[NSW] Observations re 21/05/00 Timetable Changes

["Chris Downs" <cvdowns@ozemail.com.au>]

The 21/05/00 weekday timetable is a throwback in some regards.  CityRail (in
an earlier incarnation) was run a "fully integrated" network rather than the
sectored network implemented many years ago.  The major down side of the
integrated network was that a major delay on one line would almost
invariably infect the whole network.  The division of the network into three
sectors largely solved this problem despite shared sector 2 & 3 trackage
between the Flying Junctions and Granville.

Timetables in recent years have seen the closure of sector 2's car shed at
Punchbowl and the introduction of Bankstown - Parramatta - Blacktown and
Cumberland line services.  These three factors have taken the network some
way back to an integrated network.  The 21/05/00 timetable does this further
with 9 City Circle Outer (CCO) to Hurstville/Mortdale services each weekday,
6 City Circle Inner (CCI) to Hurstville/Mortdale/Cronulla services each
weekday, 7 Mortdale/Hurstville to CCO services/weekday & 4
Cronulla/Mortdale/Hurstville to CCI services/weekday.  These services
largely originate in, or go to, sector 2.

The ability to isolate delays is being eroded.  This in conjunction with a
delicate East Hills Line timetable bodes ill for on-time running for some
time to come.  Hopefully I'm wrong.

Regarding other changes of interest from 21/05/00 I've come across so far:

*  The 0915 Central - Goulburn Endeavour will now leave at 0857.
*  Weekends see 8/trains per hour each way between Central and Olympic Park
(I'm assuming the current frequency is still 4 trains/hour).
*  There are several express Bankstown to City services; 0912 ex Bankstown,
Campsie, Sydenham, Redfern, Central; 1454 ex Bankstown, Punchbowl, Campsie,
Canterbury, Sydenham, Redfern, Central; 1717 ex Bankstown, Punchbowl,
Campsie,Sydenham, Redfern, Central.
* 0434 ex Hurstville to CCO stops at St Peters & Erskinville
* Hurstville has 7 trains/hour arrive from the city between 2300 & 2359 and
a further 7 between 0000 & 0059!

Chris