Re: Bankstown- mascot airports

["Dave Proctor" <daproc@spambait.ozemail.com.au>]

(Cross-post added)

Such a beuatiful summary of the problems with the airport rail line from
someone interested in aviation rather than rail. Perhaps this should be sent
to the managers of the line?

Dave

"matthew weber" <mattheww50@home.com> wrote in message
news:u4i04to8ndbls4va3ncp2gsmhuttec3npf@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 20 Dec 2000 16:24:46 +1100, "Rod Speed" <rod_speed@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
> >Oh crap on this rail stuff. KSA has only recently got rail,
> >managed fine without it and it still doesnt get used much.
>
> It would be if the product wasn't so botched up.
> Does it use purpose built cars with suitable luggage racks?

Not strictly necessary *if* you can get a reasonable service starting from
Wolli Creek - and thus are empty - or almost empty - when the train gets to
International and Domestic. If they were to provide a service every 15 mins
starting from Wolli Creek, and have a service every 15 mins from East Hills
or Campbelltown, you would end up with 8 trains per hour, with every second
one being empty. As long as the station staff promoted the fact that the
*next* train would be empty, people with stacks of luggage would not have a
problem with waiting an extra 7 or 8 minutes.

> Is it materially less expensive or materially faster than a Taxi?

Materially faster, yes, provided your CBD hotel is near a station. It can
take ages to get from the airport to the city, the train is certainly much
quicker. The pricing is exorbitant though, and taxis win hands down there
for two or more people.

> Does it provide multi-lingual information?

Not really necessary, as long as the information is available at the
stations (if you can find out at the station that you only need to travel 5
stops, you don't need the info on the train. And yes, I have travelled in
countries where I do not speak the local tongue).

> Does it have onboard ticketing?

Not really necessary.

> How many flights of stairs will a passenger have to traverse with
> his/her luggage?

Not really necessary if the train is empty - the end saloons are rather
large and able to handle reasonable numbers.

> The long and the short of the problem is the Airport Express buses
> provide better service at lower cost because the Train connection is
> very much like the London Underground Connection to LHR. Downright
> unfriendly to travellers, enough so that there was little trouble in
> adding a dedicated train service which addressed the failures of the
> underground service.
> The service is pricey, but is carefully designed to provide the
> services the passengers need, and few seem to object to paying the
> price, because the service that is needed, is provided.

I quite like Heathrow Express, the service is good, and it is value for
money. And at least their rolling stock is aesthetically pleasing, not like
the rubbish Gatwick Express are in the middle of introducing.

Dave