[NSW CityRail -] Silly Show Train announcements at "Central"

["Gnome 412" <gnome412@hotmail.com>]

Paid a quick trip to the city on Saturday afternoon, 15 April.

First, had the pleasure of joining the 15:17 service from Central (Platform
24) to Martin Place, operated by a 6-car V set.  Now I understand why the
Penrith posters squeal "V sets are best"!.

Of course, it wasn't that easy.  The train was tabled as C442, 13:25 Dapto
to Martin Place (dodging a Sydney Yard full of Show trains), stopping
ultimately at Town Hall and Martin Place.  Central (Low Level) announced it
as "Terminates Here".  The relief driver went off to ask how it could
terminate, came back, asked where I was going, and welcomed me aboard.

A busy crew of cleaners spent all of two minutes picking up loose newspapers
and alighted (I wondered whether they were being paid to join the train to
Martin Place and return and spend 20 minutes picking up all the other
litter, but I didn't ask!).

At Martin Place, the SPI read "Terminates".  The waiting Bondi passengers
waited for the doors to open (which they don't on V sets).  No
announcements.  Probably a few more uninformed but disgruntled customers.

The return journey was indicated correctly with stops to Dapto.  No mention
on the SPI of "change at Thirroul for Bulli to North Wollongong, change at
Wollongong for Lysaghts to Port Kembla, change at Dapto for all to Nowra".
But then I guess the weekday commuters know that stuff.

Travelled all the way to Town Hall on 15:33 Dapto.  Indicated, quite
incorrectly, at Town Hall as stopping all stations Waterfall to Wollongong.
But then I guess the weekday commuters know that stuff.

Later, visited Central (Inter-City platforms).  Pleased to see that the
extra stairs from Central "Suburban platforms" to Central "Inter-City
Platforms" which were open on New Years Eve were once again open.  Pleased
to see that the pedestrian tunnel from the Devonshire Street end of Central
now connects to platforms 15/14/13/12/11/10/9/8/7/6/5/4.  A pity to see one
Olympic Park train using platform 2.

There are few passengers to or from the Royal Easter Show at 17:00.  The
trains were running magnificently on time.  I think five of the eight
departures in an hour were "G" sets.  There seemed to be too many trains
resting at too many platforms.  Departures were from platforms 4 & 5, plus
apparently random platforms devised to suit crew changes or meal breaks.

A slight hiccough when an empty 8-V set was routed to platform 3 when a
4-car Endeavour was already there.  But it's  a long platform and they both
fitted.  Just the passengers for the 14:49 Wyong had a long walk;  the
passengers for the 15:15 Goulburn were confused when their Endeavour was
visibly at Platform 3 when the indicator said platform 9.  No worries - on a
quiet day this works.

At that time of the day, the Show Train programme was, broadly, a 15-minute
service Central (Inter-City platforms) - Olympic Park - Blacktown or Penrith
and another 15-minute Service via Olympic Park to Campbelltown or Macarthur.
Trains were on the indicators with destinations like "Olympic-Pk Blacktown".
Trains were announced as "The next train to Campbelltown will depart from
Platform 10" (don't mention the Show or Olympic Park!).  Arrivals were
announced as if crowds of city-slickers were waiting to greet their country
cousins.  "The five <pause> four train from Olympic Park will arrive at
Platform 9.  This service is running <pause> ten minutes late".  Who cares?

The problem here seems to be that standard announcements appropriate to the
arrivals of the Mail trains for Easter 1949 are still being made!

Monday morning was more fun.  Most of the weekday day-time departures to the
show are from "suburban" platforms 18 and 19.  In the off-peak, some Hornsby
(Shore) - Penrith trains are diverted via Olympic Park and some extra Quay -
Olympic Park - Penrith trains run.  In addition, some Central "Intercity
platforms" - Olympic Park trains run, many with "V" sets that would
otherwise run empty to Flemington M.C.

Where the fun arises is that there are at least three competing teams doing
the announcements.

The Central "Inter-City Platforms" DVA system announces the trains departing
Central "Inter-City" platforms.  For example, at 12:41 pm, they will
announce (very loudly) "The next train to Emu Plains will depart from
platform 11", meaning the six-car V set departing at 12:51 for Olympic Park,
then incidentally to Emu Plains.

Meanwhile, the loud-hailer crew downstairs at the Eddy Avenue entrance to
Central "suburban platforms", will be announcing "the next Easter Show train
departs platform 18" (at 12:42), then platform 19 (at 12:57).

Outside the barriers at Platform 10 is a better informed crew, who know when
all the trains leave.  It's just unfortunate that a correct human "next
Easter Show train from platform 19" is drowned out by a much louder, but
much less informative, DVA "next train to Emu Plains will depart from
platform 11".

One can only hope that this will be sorted out before the big crowds for the
Easter weekend.

Rgds