[COTU] Airport Line - first impressions

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

Stopped off at all five new stations today, and had a good look around. Time
to give you some fuel so you can start flaming.

Wolli Creek: Layout appeared very functional and easy to navigate, platforms
were close together (1&2 close to 3&4) that transferring will not be a
problem - they are certainly closer together than Blacktown 1&2 are to the
rest of the platforms.

International: Platforms appear very narrow, and all you will need is a
reasonably large group, all with baggage (0730 any morning, after the
morning peak hour of arriving aircraft, springs to mind) and there will not
be a lot of room. Very little seating as well. The station appears to have
been designed with commercial considerations rather than customer
convenience being foremost. The escalators from the concourse to the
terminal are in two flights, with what I presume will be a retail concourse
on the first landing. Apart from this, the layout appears very easy to
navigate, and is well sign-posted (particularly within the terminal, but the
arrivals level is better than the departures level WRT signposting).

Domestic: Same comments regarding platform width and seating as above WRT
International. Navigation is also rather easy here, with the directions to
the Ansett and QANTAS terminals being well signposted. In the actual
terminals, I only saw one sign on the QF arrivals level directing to trains,
and in the AN terminal, I only saw one sign, and it was a pictogram. Both
terminals seem to have ignored that there is now a train service.

The access to the new Domestic Express terminal (which will serve Virgin
Blue and Impulse) is rather woeful. Stair access only (and the echo as you
walk up them, they appear to be very lightly built), no lifts or escalators,
then out into the open and a walk for about 300 metres (okay on a fine day,
but when it is raining?)

Mascot/Green Square: Both stations appear to be well laid out, although they
suffer from the normal CityRail mindset that stairs are ok, and let the
cripples use the lifts (NOT my opinion). Escalators at all of the stations
would have been much better.

Dave