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

[Hubert Lam <hubert@imap4.com>]

Chris Downs got bored on Sun, 14 May 2000 20:04:14 +1000 and so wrote the following:
 
          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.

The ability to isolate delays won't be completely avoided until Main North gets a dedicated line
from Strathfield to Central (with Main North suburbans sharing with Main North Intercity) and Main
West and also South getting its own from Lidcombe to Central.
          
          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).

Many of the weekend "Olympic Park Metros" that run are empty 8 car trains!

          *  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.

For November 1996, CityRail actually promised that more fast trains from Bankstown once the New
Southern Railway opens. What they didn't know was that they were to operate more runs with the same
number of carriages back in 1995.

          * 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