Brisbane return train service, which stops at Casino and Grafton, has not been impacted.

The new service patterns for the Casino and Grafton services from Sunday 29 September 2019 to Saturday 30 November 2019 are:

The 7.00 pm Casino to Sydney service will be replaced by a road coach. This is a half an hour earlier departure than the train service to accommodate coach connections along the route.
The 7.08 am Sydney to Casino service will continue to be a train.
We will re-introduce a train for the 5.15 am Grafton to Sydney service.
The 11.41 am Sydney to Grafton service will continue to be replaced by a road coach.

If you are travelling to and from the Central Coast by coach you will change to a train service at Broadmeadow station. This will allow you to reach Central Coast destinations quicker than if the coach continued and stopped at train stations.

If you are travelling to and from Strathfield you should use Intercity or Suburban train services to connect with coaches at either Hornsby or Central Station.

Due to the North Coast 34 Casino to Central train service being replaced by a coach service, connections to Western 427 Central to Dubbo and Southern 623 Central to Melbourne (Southern Cross) will be available to book, however are no longer guaranteed.

If you have booked on these services you will be contacted and advised of the service change and you can use the Trip Planner, which has been updated to reflect these changes.

You will also be advised if additional services need to be replaced by coaches.

At this stage no other services have been impacted by the maintenance program.
This is due to revert to normal after 30 November and the trip finder appears to be handling that correctly.
But I am a bit confused by this on Transport Info page https://transportnsw.info/regional
Due to bushfires on the NSW North Coast, NSW TrainLink has resumed normal operations however some service alterations may occur. For re-bookings call 132232. We thank you for your understanding.
I am not sure what they mean by returning to normal due to the bush fires. I guess they have returned to normal subject to these changes, after the bush fires. And will return to full normal operation after 30 November.
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by Campbelltown busboy »

It sounds like Sydney Trains are starting to have issues with desperate passengers trying to leap onto K sets and C sets when they are departing stations I was on a city via airport service from Campbelltown this morning it was performed by a 8 car K set witch consisted of K72 and K74 when the train left Revsby the guard went onto the trains PA system to say that the next station for the service was Wolli Creek then she said “do not run towards the closing doors of the train or don’t try jumping between the carriages to board the train while the train is departing stations”
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by boronia »

This has been an ongoing media campaign for a while.

I wouldn't think it was exclusive to K or C sets. Guard's announcements are random, and nobody listens to them much anyway.
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by moa999 »

People have been jumping on trains late forever. Was even worse in the days before automatic doors or door sensors when you could jump onto a moving train.
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by Swift »

I'll never forget back in my high school days in 1990 a student jumped through closing doors and just got in while they closed on him and the guard reopened them, walked over and ordered him off and to wait for the next train! This was at Eastwood in the morning.
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by sunnyyan »

The network looked pretty messed up today with a fatality at Toongabbie and a medical emergency at Central during the afternoon peak. Platforms 7/8 at Strathfield were so packed that people were backing up onto the ramp. Luckily I was able to get a bus at Strathfield instead.
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by swtt »

sunnyyan wrote:The network looked pretty messed up today with a fatality at Toongabbie and a medical emergency at Central during the afternoon peak. Platforms 7/8 at Strathfield were so packed that people were backing up onto the ramp. Luckily I was able to get a bus at Strathfield instead.
Part of the problem was bushfire near Holsworthy, throwing T8 and subsequently T2/T3 into utter chaos.

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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by Stu »

Transport NSW Info.
https://transportnsw.info/plan/trackwork-on-t3-t4-lines
Trackwork on T3 and T4 Lines.
From Tuesday 24 December, over the quieter holiday period, there will be service changes and buses will replace some train services in Sydney.

Key changes include:

Buses will replace some train services along the T3 Bankstown Line while the train line is being upgraded to Metro standards.
Buses will replace some train services along the T4 Illawarra and South Coast Line for track maintenance work.
If you are heading to the airport, allow extra travel time.

Service adjustments from 24 December.
T3 Bankstown Line changes
From 8pm 24 December to 5 January 2020, some stations between Central and Campsie, along the T3 Bankstown Line, will temporarily close while the train line is being upgraded to Metro standards.

During this time:

Train services between Central and Campsie will operate via Lidcombe station.
Up to 90 buses will provide extra services between Punchbowl and Central Stations.
Express and limited stop bus services will replace trains between Punchbowl and Central Station.
Note: Additional bus and train services will be available during New Year’s Eve.

From 8pm 24 December to 5 January 2020
Download flyer (pdf 1.5MB)

70T3
Punchbowl, all stations to Belmore then Central
route map 24 to 28 December (pdf 46KB)
route map 28 December to 5 January (pdf 83KB)
route map 30 December to 5 January night services (pdf 47KB)
timetable (pdf 914KB)

71T3
Campsie, all stations to Sydenham
route map 28 December to 5 January (pdf 83KB)
timetable (pdf 813KB)

72T3
Campsie, Canterbury then Sydenham
route map 28 December to 5 January (pdf 83KB)
timetable (pdf 575KB)

73T3
Campsie, all stations to Sydenham then Central
route map 24 to 28 December (pdf 46KB)
route map 30 December to 5 January night services (pdf 48KB)
timetable (pdf 368KB)

74T3
Campsie to Central Express
route map 24 to 28 December (pdf 46KB)
timetable (pdf 163KB)

75T3
Canterbury, Hurlstone Park, Dulwich Hill then Central
route map 24 to 28 December (pdf 46KB)
timetable (pdf 194KB)

76T3
Sydenham, all stations to Central
route map 24 to 28 December (pdf 46KB)
route map 30 December to 5 January night services (pdf 48KB)
timetable (pdf 254KB)

77T3
Campsie, all stations to Dulwich Hill then Central
route map 30 December to 5 January night services (pdf 48KB)
timetable (pdf 98KB)
From 8pm 24 December to 10am 28 December 2019, and from 2am to first service on 30 December and 1, 3, 4 and 5 January 2020, stations between Hurstville and Central, along the T4 Illawarra Line, will temporarily close due to track maintenance work at Sydenham.

Planned works at Sydenham Station will impact the T4 Illawarra Line and South Coast Line trains.

During this time:

Buses will replace trains between Hurstville and Central Station.
Express and limited stop bus services will replace trains between Cronulla and Central Station.
Express and limited stop bus services will replace trains between Wollongong and Central.
South Coast services will end at Waterfall Station.
From 8pm 24 December to 5 January 2020
Download flyer (pdf 805KB)

80T4
Hurstville to Central express
route map (pdf 122KB)
30 December and 1,3,4,5 January night services (pdf 122KB)
timetable (pdf 236KB)

81T4
Kogarah, Rockdale then Central
route map (pdf 122KB)
30 December and 1,3,4,5 January night services (pdf 122KB)
timetable (pdf 324KB)

82T4
Hurstville, all stations to Arncliffe, Tempe then Central
route map (pdf 122KB)
timetable (pdf 368KB)

83T4
Hurstville, all stations to Sydenham then Central
route map (pdf 122KB)
30 December and 1,3,4,5 January night services (pdf 122KB)
timetable (pdf 133KB)

84T4
Heathcote, all stations to Sydenham then Central
route map (pdf 122KB)
timetable (pdf 208KB)

85T4
Cronulla, Woolooware, Caringbah then Central
route map (pdf 122KB)
timetable (pdf 188KB)

86T4
Kirrawee, Gymea, Miranda then Central
route map (pdf 122KB)
timetable (pdf 190KB)

87T4
Hurstville, all stations to Sydenham
route map (pdf 122KB)
timetable (pdf 422KB)

88T4
Waterfall to Central Express
route map (pdf 122KB)
timetable (pdf 87KB)

7SC
Wollongong, North Wollongong then Central
route map (pdf 122KB)
timetable (pdf 142KB)
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by boronia »

Advertising for Ch 9 News feature Monday night:
"Your train to the airport delayed? Missed your flight? Get ready to collect"
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by BroadGauge »

I noticed whilst catching the train at Moss Vale yesterday that there are posters up advising of minor timetable changes from January 5th 2020, but there is no reference at all to any such change on transportnsw.info yet.

The advisory on the poster was to "check indicator screens for departure times", which seems like quite useless advice given that none of the stations south of Macarthur have such screens, and that the Southern Highlands line is hardly a turn up and go service for which one would simply turn up at a station without checking a timetable.

On another note, it looks like a busy weekend coming up for the Far South Coast line, with a music festival on at Berry.

https://transportnsw.info/events/2019/1 ... tival-2019
The closest station to the festival is Berry on the South Coast Line. The station is a 500m walk from the Showgrounds.

Additional train services will run on Saturday night to help you get home from the event:

To Kiama: Two extra trains will leave Bomaderry at 9:45pm and 10:53pm, stopping all stations to Kiama.
To Bomaderry: Two extra trains will leave Kiama at 9:11pm and 10:20pm stopping all stations to Bomaderry.
To Central: An extra service will leave Kiama to Wollongong at 11:12pm, and then extend to Central. Stopping at North Wollongong, Thirroul, Helensburgh, Waterfall, Sutherland, Hurstville, Wolli Creek, Redfern, Central, Town Hall, Martin Place, Kings Cross, Edgecliff and Bondi Junction.
Is it just me, or does it look like the first extra service will drop it's passengers at Kiama with a 19 minute wait for the 22:33 Kiama - Wollongong service, which itself drops people off with a 16 minute wait for a Central service?

And the usefulness of the 23:12 from Kiama extending to Sydney is debatable, seeing as that it has no connection from further south. The second extra trip looks as if it will drop it's passengers at Kiama with a 44 minute wait for a connection to Wollongong. I guess most of the festival goers will be loaded up enough on either alcohol or pills that they won't notice the wait.

As to what the festival organiser thinks of the train service? They strongly encourage their patrons not to use it!
TRAVELLING BY TRAIN

Berry train station is located right next to Fairgrounds, but please be aware that the service times around the festival are limited. As such, we strongly encourage patrons to car-pool and drive to and from the festival.
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by swtt »

BroadGauge wrote:I noticed whilst catching the train at Moss Vale yesterday that there are posters up advising of minor timetable changes from January 5th 2020
It's been dribs and drabs:
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by tonyp »

Re Berry music festival, without studying the connections issues referred to, I can safely say that it is all governed by the ability to get the slug-like Endeavour back and forth as quickly as possible regardless of connections at Kiama. If it is tabled to wait for connections at Kiama it will reduce the number of return journeys it can achieve. The Endeavour has for a few years been able to do 27 minute trips between Bomaderry and Kiama, so can turn around roughly in an hour. It can't keep this up indefinitely due to crew rostering and breaks and, while it lasts, it involves the crew doing sprints to change ends at each terminus.

So I can imagine that the objective is to run the Endeavour past Berry as often as possible at the cost of not making close connections with Sydney trains, so people get to cool their heels at Kiama. I think the festival organizers are being excessively cynical and in fact encouraging drink and drugged driving. Pretty immoral but we all know about music festivals lately. Must remember not to drive on Princes Hwy on Saturday night.
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Re: NSW Railway Observations 2019

Post by neilrex »

"The Far South Coast line "????

I went to Kiama two weeks ago. There were people standing and crowded on the train all the way from Town Hall to Unanderra. 4 car train. Pathetic.

It was a very bumpy ride sitting on the longitudinal seating.

They were doing that shtick of pretending that the train was going non-stop to Helensburgh. This makes limited sense for PM peak weekday services, to discourage Sutherland and Waterfall patrons from clogging up Wollongong trains to save a few minutes [ but are they going to be fooled, anyway ?]. It makes no sense on weekend services.

The guard seemed to be very confused, he contradicted the recorded announcements , and himself , half a dozen times.
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